Helpful Airplane Travel Tips from First Class Tickets to Taxes to Alcohol
The first helpful tip to follow before you travel by airplane this summer is to not fly first class. Although, it may sound impressive to friends and family leave the first class flying to the rich and famous. First-class travel is not worth the 30 percent premium more you spend unless the flight will last more than four hours. Anything shorter than four hours and you’re wasting money.
The next tip is to make sure you are not paying the federal tax on airfare if you’re flying from one US city to another in order to catch a flight to another country. In other words, if you plan on traveling to Europe this summer and you’re flying out of Kansas City to New York then from New York to Europe, you shouldn’t have to pay the federal tax just show the agent the foreign ticket.
Don’t fly within 12 hours of having dental work performed. The change in atmosphere pressure can cause havoc on those teeth causing severe pain. Also, carry your medical history with you when traveling by airplane this summer. It helps to know any medical condition you may suffer from if anything happens to go wrong or you get sick. Include your blood type, allergies, eyeglass prescription, any medications you may be taking, and any preexisting health conditions. When traveling by airplane this summer do not purchase any travel insurance at the airport. The coverage is much more expensive and the rates tend to vary from city to city. If your insurance plan doesn’t cover your travel plans, purchase directly from an insurance carrier.
Another helpful tip when traveling by airplane is to always check your tickets to make sure everything is correct. If you notice an “RQ” marked in the small box in the center of the airline ticket, contact your travel agent or the airline reservations. The “RQ” means that the travel agent has requested a seat and that you may be on a wait list. A confirmed reservation is marked “OK” on the ticket. Make sure you grab something to eat before you board the plane or take some food on the airplane with you. Most of the foods on the airplanes have empty calories that can cause blood sugar to swing from high to low. One moment you can feel great and the next dead tired.
Many people already know this last helpful tip when traveling by airplane but I’ll mention it anyway for those who don’t know. Avoid the temptation to drink the alcohol beverages on airplanes no matter how nervous you are or how much you may want to indulge. Drinking alcohol during a flight seemingly doubles the strength of the alcohol, you will definitely feel intoxicated or woozy after drinking a small amount or what one may consider an amount that shouldn’t cause intoxication. The reason being is that body fluids evaporate quickly in the pressurized dry cabin of an airplane. Under this pressure, the alcohol absorbs more fluids in the intestinal tract and you feel the effects of the alcohol much more quickly. Instead of drinking alcohol on long flights when dehydration sets in, drink about 48-64 ounces of water during the flight.
