Travel and Leisure – Article Flash

Headquartered in Rome, the eternal city, Alitalia is the nineteenth largest airline in the world, with its main hub at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport. Alitalia serves 66 international and 24 domestic destinations, its top 12 flights all originating from Rome. Alitalia offers a frequent flier program MileMiglia, qualifying fliers for all the benefits of the Sky Team Alliance. Members of MileMiglia can earn miles on flights on Alitalia or any of its thirteen Sky Team partners, including Air France, Delta, Northwest, Aeroflot, Korean Airlines, Czech Airlines, and more.

The very first Alitalia flight took place just a year after the end of World War II, in 1946, originating in Turin and arriving in Rome via Catania. The carrier’s first international flight was in 1947, taking passengers from Milan to South America. Alitalia’s present fleet primarily consists of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, as the company makes strategic changes to expand its international presence after bankruptcy and merger.

Airlines seldom make money, and Alitalia is no exception to the rule. The carrier had only one profitable year, 1998. When the Italian government stopped subsidies in 2006, flights were grounded, and the airline found it increasingly difficult to deal with labor issues. Alitalia declared bankruptcy in 2008, and then sold a 25 per cent stake to Air France-KLM.

The newly privatized Alitalia then merged with Air One under a corporate consortium called Compagnia Aerea Italiana (CAI), which finalized its acquisition of the two airlines in late 2008.  The new Air One operates frequent flights to 36 destinations in Europe and also to North America, flying from Rome, Milan, and Turin.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had called for the formation of the air partnership, which derived over 1 billion euros in investment capital from leading Italian entrepreneurs and banks. Air One assumed Alitalia’s debts and its assets, which led to inevitable public questions concerning how much the Alitalia sale was subsidized by European taxpayers. Air One vowed to bring the carrier to profitability by 2010, but its only initial changes were unpopular job cuts. Although over 12,000 employees of the “old” Alitalia kept their positions, another 3,250 were fired in a five-year plan to bring the new airline to profitability by 2010.

CAI officials hope that the 25 per cent stake held by Air France-KLM will enable the new company to expand its coverage of international destinations that will bring the company into the black. But Alitalia’s problems created a great deal for the flying public, as all tickets were honored and the new participation in Sky Team greatly enhances opportunities to earn and use frequent flier points from MileMiglia.

Alitalia continues to provide charters for a well-known jet nicknamed “Shepherd One,” used by the Holy Father whenever he leaves the Vatican on flights around the world. The new consortium is expected to continue to provide Shepherd One.

The flagship carrier of Austria is Austrian Airlines, headquartered in Vienna, with its main hub at Wien Schwechat/Vienna International Airport. The Vienna airport takes pride in its uncommon capacity for helping passengers change flights quickly and easily so they can reach destinations in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia, and beyond. The management of Wien Schwechat promise that passengers never should have to wait more than half an hour for a connecting flight—and there are plenty of cafes and lounges and even caviar bars to make the wait even shorter.

Austrian Airlines was founded 52 years ago, in 1957. Along with its subsidiary Tyrolean, Austrian Airlines focuses on providing multiple choices for air travel to and from Central Europe and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The travel carrier has over 8,500 employees, and is a member not only of the Austrian Airlines Group, but also of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance representing 24 different carriers. Most Austrian Airlines jets were built by Airbus or Boeing.

The frequent flyer program for Austrian Airlines customers is known as Miles & More. Over 15 million people earn Miles & More on Austrian Airlines and 12 other European carriers, and use their miles on these carrier as well as the 24 carriers in the Star Alliance.

Few airlines place a greater emphasis on safety. For nearly 30 years, since 1981, every Austrian Airlines flight has been accompanied by at least two undercover sky marshals. All pilots and flight attendants receive frequent training with a special emphasis on safety, as well as new technology.

Much as the Vienna airport offers singular efficiency in transferring passengers between flights in 30 minutes or less, Austrian Airlines offers outstanding customer service. Completely revamping its customer service program in 2006, Austrian Airlines added dozens of new features, ranging from new passenger lounges to free snack service in economy to all-inclusive customer care for passengers on the ground. Calling their new program a success, Austrian Airlines proudly points to multiple industry surveys giving them top rankings in customer service and quality.

