1. Since airlines have limited liability when it comes to lost baggage, it will be smart if you avoid bring with you items that are too expensive or too difficult to replace. If you need to bring these items, you should ask your insurance company or purchase extra valuation coverage.
2. It is better if you put important documents and items such as jewelry and cash on your carry-on bags so that even if your baggage is lost, you do not have to worry about them. Most travelers find belt bags to be very convenient for this reason.
3. Make sure that your suitcase can be easily identified. If possible, purchase one with a slide-in plastic window where you can put in your name and other important details instead of choosing one with an identification tag, which can easily be torn off.
4. Before packing your things, you should inspect the locks and zippers of your luggage. There are cases when bags pop open when being handled because they are overstuffed or the locks are broken.
5. Keep with you a detailed inventory of all the items in your luggage. This way, you can easily confirm whether you lost any item if your baggage got lost or delayed.
6. As soon as you realize that your luggage is not in the baggage claim area, report it to the airline at once. They might have an idea whether your bags have been loaded into another flight. If in case your bags are really lost, you should fill out and complete the required form properly. Ask for a phone number so that you can call them regarding your baggage.

If you are not a fan of the carry-on bag, here are some of the factors you should consider when choosing one:

• Size: pick a bag that weighs a maximum of 8lbs when empty. It is also wise to get one that expands. Consider the size limits that airlines impose, which is about 45 linear inches. This means that your bag should measure not more than 22 by 14 by 9 inches. Once you have met the size limit, you should not experience any problem with the weight limit. Many airlines allow their passengers a limit of 40lbs for domestic travels and 16lbs for international travels.
• Quality: since you will be attempting to travel using just this one bag, you should make sure that it could hold up all the jostling. Check the durability of the construction, zippers and of course, the wheels. It is probably a good idea to buy a carry-on from a reputable manufacturer, who can even offer warranty.
• Price: if you will be traveling frequently, then you should buy a carry-on that will be able to stand the test of time. Consider it as an investment and you will actually be saving money in the long run. Keep in mind that most expensive bags are more durable and reliable.

When choosing a carry-on bag, it is better if you buy it personally. You will be able to check it thoroughly and your questions regarding it will be answered immediately.

Air travel has been improving its service with a 79.1 percent on-time arrival high last April. This is partly higher than March and a point higher than last year.

Flights are arriving more on time lately since there are fewer flights scheduled and better air traffic. Air companies have been giving more time from 5 to 30 minutes in some domestic flights to keep their on-time record going.

This air travel tactics has an obvious downside: early arrival on airports and more time in the penalty box. Some passengers complain that they spent more time on land, waiting to get off the plane, than the actual air travel.

The usual taxi-in time ranged from 5.5 minutes 9 years ago to 8 minutes last year. During the first four moths of 2009, planes took less than 7 minutes from touch down to the gate.

But that is not the case for everyone. An American Eagle flight last April had to wait for 2.5 hours before getting into a gate, and two others flights for 2 hours. American had 3 of the 5 most delayed flights last April while the other two is with Continental Airlines.

The airlines explained that the unexpected snowstorms or bad weather has caused these travel mishaps.

Airlines have done these extra travel schedules to improve their late-flight image. Arriving early may sound better, but making your passengers wait in a plane to have an available gate is annoying too.

Here are some tips on how to avoid the penalty box:

• Consider alternate airports. Smaller airports are not as busy as the bigger ones, decreasing the risk of getting the penalty box.
• Have an early flight. First flight of the day means less competition for gates. Avoid the last flights, where the airport might be the busiest.
• Choose a larger plane. Air traffickers avoid holding Boeing 747s while regional carriers usually get the penalty box.
• Pass up air travel in a bad weather. This is the common reason for bad air traffic and taxi-in delays.

Remember: travel to a small airport with a larger plane, avoid peak time arrival and bad weather.

But the best trick would probably to know what to expect when you arrive early. Your air travel is not yet done until you exited the plane.

The U.S. swine flu death recently increased to 5 as a man died of the said virus in Corpus Christi.

Although the Center for Disease Control and Prevention thinks that there are 100,000 H1N1 infected Americans, most appeared to be seasonal flu only. There are actually just 4,714 confirmed swine flu cases.

