Aug
20
So your planning on talking your pet with you on your next flight. So how do you do get your pet into the cabin with you? Note that rules are different for international and Hawaii flights and for pets flying as cargo. Check with your airline for specifics.
Here are some tips.
- Your pet must be at least 8 weeks old. It’s a USDA rule.
- Make sure space is available for your pet. Some flights limit the number of pets allowed on board. So before you buy your ticket make sure space is available.
- Bring your pets health records with you. You may not need them, but it’s good to have them.
- Your pet must be able to stand and turn-around in the carrier. It must also be leak proof and ventilated. It must also meet size guidelines.
- Don’t feed them for several hours before your flight.
- Walk or run your pet before the flight, it may tire them out.
- Take some treats with you to help you maintain control of your pet.
- As your Vet for medication if you think it will be needed.
- Keep your pet in it’s carrier under the seat. Your whole pet must be inside, head and tail.
- Upon arrival don’t let your pet out of the carrier until your outside.
- Don’t for get to give them some water. Flying can dehydrate.
- Most airlines take Dogs, cats and birds.
- No pets on Southwest.
- No Birds on American or JetBlue.
- Fees run $75-$100.
Several airports are considered pet friendly, Here is a list.
Aug
4
Time to check your luggage tags. Not just that your luggage has them, but that the information on them is correct. And in today’s age of identification theft you may want to consider changing some of the current information.
Reduce the personal info. First use your first initial, B. Murray, rather than Bruce Murray. Second use your cell phone number rather than your home number, and maybe add your email address. Third, use an address other than your home address. Rather than telling baggage handlers that your out of town, you can use your work address and phone number, or better yet your your travel agents address and phone. Who better than your travel agent to help you reconnect with your luggage.
If your address is held in a protective sleeve with a transparent window place your name and cell number so it can be easily seen through the window, but place other info on the back side of the paper. My luggage tags say “B and P Murray / Over for contact info”. This requires that someone place some effort into getting to your address.
And for extended trips don’t forget to place a piece of paper inside your luggage with your home contact info, and your trip itinerary. NOTE: You should also add luggage tags to your carry-on luggage.
Jul
21
I always thought it was a bit of a splurge to ship your luggage ahead of you to your destination, but with airlines starting to charge for checked baggage, it may not be such a bad idea. I’ve also discovered that dealing with lots of luggage can sometimes take it’s toll on my back. Last thing you want when starting your vacation is low back pain!
I found cardboard boxes that are close to the size of my suitcases, over the years I’ve settled on boxes that have a single layer of cardboard, they are lighter than the double layered. To help strengthen the boxes I’ve taped all the edges with heavy reinforced packing tape. The stuff with the fiber filaments running through it. That stuff is tough. I also don’t tape the bottom, allowing me to flatten the box at my destination and for storage at my house.
I usually add a bit of bubble wrap packing material or a overcoat to fill the voids between the box and the suitcase. Don’t forget to put a small roll of packing tape in the box before you close it up for when you ship the box home.
I normally ship suitcases via UPS or FedEx. First I call my destination and ask if they can hold my box for me for arrival, if not I ship the box and have it held for pick-up at a local UPS Store or Kinko FedEx. Using the hold for pick-up option can also save you some money. They will hold your box for five days, allowing you to ship your baggage using a less expensive slower shipment method.
Shipping the box home may be more difficult, you will need to find a shipping option that is convenient for you, usually that means an easy pick-up service. I’ll often keep in my shipping box a few FedEx waybills that I can you use. These waybills have my personal account info pre-printed on them, so billing is not an issue. Folks at your destination can often help you with finding a good solution.
I’m looking for a very heavy duty plastic bag to ship my suitcase in next time rather than using a box.
Another way to do it is to hire someone!!!
These delivery services will take care of everything for you. It will cost you more than doing it yourself, but you may want to give it a try. Some of these services just outsource the deliver, with FedEx or UPS showing up at your door to transport your suitcase. I have yet to try any of these services yet. NOTE: Luggage Free sends their own courier.
LUGGAGE FREE - VIRTUAL BELLHOP - LUGGAGE FORWARD