In February 2009, the airline appointed Dr. Andreas Bierwirth and Dr. Peter   chief co-executives, with equal management rights. Austrian’s board of directors anticipates this new and unique management team will boost the airlines’ bottom line despite declining passenger numbers. In 2008, the airline carried 10.7 million passengers, down from 2007, and further loss of traffic is expected in 2009. Emphasizing its well-known strengths, Austrian Airlines is maintaining its image as the carrier of choice for flights from Europe to the Middle East, adding four flights each week to Jordan’s capital, Amman.

KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines is the Netherlands’ national carrier, with its home offices in Amstelveen and its main hub at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Serving over 90 travel destinations, KLM offers both international and domestic flights. It is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, the world’s second largest airline alliance.

For the past several years, KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines has been part of Air France-KLM, while it has also maintained an operating partnership with Northwest Airlines, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the USA. The two-airline consortium operates a fleet of 607 aircraft that carry nearly 75 million passengers a year to 258 travel destinations. The Air France-KLM partnership recently obtained even more global reach by purchasing a 25 per cent stake in the Italian carrier Alitalia.

Founded in 1919 and the world’s oldest air carrier, KLM ran its first flights, from London to Amsterdam, in May 1920. During World War II it ceased operations. The company was accused of helping accused Nazi war criminals escape Germany after World War II, but it has denied the allegations.

While KLM remains the world’s oldest airline, it is no longer the world’s oldest independent airline. Air France and KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines announced merger plans in 2003, marking the end of KLM’s independent run. The merger did affect the ongoing cooperation between KLM and Northwest Airlines, however, as both companies joined SkyTeam in September 2004.

Fliers in first or business class on KLM are given souvenir porcelain reproductions of old Dutch canal houses, the Delftware miniatures filled with a Dutch liqueur. KLM’s practice of handing out the Delft porcelain miniatures began in 1952, and, as 2008, the company’s eighty-eighth year in operation; there are 88 models of the houses. Each October 7 the company celebrates the anniversary of its founding with a new Delftware design.

KLM’s mileage program is Flying Blue. Members can accumulate and spend miles on flights on Air France-KLM, and also on other SkyTeam carriers and with a variety of transportation, travel, and financial companies. Flying Blue members earn four membership levels, Ivory, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, determined by their accumulated SkyTeam miles. Members can also earn miles on flights operated by Kenya Airways, which is a Flying Blue partner.

KLM’s venerable history hasn’t protected the company for current economic turbulence. Air France-KLM recently announced it will lay off up to 2,000 employees on account of lower ticket sales and fewer cargo shipments. These cuts represent about 1 in 30 Air France-KLM workers. The company also plans to reduce its airline capacity by about 2 per cent in the summer of 2009, to make up for the $653 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2008. Airline management says it has not ruled out future job cuts or flight reductions as they seek to stabilize their finances and return the company to profitability.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, an airline watchdog group, announced in February 2009 that the group is suing KLM over allegations of price fixing.  KLM denies the charges and plans to contest the lawsuit.  Qantas and British Airways were recently fined $20 million and $5 million for similar allegations of price fixing.

Qantas Airlines is the national airline of Australia.  Qantas is Australia’s largest airline with its main hub at Sydney International Airport.  Qantas also has hubs at Melbourne Airport, Brisbane Airport and Perth Airport.  Qantas operates international flights into Brisbane, Parth, Singapore, Los Angeles and London.

Founded in 1920, Qantas is the world’s second oldest airline in continuous operation, and the oldest airline in continuous operation in the English-speaking world. It maintains membership in the Oneworld alliance, one of the planet’s premier airline alliance programs.

Qantas is both privately held and of the world’s very most profitable airlines. Voted third best in the world by the World Airline Awards in 2008, Qantas and its subsidiaries maintain hundreds of Boeing and Airbus planes, naming each after Australian aviators, Australian cities, Australian cities, Greek gods and goddesses, and stars.

Always spelled without a “u,” the name of the airline actually is an acronym for “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services.”

Adventure travelers seeking to tour Antarctica can fly on Qantas charters booked by Croydon Travel. Qantas flew its first tours of Antarctica in 1977. These tours were suspended in 1979 after the disastrous crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 on Mt. Erebus, but were restarted the summer of 1994. Qantas ensures that all its Antarctic flight crews have had extensive training in polar operations and know what to do in whiteouts, such as those that contributed to the 1979 Air New Zealand disaster.

