Questions about airline ticketing and the TSA’s Secure Flight Program often come up when booking airline tickets. Here is my distilled version of the TSA’s behind-the-scene watchlist program.
Since November 1, 2010 airline passengers are require to provide “secure flight information” to the TSA when booking an airline ticket originating or terminating in the USA. This information contains your official name as it appears on government issued ID, gender and birthday (and redress # if necessary).
When booking an airline ticket online, this information is collected at the end of your booking progress. It is best to provide one’s full name (first, middle and last) including suffixes such as Jr. and III.
Some people, whose name closely matches a name of a known suspected threat to security may request a “redress number” which separates them form the name of the person who is on the TSA’s “known threats” list.
Today, I am off to Europe for a few weeks of tour guiding. Before I get there and start to work, I decided to try an experiment with my flight attendants.
I often notice tha flight attendants put up with a lot of unecessary abuse from airline passengers. They work hard and must always have a smile on their face.
So today I delivered a Starbucks gift card to all the flight attendants on my flight to Zurich. I’m interested to see if it puts a smile on their face and makes them happy. I’ll let you know.
Exploring Europe’s travel philosophy is simple…inspire people to have fun traveling in Europe by providing stress-free group tours and informative publications designed to equip them for their travels. I believe you’ve got to visit the “must-see” tourist sights, but once the touring is done, slow down and experience Europe!
Every year we helped many people slow down and enjoy their travels. A picnic under the Eiffel Tower, an impromptu bus ride when the subway closed early, a moonlit walk in the Swiss Alps with waterfalls roaring in the background, a festival of 7,000 bagpipers in Scotland, a lone crooner singing his heart out in an Irish pub, a gourmet Parisian dinner with a singing waitress…..
At David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, we are eager to get your next trip out of your mind and on to the calendar. Think about touring with me, I’d love to show you around!
It used to be that the most expensive part of a Europe trip was the flight. Once arriving one could live a pretty good life on less than $40 a day. I can remember my first trip to Europe. In 1977 I was a member of the Florida Junior College Chorale and we traveled to Europe for three weeks on a concert tour. Much of the tour’s expenses were funded by the College, however each of us were required to pay $900 to cover the tour expenses. NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS! That was for the flights, hotels, transportation, most meals, and tours.
Pictured in the photo above (from left to right) is Brian, Eva, Pam, David, and Doug on the canal in Venice. That’s Casanova there in the back pushing the gondola along.
My records from 1977 show that $1 USD = 877 It.lira. Here are my total expenses for my seven days in Italy:
$.57 – Cola
$5.81- Dinner
$1.42 – Breakfast
$.39 – Cola
$1.14 – Pizza
$2.28 – Hamburger (my, my…how my tastes have changed)
$1.02 – Banana Split
$2.28 – Lunch
$4.33 – Lunch
$2.77 – Lunch
$2.28 – Lunch
$3.42 – Lunch
$6.27 – Disco and drinks
$5.70 – Drinks and entertainment on Piazza San Marco (Venice)
Carry-On Luggage: TSA & EU Regulations by Natalie LaRosa
The best way to travel to and throughout Europe is to carry your luggage onto airplanes with you. In other words do not check your luggage with the airlines. This forces one to pack lighter. Believe me you will be glad you did when it comes to lugging that suitcase up stairs, through subways, and across cobbled streets. But most importantly it avoids the chance of your bag being lost by the airline. The first time I went to Europe the airline lost my luggage. Luckily we were staying in Rome for 3 days and my suitcase finally got to me. However, a lot of tours don’t stay put in one place for long. If this is the case you will have to do without your things until your luggage finally catches up to you, if it ever does. Since that trip, I have been a believer in carrying my luggage on the airplane with me. I advise others to do the same. It gives me a certain peace of mind knowing that my bags are with me all the time. Additionally it is one less thing to think about upon arrival when I am excited about getting started on the tour.
Now that I have discussed the benefits of carrying on your suitcase, there are a few rules you’ll need to consider before beginning to pack your carry-on suitcase. Since September 2006 the following rules apply to all flights in the USA and EU (European Union).
Both the United States TSA and EU restrict the amount of liquids in your carry-on luggage. Passengers are allowed to bring travel-sized toiletries (3.4 ounces or less) that fit comfortably in a one quart plastic zip top bag. You must remove the zip lock bag from your belongings at security check points to be visually inspected and scanned. After clearing security you can bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure boarding area onto the plane. There are special circumstances for larger containers of medication, baby formula, and other special medical material. If these items exceed 3.4 ounces you must declare them to a security officer at security checkpoint for further inspection.
These rules apply only to carry-on luggage. You can still pack all your normal things in luggage that you decide to check with the airlines.
For complete and up-to-date details about TSA and European Union regulations visit: TSA Liquids Rule
Last month, I posted a YouTube video showing how easy it is to break into a locked suitcase. Several of you responded with horror stories about stolen items in your locked luggage. Your best bet is to never check your luggage; carry it on with you. If you let it out of your sight there is no telling what happens to it.
Both the United States TSA and EU restrict the amount of liquids in your carry-on luggage. Passengers are allowed to bring travel-sized toiletries (3.4 ounces or less) that fit comfortably in a one quart plastic zip top bag. You must remove the zip lock bag from your belongings at security check points to be visually inspected and scanned. After clearing security you can bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure boarding area onto the plane. There are special circumstances for larger containers of medication, baby formula, and other special medical material. If these items exceed 3.4 ounces you must declare them to a security officer at security checkpoint for further inspection.