How to Avoid the Headaches of Traveling

As the Holiday season comes upon us... Professional Events and Consulting (with help from Forbes!) offers a few helpful hints for the next time you travel...

Forbes Traveler recently came out with tips to avoid these mishaps and get the relaxation you really need out of your vacation.

1. Don’t only check the departure gate – Check the arrivals to see what’s coming in at your gate.

2. Take the bus or the train for regional trips – It’s proving do be faster and leaves you feeling less stressed

3. Don’t ever check your bags – Courier your larger luggage using FedEx or UPS. You will save time and this will give you the flexibility to fly with a different airline if yours encounters problems.

4. Ask for alternative airports or routes.

5. Before standing in line, ask your airline to ”protect” you – Call your airline and ask to be “protected,” or booked on another flight to the same destination. Not all airlines will book interlining flights with other carriers, but many of the major airlines will.

6. Travel with a confirmation code – Don’t just rely on your reservation. Make sure you get a PNR, which is airline code for “passenger name record.”

7. Text Google – Text 466453 and enter the airline’s two-letter code and flight number. Google will text you back with the flight status.

8. Always use a credit card – This allows for speedy flight-information retrieval, and if the flight is cancelled or your airline goes under, you are protected.

9. Take the first flight out of the day – Delays get worse as the day progresses, and the crew and plane are likely to already be on-site after their overnight flight into the airport.

10. Don’t settle for the minimum legal connection between flights – Because many flights are late, chances are you won’t make your connecting flight with less than two hours. If you miss this flight, your odds of getting on another are slim due to the decreased number of flights.

11. Ask the airlines the right questions – Don’t ask if your flight is scheduled to be on-time. Instead, ask for the aircraft number assigned to your flight, and then ask where that aircraft number is.

Follow these helpful tips and you’ll be relaxing at your vacation destination in no time!

*Tips from Forbes Traveler come from SmartMeetings.com, August 2009, Travel Faster.