Qantas rewards frequent fliers with points based on distance flown, with additional points for travel in first and business class. Miles may be earned and spent on both Qantas and Oneworld alliance carriers. Following criticism of its rewards program in 2008 over the unavailability of reward seats, Qantas introduced Any Seat rewards, allowing members to pay for any seat on a flight, and Points Plus Pay, allowing members to qualify for travel with a combination of points and cash payments.

Qantas is the first airline to offer mobile phone usage during flight.  In addition, the airline offers wireless internet access as well as seat-back access to email and cached web browsing.  Qantas also has an extensive in-flight entertainment system.  There are two systems.  One is an audio/video on demand system called the Total Entertainment System.  The other entertainment system is the Mainscreen System, where drop-down video screens show either movies or television programs, depending on the length of the flight.

Qantas recently announced its scheme to reduce its carbon footprint. It now allows passengers to fly carbon neutral, and to pay for their contribution to the carbon offset plan in either cash or frequent flier points. Qantas donates the proceeds of the program to verified offset projects with a government-certified Green Friendly certification. Olympian and swimmer Ian Thorpe and professional golfer Greg Norman are the program’s spokesmen.

The flagship carrier of Austria is Austrian Airlines, headquartered in Vienna, with its main hub at Wien Schwechat/Vienna International Airport. The Vienna airport takes pride in its uncommon capacity for helping passengers change flights quickly and easily so they can reach destinations in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia, and beyond. The management of Wien Schwechat promise that passengers never should have to wait more than half an hour for a connecting flight—and there are plenty of cafes and lounges and even caviar bars to make the wait even shorter.

Austrian Airlines was founded 52 years ago, in 1957. Along with its subsidiary Tyrolean, Austrian Airlines focuses on providing multiple choices for air travel to and from Central Europe and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The carrier has over 8,500 employees, and is a member not only of the Austrian Airlines Group, but also of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance representing 24 different carriers. Most Austrian Airlines jets were built by Airbus or Boeing.

The frequent flyer program for Austrian Airlines customers is known as Miles & More. Over 15 million people earn Miles & More on Austrian Airlines and 12 other European carriers, and use their miles on these carrier as well as the 24 carriers in the Star Alliance.

Few airlines place a greater emphasis on safety. For nearly 30 years, since 1981, every Austrian Airlines flight has been accompanied by at least two undercover sky marshals. All pilots and flight attendants receive frequent training with a special emphasis on safety, as well as new technology.

Much as the Vienna airport offers singular efficiency in transferring passengers between flights in 30 minutes or less, Austrian Airlines offers outstanding customer service. Completely revamping its customer service program in 2006, Austrian Airlines added dozens of new features, ranging from new passenger lounges to free snack service in economy to all-inclusive customer care for passengers on the ground. Calling their new program a success, Austrian Airlines proudly points to multiple industry surveys giving them top rankings in customer service and quality.

In February 2009, the airline appointed Dr. Andreas Bierwirth and Dr. Peter   chief co-executives, with equal management rights. Austrian’s board of directors anticipates this new and unique management team will boost the airlines’ bottom line despite declining passenger numbers. In 2008, the airline carried 10.7 million passengers, down from 2007, and further loss of traffic is expected in 2009. Emphasizing its well-known strengths, Austrian Airlines is maintaining its image as the carrier of choice for flights from Europe to the Middle East, adding four flights each week to Jordan’s capital, Amman.

Based in Dubai, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Emirates Airlines is the world’s eighth largest airline. Emirates Airlines was founded in 1985, and has grown to serve 92 destinations in 55 countries around the world. Not offering domestic service, Emirates nonetheless is the premier airline of the Middle East and also is a market leader in Southeast Asia. It is one of only six airlines in the world to operate a fleet of all wide-body aircraft built by Airbus and Boeing.

