Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.
Medical Advice for Commercial Air Travelers by TN Bettes, M.D., M.P.H., and DK McKenas, M.D., M.P.H. (American Family Physician September 1, 1999, http://www.aafp.org/afp/990901ap/801.html)
Klas Fahlén/Art DepartmentPlanning Tips
Know the difference between “direct” and “nonstop” flights, and always opt for the latter. Unlike nonstops, direct flights can touch down at other airports on the way to their ultimate destinations, says Macon Dunnagan, a baggage handler with US Airways. And while stops are built in to the total travel time, the potential delays they can cause aren’t.
Make sure you buy your ticket under the exact name that appears on your ID. It might seem obvious to you that Betsy is a nickname for Elizabeth, but it may not to a skycap, a desk agent, or a security officer―any of whom could ask you to show ID with that name before boarding, says Delta Air Lines public-relations rep Katie Connell.
Select your seats ASAP. “If you have a disability and need a premium seat in the bulkhead, tell the agent when you make your reservation rather than at the airport,” says David Martin, a Delta passenger-service specialist who creates the airline’s policies for customers with disabilities. Other passengers might be able to nab those seats 24 hours before the flight, when they’re made available to everyone through the airline’s website.
Get to your gateway city as early as you can. “Since delays stack up as the day progresses, it’s smart to book the first flight you can into a hub [if you have a connecting flight],” says Dunnagan.
Double-check foreign document requirements. Some countries―like Chile, Kenya, and India―require a visa for entry; others, like South Africa, won’t allow entrance unless a traveler’s passport contains at least two blank, unstamped pages. You need to be aware of such requirements before you make your flight reservations or you could get stuck Stateside, according to a source at the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs. For a complete list of entrance regulations, visit travel.state.gov/travel.
Dwayne Baird, spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said in an interview Wednesday that changes "may or may not" be seen by travelers this weekend.
Regardless, he said the same advice for making your flight still holds: give yourself about two hours, wear slip-on shoes and know the rules for carrying liquids.
"The situation is we're still in holiday traffic, holiday travel mode. Passengers still need to plan on arriving to the airport accordingly," he said.
The TSA's reaction to the Nigerian man's attempt could appear differently at each airport. He said the agency takes a "layered approach to security." For example, the proper allocation of resources depends on the day. They can and do change daily, he added.
Baird said some of the possible changes travelers may or may not notice could include beefed up deploying of explosives detection, K-9 units, the presence of local law enforcement, meticulous gate screening and more behavior-detection officers.
"You may not see the same things at every airport," he explained.
So far, extra security measures and heavy weather in some parts of the country have not significantly affected the ability of visitors to reach Park City.
Thea Leonard of the Treasure Mountain Inn and Erin Grady of Deer Valley Resort both said they were aware of a
Many merchants say they've enjoyed a good week and expect the recent snowfall to bring even more people to town.