Doctors from CDC observed that majority of swine flu infected patients who were hospitalized had underlying conditions that placed them susceptible to flu complications.

Based on the CDC’s observations, they could downgrade the travel advisory to Mexico. Only those who are likely to contact flu complications are discouraged to travel to Mexico. From deferring nonessential travels or a level four alert it will be down to a travel precaution.

The CDC also thought that it is more useful to know the pattern of the illness, rather than just tallying the number of cases. WHO announced that there are 7500 known H1N1 swine flu cases, mostly from the U.S. and Mexico.

According to statistics, there is an annual 7 – 10 percent of the American population that get flu annually or 21 – 30 million citizens a year. But with the current swine flu case, the CDC sees that the flu illness cases may be up by 100,000.

Then, there is this unconfirmed news that there is another virus lurking in Mexico —– a strain that includes H1N1 and the seasonal flu virus. Communications to the Mexican authorities are still ongoing to confirm this news.

The World Health Organization warns everyone that the flu scare may not yet be over. Though cases are already waning and there are apparently just some mild outbreaks, in case this virus infiltrates Southeast Asia, the threat would be worse. And if the spread is confirmed to go outside North America, the pandemic alert may reach the highest level.

The H1N1 swine flu virus has really caused many lives. Let us cross our fingers and hope that the H1N1 scare will be over soon. This is not good not only to health, but also to travel, particularly to Mexico.

Here are some compromises you can do to gain the cooperation of your teenager:

• Plan with your kids. Inform them about the travel plan and what they could expect from it. Include them in your planning. They may even have great ideas to make the trip more entertaining for you, and for them. Plus, when you give in to their suggestions, they can be more accommodating to your ideas.
• Teens are at the stage of their development where the most important persons in their lives are their friends. So, why not have a buddy come along? A friend may serve as a baby sitter during the travel.
• But if your budget is limited to your family, you can courteously ask the friend’s parent to pay for their kid’s fare. You can also ask the hotel for extra room discounts and payments for extra amenities.

You can also arrange a travel trade with the friend’s family: you take their kid now for the weekend, and they will take your teen for a trip next time.

• Cell phones, portable video games and Wi-Fi time can be another tantrum-inducing argument during travel. Try to be a little more accommodating to your kid’s extra time with their gadgets, just remind them that there is a right place and time to play with their hi-tech toys.
• Budget. Let your kids know that they can not spend on everything they want during your summer travel. They must have a limit on their souvenir buying, shopping, etc. Apply rules on how much they could only spend for a day. Though kids are a little more behaved when you let them stroll in the malls, remind them about spending. Better yet, let them bring their own money.
• Kids would want to sleep in late during the summer. Allow them, as long as they know until what time breakfast is available and what could they miss if they wake up late.

Summer is the time for your teens to unwind. Let them enjoy your travel by letting them a little loose. Just give constant reminders and you can enjoy your trip too. Giving them a little more freedom means less whining and more peace.

How could we all enjoy air travel if a kid is on board?

• If it would only cost an extra $20 for a peaceful air travel, free from kid annoyance, everyone would try to avail that. Some tried offering non-compulsory kids-only section, but it did not become popular. Families can not be pushed into a specific section in a plane.
• But if you really want to have a peaceful flight, some domestic flights do not allow kids in exit rows; have a reservation on those seats. Or maybe try the business or first class seats where parents would not usually purchase expensive tickets for their kids.
• Since a child-free flight is impossible, passengers and flight crewmembers must exert an effort to maintain peace during their air travel. Flight attendants must be more vigilant in reminding parents of potentially trouble/noise making kids that any disruption will not be tolerated. And if you think the kid that is sitting next to you will nothing but be trouble all throughout the flight, you can ask to be transferred to a different seat, or even better to another flight.
• Remember that there are not only pesky toddlers on board, there are also obnoxious and disrespectful adults. Do not blame it all on the kids.
• If you are a parent and you need to travel with your kids, please be responsible. You must know when your child is already causing a commotion. Bring enough entertainment and food to keep the child calm and happy.Yet airlines must be responsible too. They must remind their passengers, particularly parents on what to expect and what should they prepare for their flight.
• Why not secure these kids, like having a passenger seat. This can keep the kids buckled up snuggly all throughout the flight. This will be safer and more peaceful for everyone else in the flight. Airlines can promote parents to purchase an extra seat by offering discounts and providing these special seats complete with child-friendly safety belts.