Emirates also stands out among carriers in that it has been reliably profitable, posting only one loss in the last 24 years. Its sales growth has stayed above 20 per cent a year, doubling every three and one-half years between 1985 and 1996, and doubling every four years since. It maintains a lean, efficient work force that gives it the competitive advantages of a low-cost travel carrier, and it also benefits by its association with the Arab Air Carriers Association. Founded in 1965 by the Arab League, the Arab Air Carriers Association is open to any airline based in a member state, and seeks to promote cooperation, quality service, and safety among all its member airlines.

The government of the UAE both owns and operates Emirates Airlines, but it neither provides capital nor interferes with its day to day affairs. This unique arrangement allows Emirates the advantages of government affiliation without the downside, powering its unmatched growth and profitability.

Emirates maintains a subsidiary for cargo transport, Emirates Skycargo. Likewise based in Dubai, Emirates SkyCargo is organized like a passenger airline. It flies nine jets, and also utilizes excess cargo capacity in the passenger fleet.

Emirates was the second carrier to place the Airbus A380 into service, accepting delivery in July 2008. Emirates Airlines flies the A380 between Dubai and JFK (New York) and Heathrow (London), and also on its flights to Australia and New Zealand.

Although Emirates’ only hub is at Dubai International Airport, it flies to over 100 destinations in 56 countries. The company has agreements with the aviation authorities in Australia and Singapore that allow it to fly from their countries to even farther-flung destinations around the world.

Frequent fliers enjoy the benefits of Skywards, allowing them to earn or spend frequent flier miles on Emirates or any of its Skywards partners, including Korean Air, Japan Airlines, United, South African Airways, Jet Airways, Continental, Kingfisher Airlines, and Virgin Blue.

Emirates Airlines also owns a stake in Dnata, one of the largest travel organizations in the Middle East.  Dnata employs over 6,500 people who handle passenger, cargo, ramp and technical services for airlines at Dubai International Airport.

Emirates Airlines, Emirates SkyCargo and Dnata are all part of The Emirates Group, a public international organization holding company headquartered in Dubai.  Emirates Airlines currently has about 35,000 employees.

Based in Dubai, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Emirates Airlines is the world’s eighth largest travel services. Emirates Airlines was founded in 1985, and has grown to serve 92 destinations in 55 countries around the world. Not offering domestic service, Emirates nonetheless is the premier airline of the Middle East and also is a market leader in Southeast Asia. It is one of only six airlines in the world to operate a fleet of all wide-body aircraft built by Airbus and Boeing.

Emirates also stands out among carriers in that it has been reliably profitable, posting only one loss in the last 24 years. Its sales growth has stayed above 20 per cent a year, doubling every three and one-half years between 1985 and 1996, and doubling every four years since. It maintains a lean, efficient work force that gives it the competitive advantages of a low-cost carrier, and it also benefits by its association with the Arab Air Carriers Association. Founded in 1965 by the Arab League, the Arab Air Carriers Association is open to any airline based in a member state, and seeks to promote cooperation, quality travel service, and safety among all its member airlines.

The government of the UAE both owns and operates Emirates Airlines, but it neither provides capital nor interferes with its day to day affairs. This unique arrangement allows Emirates the advantages of government affiliation without the downside, powering its unmatched growth and profitability.

Emirates maintains a subsidiary for cargo transport, Emirates Skycargo. Likewise based in Dubai, Emirates SkyCargo is organized like a passenger airline. It flies nine jets, and also utilizes excess cargo capacity in the passenger fleet.

Emirates was the second carrier to place the Airbus A380 into service, accepting delivery in July 2008. Emirates Airlines flies the A380 between Dubai and JFK (New York) and Heathrow (London), and also on its flights to Australia and New Zealand.

Although Emirates’ only hub is at Dubai International Airport, it flies to over 100 destinations in 56 countries. The company has agreements with the aviation authorities in Australia and Singapore that allow it to fly from their countries to even farther-flung destinations around the world.

Frequent fliers enjoy the benefits of Skywards, allowing them to earn or spend frequent flier miles on Emirates or any of its Skywards partners, including Korean Air, Japan Airlines, United, South African Airways, Jet Airways, Continental, Kingfisher Airlines, and Virgin Blue.

Emirates Airlines also owns a stake in Dnata, one of the largest travel organizations in the Middle East.  Dnata employs over 6,500 people who handle passenger, cargo, ramp and technical services for airlines at Dubai International Airport.

