Follow These Tips
for Successful Flying

With millions of passengers taking to the skies every month, adverse weather conditions that cause delays, and a U.S. air traffic control system that desperately needs to be modernized, there’s no doubt about it:  Air travel can be frustrating.

      There are steps, however, you can take to reduce your chances of encountering problems.  Here are “defensive flying” tips provided by the Aviation Consumer Protection Division: 

• Make sure you have a passport.  It’s essential for travel now, even if you’re entering the U.S. by air from Canada and Mexico.  Everyone is getting one, so apply early.

• Fly early in the day.  You’ll avoid the “ripple effect” of delays.  Besides, if you book the last flight of the day, you could get stuck overnight.

• Shop for fares.  Book your flight well in advance.  In general, the longer you wait, the more expensive your trip.  Go to the airlines’ web sites and check out other sites such as www.expedia.com, www.travelocity.com and www.orbitz.com.  If you’re planning a complicated itinerary or have specific needs, talk to a professional travel agent.

• Pack smart.  It saves time if you don’t check a bag.  But make sure you check the Transportation Security Administration website (www.tsa.gov) for the latest carry-on rules.  Be sure to carry a government-issued photo ID.

• Tag the outside – and inside – of your baggage in case it gets lost.  Don’t lock your checked bags.  Security personnel may need to open them.  If you want to lock them, there are locks available at airport and travel stores that can only be opened by the TSA using “master” keys.  Check the TSA website for info.

• Label your laptop computer – they are the most forgotten items left at security checkpoints.

• Build in extra time, and be prepared for security screening.   Allow time for traffic, parking problems and lines.  Avoid wearing metal belts etc.  Wear shoes you can slip off (and the socks without the holes).

• Visit your airline’s website to check the status of your flight before you leave home, and print out boarding passes in advance (if possible).

• Plan for delays.  Chances are, it will happen to you.  Don’t take it out on airline personnel; they’re just doing their jobs.  Take plenty of reading materials – and your patience.

• If the airline does lose your bag, report it to them before leaving the airport.  Insist that they fill out a form and give you a copy, even if they say the bag will be on the next flight.  Ask them to deliver the bag when it is found.

When all else fails and you do have problems, there is a complaint process.  If you have concerns about airline safety, call the Federal Aviation Administration at 1-800-255-1111.  If you’re concerned about aviation security, register your comments with the Transportation Security Administration at www.contact.tsa.dhs.gov/default.aspx. 

For complaints about airline service, call the Aviation Consumer
Protection Division (ACPD) at (202) 366-2220 or send an email to airconsumer@dot.gov.  You can also write to: Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. 20590.