Newbies (& those who don’t travel often)

How To Get Through X-Ray or TSA Pre-Check As Quickly & Easily As Possible

We all know the process of getting through X-ray has become something of a time consuming organized chaos in the past several years. In fact, I’d put it up towards the top of the more stressful parts of air travel, up there with delays and the actual flight. Getting approved for TSA Pre✓^® (which is currently available in more than 180 airports, with 37 participating airlines nationwide) or Global Entry does help tremendously, but even then, there are people who are not super familiar with the modern-day process of going through X-ray, with or without TSA PreCheck, simply because they don’t fly very often, and sometimes that unfamiliarity can cause the line to snag even more. Here’s a list that might help:

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Can You Bring That Onto The Plane? Here’s How To Find Out

Going through the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) checkpoints in the U.S., especially if you don’t have Pre-Check or Global Entry (and really, if you live in the U.S. and don’t have it yet, YOU SHOULD! Click here to learn why), can be a royal pain. That’s especially true if you don’t fly very often and don’t feel quite sure about what you can and cannot bring as carry on. We’ve already written posts about how to bring medication with you when flying, but there are a whole lot of other things that people wonder if they can bring on a plane with them. Here’s how to find out.

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How To Get Through The Airport’s X-Ray or TSA Pre-Check As Easily As Possible

We all know the process of getting through X-ray has become something of a time consuming organized chaos in the past several years. In fact, I’d put it up towards the top of the more stressful parts of air travel, up there with delays and the actual flight. Getting approved for TSA Pre✓^® (which is currently available in more than 180 airports, with 37 participating airlines nationwide) or Global Entry does help tremendously, but even then, there are people who are not super familiar with the modern-day process of going through X-ray, with or without TSA Pre✓®, simply because they don’t fly very often, and sometimes that unfamiliarity can cause the line to snag even more. Here’s a list that might help:

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Safety Alert: What To NEVER Do With Your Boarding Pass

When you’re traveling by plane, you can sometimes be a little more disorganized than usual. You’re holding a carry-on, personal item, suitcase and maybe a coat and a bag of lunch, too. So when you’ve finally checked in, your boarding pass may be the least important things in your physical and mental list of “stuff.” That notwithstanding, here are some things you should NEVER do with your boarding pass:

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A Beginner’s Guide To Airline Alliances

Understanding what airline alliances are and which airlines are in each alliance is a key that unlocks the door to the next level of miles and points earning and usage. The basics of airline alliances is not that difficult to understand and that knowledge will allow you to use your miles in ways you never thought were possible.

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Understanding Hotel Taxes, Resort Fees & Deposits For Incidentals

When you find a hotel rate, especially in the United States, you will rarely, if ever pay just that amount. Just like when you purchase an item in the U.S., unless it says that tax is included, chances are good that you’ll have to pay tax on top of the advertised price; that’s just how we charge for things in the U.S. The same goes for hotels. Unless an advertised price explicitly says that taxes & fees are included, you can bet that something(s) is/are going to be added on to make your final price. And in recent years, some hotels have added on something sneaky called a “resort fee,” too. Plus you often have to put down a deposit for incidentals. But let’s start at the very beginning (a very good place to start):

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How To NOT Videotape Your Vacation

Unless you’re of the generation that has been raised with computers, smart phones, etc., there can sometimes be a learning curve when you have a new piece of electronics. For some it might be as simple as a glance at the instructions just to learn one specific thing. For others, well, maybe they need to take a class or two. Such was the case of this poor chap…

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