We can not keep parents from traveling with their kids. We just need to do our share to keep our air travel enjoyable.

• AAA’s that say that the traditional opening of season of summer travel, Memorial Day Weekend, will have a little travel increase of around 1.5 percent.
• Deliotte’s that roughly 29 percent of Americans will be enjoying this year’s Memorial Day Weekend with a vacation, 5 percent higher than last year’s. They also say that 64 percent of Americans will revel in a summer trip.
• AP-GfK’s poll says that only 42 percent of the population is planning to travel this summer, far from 2005’s 49 percent.

The incongruity may be explained by comparing the entire months of summer from the 3-day long Memorial weekend. Then, AP-GfK used years for comparison, while Deloitte used a year-to-year comparison.

Travel establishments put up surveys to know the demand for the season. The higher demand, the higher prices will go; the lesser the travelers, the better the prices will be.

This means that the cost of your most awaited summer travel depends between the 42 and the 64 percent of the population that will travel this summer (according to AP-GfK and Deliotte).

So, we asked the 3 organizations on how they came up with their numbers and how can they assure accuracy.

• The Associated Press only said that less Americans will be traveling this summer compared to four years ago. They had no exact number on how many actually traveled in the summer of 2005. We are then left to assume that they did not have a follow up to confirm their prediction.
• Deloitte on the other hand says that last year’s Memorial Day weekend celebration is down because of the unaffordable gas prices and is further proven by low rates of hotel occupancy and other information about other various means of travel. Deloitte is planning to evaluate this year’s summer travel predictions after the Labor Day weekend and last Memorial Day travel early next month.
• AAA travel admits that their forecast missed the actual numbers by half a point. But they are proud that they were able to verify their accuracy with the help of their new partner in research.

But if we’re looking at what is really going on around us, Deloitte may be the closest— many will be traveling again this summer.

Gas prices are lower. Because a lot of Americans did not take their vacation last year, they may have saved more for this year’s summer travel season. And with the recession, great summer travel destinations like Vegas and Hawaii are cheap this year. With almost every aspect opening up a better chance for travel this year, no one would not in their homes this summer.

Animals get anxious during travel, this means that they need to ‘go’ more often than usual. But where does your pet get a relief in an airport?

For years, Austin, Phoenix and Salt Lake City airports are only some of the few landing strips that have accessible pet relief areas.

The Department of Tourism has noticed this deficiency too. So to serve their customers’ (man and pet) the same needs, especially for those disabled travelers with service animals, they came up with a new regulation.

Lat May 28, The Department of Transportation has given airports and airlines a year to have accessible pet relief areas, escorts for the disabled with service animals to those areas. Airlines need to work with local airports to figure out how they can make travel more comfortable for animals too.

Because of that advisory, more pet relief areas have been put up in airports across the country to improve their travel service and comply with the DOT regulation.

Philadelphia International Airport has just opened 7 relief stations. These pet ports were put up not only to service travelers but also to comply with the American with Disabilities Act Review Committee.

Boston Logan, Oakland, and Tucson International have joined in opening pet relief sections.

Pet owners in John Wayne Airport are glad to see that there is now a definite area for their four-legged friends to find relief, all decorated with picket fences, Astroturf and fire hydrants.

McCarran International even spent $5,000 to improve pet relief zones. Miami International even disbursed $40,000 to open 2 pet parks complete with benches and hydrants.

El Paso International meanwhile went green by using recycled material for their pet relief area.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International has formalized an agreement that they will ensure escorts for disabled travelers and their pets in accessing the pet relief areas.

More airports have also thought of placing relief areas past security areas. This will eliminate the need for escorting back and forth the security lines.

Seattle-Tacoma, Salt Lake City and Fresno Yosemite International have placed pet relief areas post-security but are only for service animals.

