Air Travel Timesaving Tips To Speed Up Your Trip
By Gerald Crawford

Before ariving at the Airport:

. Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry, and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.

. Instead, place jewelry and other metal items, including the contents of your pockets, in your carry-on baggage until you clear security. Mobile phones, pagers, keys, lighters, and loose change are examples of items containing metal.

. Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your Carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening will damage undeveloped film.

. Check ahead of time with your airline or travel agent to determine the airline's baggage policy, including number of pieces you can bring and the size and weight limitations.

. Carry-on baggage is generally limited to one carry-on bag plus one personal item. Personal items include laptops, purses, small backpacks, briefcases, or camera cases. Remember, 1+1.

. The limit of one carry-on and one personal item (purse, briefcase or computer case) does not apply to medical supplies, equipment, mobility aids and/or assistive devices by a person with a disability.

. Place identification tags with your name, address and your phone number on all your baggage, including your laptop computer. It is a good idea to place an identification tag inside your baggage as well.

. Pack your outer coat or jacket in your baggage when possible.

. Do NOT pack or bring prohibited items to the airport. Visit http://www.tsa.dot.gov for a complete list.

. Leave gifts unwrapped. Be aware that wrapped gifts may need to be opened for inspection. This applies to both carry-on and checked baggage.

. Avoid overpacking so that your articles don't spill out if your bag is opened for inspection.

. Think carefully about the personal items you place in your carry-on baggage. The screeners may have to open your bag and examine its contents.

. Consider placing articles in clear plastic bags inside your baggage to minimize handing of your personal items.

. If you have a medical implant or other device that is likely to set off the alarm on the metal detector, bring evidence verifying this condition. Although this is not a requirement, it may help expedite the screening process.

. Check with your airline or travel agent to determine how early to arrive at the airport. Ask if you should go to the ticket counter or checked-baggage screening area first. Not all airports are the same.

. Check with your airport to confirm which parking lots are open if you will be parking at the airport. Some lots may be closed for security reasons. Be sure to allow extra time for parking and shuttle transportation.

. Bring a boarding pass, ticket, or ticket confirmation, such as a printed itinerary and a government-issued photo ID. Children under the age of 18 do not require an ID.

. Double check your carry-on baggage to make sure you have removed prohibited items such as pocketknives, scissors, and tools.

. If you do not have checked baggage and you already have a boarding pass, ticket or ticket confirmation, you can proceed directly to your gate through the security checkpoint. Please note that certain airlines do not offer gate check-in.

AT the Airport:

. Do NOT bring drinks or other liquids to the security checkpoint unless they are in paper or polystyrene (e.g. Styrofoam™), sealed or seal-able/spill-proof containers.

. Do NOT bring food to the security checkpoint unless it is wrapped or in a container. Unpeeled natural foods like fruit are ok.

. Put metal IN your carry-on bag, this includes jewelry, loose change, keys, mobile phone, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs).

. Take OUT your laptop computer. Place it in a bin, separate from its carry case.

. Take OFF your outer coat. Place it in a bin. Suit jackets and blazers do not have to be removed, unless requested by the screener.

Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerald_Crawford

September 14, 2001- Everyone had to pile onto the tour bus today bound for the Munich Airport even though many of our flights are cancelled. Apparently, we have to show up to be rescheduled. We stood in long lines just to be told when we would be able to take a flight out, comparable to our original plan.

My flight was rescheduled for exactly one week later, but it was guaranteed to leave on time and I took it. Everyone else had a tough time of it, because they didn’t want to or couldn’t wait. Some of my fellow tour members were put on perpetual stand-by (which is worse than being stranded at an airport in my estimation.)

At any rate, the tour bus driver was gracious enough to take those who were rescheduled back to Hotel Erzgiesserei. Normally the allowance is only one transfer for the airport. New note: By the time I left Munich on September 21st everyone else had left Germany. This was the first time I had taken out travel insurance for foreign travel and I strongly recommend it. If I had not, this trip would have ended up costing me twice what I originally paid.

When we got back I talked to my mother about what my new flight plans were and to Eva in Nuremberg. With the extra time, I planned an outing for me to visit her and Hans-Jurgen on Sunday, the sixteenth, in Nuremberg. After that I took time to plan out my own forays to go see Nymphenburg Palace and visit some hot spots in Munich. I want to take care of some business, too, such as getting all my photos developed before going home.

(Later) Went to a Laundromat and found out you have to have a special card, which is purchased or renewed at special kiosks and vending machines at the subway stations. One really nice German couple figured out that I was an American and they let me use their card since I only had one load to do. Talk about nice people! They even gave me some laundry soap because you can’t buy that without a card either! I insisted on paying the difference and they finally let me pay them. I’ll never forget that kindness extended to me by total strangers. No one else even paid any attention to my dilemma!

September 15, 2001- Someone at Hotel Erzgiesserei told me to go to Sauter in Sendlinger Tor to get my film processed. I have taken at least 300 photos so I hope they can help me and get them processed before I have to leave! All the gifts that Eva has given me have been mailed home for me by the Hotel. That was the biggest favor of all. It has taken the burden of getting everything back home a whole lot easier!

I’m gearing up for my trip tomorrow on the Schnellbahn to Nuremberg. I bought my ticket today to go in the morning. It will only take an hour to get from Munich to Nuremberg! I’ve done a lot of shopping around Nymphenburgerstrasse, the area around my hotel, today and I found a little gift for Eva’s birthday which is actually on the 18th. When I gave her a birthday card at Rothenburg- little did I know that I would still be here for her birthday!