Emirates Airlines, Emirates SkyCargo and Dnata are all part of The Emirates Group, a public international organization holding company headquartered in Dubai.  Emirates Airlines currently has about 35,000 employees.

KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines is the Netherlands’ national carrier, with its home offices in Amstelveen and its main hub at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Serving over 90 destinations, KLM offers both international and domestic flights. It is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, the world’s second largest airline alliance.

For the past several years, KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines has been part of Air France-KLM, while it has also maintained an operating partnership with Northwest Airlines, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the USA. The two-airline consortium operates a fleet of 607 aircraft that carry nearly 75 million passengers a year to 258 destinations. The Air France-KLM partnership recently obtained even more global reach by purchasing a 25 per cent stake in the Italian carrier Alitalia.

Founded in 1919 and the world’s oldest air carrier, KLM ran its first flight, from London to Amsterdam, in May 1920. During World War II it ceased operations. The company was accused of helping accused Nazi war criminals escape Germany after World War II, but it has denied the allegations.

While KLM remains the world’s oldest airline, it is no longer the world’s oldest independent airline. Air France and KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines announced merger plans in 2003, marking the end of KLM’s independent run. The merger did affect the ongoing cooperation between KLM and Northwest Airlines, however, as both companies joined SkyTeam in September 2004.

Fliers in first or business class on KLM are given souvenir porcelain reproductions of old Dutch canal houses, the Delftware miniatures filled with a Dutch liqueur. KLM’s practice of handing out the Delft porcelain miniatures began in 1952, and, as 2008, the company’s eighty-eighth year in operation; there are 88 models of the houses. Each October 7 the company celebrates the anniversary of its founding with a new Delftware design.

KLM’s mileage program is Flying Blue. Members can accumulate and spend miles on flights on Air France-KLM, and also on other SkyTeam carriers and with a variety of transportation, travel, and financial companies. Flying Blue members earn four membership levels, Ivory, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, determined by their accumulated SkyTeam miles. Members can also earn miles on flights operated by Kenya Airways, which is a Flying Blue partner.

KLM’s venerable history hasn’t protected the company for current economic turbulence. Air France-KLM recently announced it will lay off up to 2,000 employees on account of lower ticket sales and fewer cargo shipments. These cuts represent about 1 in 30 Air France-KLM workers. The company also plans to reduce its airline capacity by about 2 per cent in the summer of 2009, to make up for the $653 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2008. Airline management says it has not ruled out future job cuts or flight reductions as they seek to stabilize their finances and return the company to profitability.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, an airline watchdog group, announced in February 2009 that the group is suing KLM over allegations of price fixing.  KLM denies the charges and plans to contest the lawsuit.  Qantas and British Airways were recently fined $20 million and $5 million for similar allegations of price fixing.

One of the world’s largest and best known passenger airlines is headquartered in the unlikely location of Fort Worth, Texas, which is just a few miles from DFW, its main hub. American Airlines offers thousands of flights to hundreds of locations in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, India, China, and Japan.

Founded in 1930, American has been a pioneer of many of the features that make flying easier. American Airlines was the first carrier to offer a frequent travel flyer program. It was the first airline to use electronic ticketing. Its AAdvantage frequent flier rewards program serves over 50 million members, and is the largest frequent flier program in the world.

Flying between 250 cities in almost 700 planes, American Airlines is dominant on routes between the US and Latin America, transporting over a million passengers every year between these two huge markets. No other airlines carries more people to and from the USA and Latin America. But that doesn’t mean American Airlines is not strong in other markets, too.

American has four hubs, at DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth), San Juan, Puerto Rico, Chicago, and Miami. American is also strong in Boston, Los Angeles, and New York. The company maintains and services its plains at facilities in Fort Worth, Kansas City, and Tulsa.

A well-known subsidiary of American is its regional carrier American Eagle. This small airline with the smaller planes often provides the only service at less-traveled airports in the US, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. American Eagle’s home offices are also located in Fort Worth, Texas.

American was a founding member of the airline alliance Oneworld. Airline alliances allow carriers to share flight codes and luggage transfer facilities with numerous other carriers to give fliers more choices. Oneworld airlines also share their frequent flier programs. The Oneworld Alliance celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2009.