Airlines are also working with airports to make travel hassle free for animals.

Delta is working with Detroit Metropolitan Airport, since it is their second largest facility hub. American Airlines says they do comply to this travel regulation. Southwest Airlines is trying to ensure that every airport they cater to has a pet relief area. Alaska Airlines on the other hand, charted which airports have pet relief zones.

It has been four years since the government has announced that they will implementing stricter rules and will be requiring proper documents to cross the border. To be exact, it was in April 2005 that the government introduced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative or the WHTI. This project plans to make travel between the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean more efficient and secured.

A birth certificate or an ID with a photo is not enough to allow your travel across the U.S. border. You should have a passport or a WHTI-approved document.

The original plan was to implement this new rule last January 1 2006, but they realized that it will be impossible. So they started its soft implementation to air travel only. Sea and land travel implementation was moved to January 2008.

This left many confused whether they need a passport or not.

Many were proactive enough to run to the Passport Office and apply for a passport. This caused a lot of trouble for the said Office. Tons of citizens stormed into applying for a passport. The processing that used to be just 3-4 weeks then took 3- 4 months. A lot of these applicants called almost everyday, went to the office as frequent as they can to follow-up their passports with the fear that their planned travel might be put on hold if the documents will not be available in time.

So with all the implementation adjustments, preparations done, are we ready for WHTI?

The government claims that they are. They are now prepared with the technology to screen the travelers. Plus, there are these new passport cards— a cheaper and wallet sized version of the old passport book; and latest enhanced driver’s license or EDL. EDLs are RFID enabled and are readable wirelessly, but are only valid for land and sea travel.

Air travelers might be used to this rule already since passports have been required since January 2007. Those who have chosen to travel through a cruise should have been forewarned during their bookings. And since the reminder has been made for four years now, land travelers must have been prepared already. No more excuses.

But many think this new rule is unnecessary. Some U.S. citizens are even insulted that many illegal aliens can get in and out of their country without proper documents. Many think that the national ID system is far too hard to implement.

No one is forcing anyone to get a passport. Not everyone is required to travel across the border. You can go around the domestic. But if you really want to travel across the border, prepare a passport.

Here are some techie gadgets that can make your summer car travel more entertaining:

• Points of Interest or POIFriend

If your car is equipped with a GPS, you can download POIs without any fee from the internet. POIs can locate for you places that can interest you along your way to your summer travel destination. You can trace where the best restaurants are in town through the “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” application as seen in the Food Network show. You can also track down every Wal-Mart or Starbucks in the U.S.

Just download the desired file from the internet then move the file from your computer to the GPS unit through a cable or the GPS’ memory card.

• FM transmitter

If you want to enjoy your favorite music all throughout your travel and share it with your passengers, have an FM transmitter that ranges from $20-$30 a unit. This is perfect especially for car rentals. But if you have a functioning cassette deck, you can have better sound through a cassette adapter.

• iPhone and iTouch application for kids

Keep the kids from asking “Are we there yet?” Try “Spawn”, where you can create fireworks with one touch to the screen. “Bubbles” based on the name allows you to create a bubble by dragging across the screen and pop it with another touch. IF your kid is a music lover, he would enjoy “Preschool Music” where he can create music with his fingers and your iTouch. These games cannot be as interesting as they are for kids, so remember to bring headphones. Each application costs $1.

• Rechargable battery packs (external)

Those invaluable cigarette-lighter adapters can do a lot to save you during long and boring road travels. But one outlet is not enough for all you gadgets, isn’t it? With only $15 to $50 you can have extended battery life for your cell phone, iPod, and other gadgets. But before buying an external battery pack, know about its capacity, measures in milliampere-hours. The cheaper ones can only have 500 mAh that can only charge half a battery’s life. While the slightly more expensive battery packs has a capacity of 3000 mAh, good for 3 full cell phone battery charges.

• New games for your Nintendo DS

There are a lot of games that can soothe your interest during your long travel. One of the latest hits for the strategy-game lovers is “Pokemon Platinum”. To let the kids at the backseat enjoy a multiplayer game, why not try “Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time”. There are a lot more games to choose on, with a price tag range from of $35-$40.