September 16, 2001- I left my hotel for Hauptbahnhof by ten and I am on my way to Nuremberg. The man sitting next to me asked to see my ticket in English and he had a German accent. I let him know this was my first ‘fast train’ experience and he let me know that I had erroneously seated myself in the first class when I belonged on one of the third class trains but he said it was alright to continue sitting in my seat! He noticed that I was reading a German magazine and asked me if I spoke German and I apprised him that I could read it 75% faster than I could understand it spoken. He seemed shocked but I explained that I had much more practice at reading it.

Eva and Hans-Jurgen met me right on the platform. We decided to stroll around the main part of old town (Altstadt) and Altstadt Festival was going on which is an early Oktoberfest. This is the earliest one, in Nuremberg, and it was close to very important edifices. Albrecht Durer’s house is there and gives guided tours. A statue of Hans Sachs is right in the square of Hauptmarkt. He was a famous cobbler because he was also a poet. The Church of Our Lady ( a Notre Dame) is also there and every year at Christmas time this is the location of Christkindlesmarkt. Eva feels it is the best one in Germany besides the one at Rothenburg.

We happened to stumble upon a Russian art exhibit at Kirche St. Petrus Canisius which is also near to the square, and their brochure explained that it was sacred art from the State Museum in Moscow! The showing was called “Ich bin das Licht der Welt” which means ‘I am the light of the world’ in English. Much of the art was of the nativity but there were a few other various depictions. I bought three post-cards of some of the art. I’m sure there were over 1,000 art pieces there!

We walked up to the Imperial Castle which sits high above the town and is a great place to take photos of the entire city. Eva and Hans-Jurgen pointed out several points of interest. There was a lot of reconstruction going on there, much like in Munich. When we drove to their house I commented on this and Hans-Jurgen said that most of it was still from WWII!

Eva, Hans-Jurgen, Sina and I sat down in their dining room and proceeded to have the German version of high tea. She makes wonderful ‘lebkuchen’ (gingerbread cookies) and varieties of cakes and other cookies and candies. She has a wonderful view of her garden at the kitchen area, so now I understand why she and Hans-Jurgen have lived here for so long.

Both Eva and I were a little sad when they had to take me back to the Bahnhof but I had a wonderful time seeing the Nuremberg Castle and to see her city which she has lived in all her life!

(Later) When some people left the train before Munich I managed to find some seats to sit down on, which was a relief. Next time I’ll know to ask for first class seats! Caveat emptor!

As soon as I sat down two young German men struck up a conversation with me on the train back to Munich and were very curious what Bush would decide to do. I remember stammering back, in German, “I should hope he’ll do nothing!” It was a little unnerving, and when they saw my reaction they backed off a little bit.

September 18, 2001- I prepared all day, yesterday, for leaving on the 21st. All I have to do on that morning is get myself ready and close the bags and leave. Tonight I went to a cinema that runs films in English on Nymphenburger Strasse. I saw “A Knight’s Tale” and it was certainly appropriate given this tour of castles. I liked the combining of classic rock tunes and the medieval jousting. It was a fun movie; however, I had to sit through 45 minutes of T.V. commercials and previews before the film started. I didn’t get back to my hotel until after 1:00 A.m. so I am only hours away from taking an excursion out to Nymphenburg Schloss, which is on the outskirts of Munich. I will take one of the Strassbahns out there. This will be the only castle on this tour I will view by myself, with the exception of Villandry back in France.

September 19, 2001- The sun shone beautifully all day long so it was great for getting photos of the Schloss. This is particularly wonderful because the day the tour group went out to Nymphenburg (13th) it was raining! The castle and castle grounds are massive. Some post-cards I bought prior to going out there today, show magnificent aerial views just above it, which display its extensive and equidistant layout. The outlying buildings connected to the inner courtyard are magnificent twins and the whole estate is reminiscent but definitively larger than Versailles. The attempted duplication of the grounds is obvious. The tour guide information is impressive and shows many details along with wonderful photographs of its former glory and what it looked like after the WWII bombings.

In going through the parkland I discovered a very old church, “Magdaleninklause”, which appears to be in seriously bad condition outside with walls cracked from foundation to roofline, but the interior is fascinating. I opted to tour it although you go through it yourself with no guide available. It is all wood paneling except for the grotto nave which appears to be adorned entirely with shells and rocks. Black and white lithographs cover the walls from top to bottom in every room with very little explanation. It was beautiful anyway and I came away with a happy feeling. New note: When I came back to the States and looked it up in various guides it turned out to be a fabricated church, right down to the appearance of ruination. I will say this about it; it looks very authentic right down to the Latin inscription at the front portal!

When I left there and got back on the Strassbahn I headed straight for Sendlinger Tor to pick up all the prints of the photos taken during the trip. The shots I took today will just have to go on the road with me, there’s no more time left to process them before leaving. They didn’t print any bad takes so I have over three hundred photos- all of which are excellent. In spite of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, I’m so happy I took this trip and have photographic memories of it all. It has satisfied a deep longing that I had inside me for a long time and I will treasure it always.

This is where my notes stopped on the trip. I would like to say in conclusion that the most uplifting experience I had concerning the aftermath of 9/11 were all the flags displayed outside people’s homes when I got back to Denver. It made me feel good to be home again and reminded me that I live in a great country where most of the people are brave beyond measure at times. I am proud to live in the U.S.A.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Evelyn for sharing with us here memories of what must have been a wonderful experience.

I hope you have enjoyed reading issue 23 and If you have any suggestions or comments about any part of the newsletter then please feel free to contact me.

As always, if you have a story,photos or questions you wish to ask or share with our readers then please email me and I will be happy to include them in our next edition.

All submissions should reach me by no later than the 20th of January