Part of the reason American Airlines serves so many destinations around the world, but especially in the USA, was its acquisition of Trans World Airlines (TWA) and the TWA hub in St. Louis in 2001. Unfortunately, the acquisition of TWA caused American to bleed cash, and these financial problems were compounded when two American Airlines planes were hijacked and crashed on 9/11. After the September attacks, American Airlines was forced to relinquish its St. Louis hub and to lay off a small number, that is, a few dozen, former TWA employees. American Airlines continues to struggle to minimize its losses, and in 2008 was the first airline to charge fees for checked baggage. Despite the nearly universal unpopularity of the move with passengers, just as they adopted other American Airlines innovations, other carriers also announced their own baggage fees.

American Airlines flies almost 700 jets, with most of them being McDonnell Douglas MD-82 and MD-83 series twinjets.  American recently announced plans to add the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to its fleet.

American Airlines is also a leader in offering in-flight technology.  In 2008, American became the first airline to offer full in-flight internet service.  This came only a year after American began offering free Wi-fi service to passengers on its flights in the United States.

Travelling can be a nerve-wrenching experience, whether it’s a last minute travel or one that’s been scheduled for weeks and even months in advance.  Will they have everything you need when you arrive, what can’t you leave home without and can you be sure you won’t leave anything there? You run in circles at the last minute trying to make sure you packed your toothbrush, passport and chewing gum for the flight.  Then there’s whether you’ve packed according to security stipulations when you get to the airport. While it can indeed be a worrisome task to prepare for, travel doesn’t have to be the end of the world if you do just do a little planning and follow these simple travel tips.     

Packing is an especially important part of your travel. You don’t want to forget something essential. When you’re going through security, you need to follow procedures that may leave you digging through your purse or carry-on when you’re in a rush to catch a flight. The first tip about flight security is paying attention to the rules about carrying liquids through security. This not only includes beverages, but toothpaste, liquid deodorant, lotion, lip gloss, aerosols, and much more. Many people are used to packing these items in their carry-on bags without thinking about the restrictions. Restricted items that might be confiscated by the security officers may not be returned!

To avoid losing the new lotion that you got for Christmas on your travel, pack larger bottles of liquids in checked bags. Security does allow a one quart, clear, zipper-top bag with liquids in amounts smaller than three ounces (but no aerosols) to be carried with you on the plane.  Remember, pack small, travel size liquids in a clear Zip-Loc bag and pack all other liquids in your checked luggage. Think carefully about your shoes. You’ll be required to take them off at the security checkpoint. Don’t wear shoes that are difficult to remove because this will slow down the security process. Wear easy to remove sneakers or flip-flops. If you need to, you can carry the shoes you want to change into in your carry-on bag. Being well prepared will help you avoid other passengers getting impatient with you.

Depending on the time of year that you’re traveling, you might want to arrive at the airport well ahead of your flight. During peak travel dates, arrive at least two hours before your flight departure. An airline beginning boarding airplanes 30-40 minutes before the plane is scheduled for take-off. This leaves you with only 1 ½ hours to get everything done!

Depending on how you made your flight reservation, you may print your ticket at the check-in kiosk. These kiosks are self-serve, so you don most of the work yourself. This is convenient, but you need to know how to use them or else check-in can eat-up your time at the airport. Keep some things close at hand: your ticket record locator (a 13-diget number), confirmation number and driver’s license. After checking in and printing your ticket, you can check your bags at the counter and show your ID to the ticket agent. Now you’re free of your huge suitcase and you can head for the security checkpoint!

The checkpoint is actually a fairly easy process. It’s fast moving, but if you know what you’re doing, it moves smoothly. Another travel tip to remember is following procedure: first you need to present your ID and boarding pass, so keep them close at hand. Once you pass this point, place your carry-on items on the conveyor belt that passes under an x-ray while you walk through a metal detector. Before you put your bags on the conveyor belt, remove your shoes and Zip-Loc bags with liquids.  Take out your laptop computer and other electronics smaller than the palm of your hand. Put them on the conveyor belt separately. Gather your belongings and the only thing you have left to do now is board the plane!

There are lots of places to get even more travel tips.  Keeping these in mind when it’s time to take your trip will help you to feel less panicked about what you might have missed.  Hopefully the tips above will prove helpful to you.  Good luck and happy travels!