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Flights and Flying

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Transportation and Security Administration

• TSA and Airport Security Screening
• Carry-On Bags:  Rules for Liquids
• ​Identification Requirements

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Passport and Flying:  

• A valid Passport Book is required for all international air travel
• A Passport Book with less than six months remaining until expiration may not be accepted ​by all countries (even though it technically has not expired); confirm entry requirements for your destination country several months in advance in case you are required to renew yours
• While a valid Passport Book is not required for domestic air travel, it is an acceptable form of identification
• Get Your Passport Book for International Travel
• Passport Cards are not acceptable for international air travel

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Avoid Bad Airline Seats:  SeatGuru

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Bulkhead Seats:  Myths and Truths - Read our blog before you book

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Airline Passenger Rights - USA

• https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights
• Passenger compensation is only required by law if you are bumped from a flight because it is oversold.  For domestic itineraries airlines are not required to compensate passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled.
• Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers waiting at the airport; there are no federal requirements when flights are delayed due to bad weather, air traffic delays, or mechanical issues.

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Flight Tracking:
The most up-to-date information for upcoming flights, gates, and inbound flights; includes real-time maps.  

​Download the app(s) to your smartphone and/or tablet before you travel.  It's a must for peace of mind and effortless air travel.

• FlightAware
• FlightView

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Download Your Airline's App for Free Flight Info and Entertainment on the Plane

"Where is my arrival gate?"  "What is the gate for my next flight?  Is it on time?"  "Which baggage claim is mine?"  

• This and other useful flight information is free via the airline's app or website during your flight.
• Available on all major airlines when WiFi / wireless Internet is accessible onboard your aircraft.
• Most airlines now have free video and audio entertainment onboard through your device.

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LET'S CONNECT

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International Travel

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US Passports

• Get Your Passport Book
• ​Current Processing Times
• Passport Book vs Passport Card​

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US Department of State:  Super resource for all international travelers

• Learn about the international destination you are visiting
  • ​Visa and passport requirements
  • Safety assessments
• Entry/Immigration Requirements by Country
• ​​Travel Advisories by Country
• ​International Travel Checklist
• LGBT Travelers
• ​Women Travelers
• Customs and Import Restrictions
  • ​What is prohibited or restricted to take into a foreign country?
  • What is prohibited to bring into the United States from abroad?

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IATA Travel Centre:  https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/

Detailed tool to check each country's requirements for...

• Passports
• Visas
• Health
• Customs
• Pets
• Currency
• Airport tax

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Expedite Your Entry into the USA - US Citizens/Residents

Mobile Passport:  Breeze through US Customs and Border Protection as fast as the Global Entry folks, but without the cost or hassle

• Dedicated lanes for passport inspection and customs/baggage inspection
• No application paperwork, interview or fees required
• Download the app to your device before you depart the USA
• Complete all the CBP details on the app before you land in the USA
• Submit the completed form online as soon as you land and get Internet access
• Simply show your Mobile Passport approval code and passports for immigration and customs/baggage inspection
• https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

Global Entry:  This was a great option for frequent international travelers before Mobile Passport was developed

• Dedicated lanes for passport inspection and customs/baggage inspection
• Also serves as one's Known Traveler Number (KTN) for TSA PreCheck in the USA
• Application:  Requires application form and hefty fee, in-person interview and hyper-sensitive background check
• ​https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

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Rules for Entering the United States

US Customs and Border Protection:  Everything you need to know about entering the United States from abroad

• Shopping Abroad
  • What items are prohibited or restricted to bring back?
  • What are the limits on bringing duty-free items into the US?
• Canada and Mexico Travel Specifics

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EU Travel Information and Authorisation System

• ​This will affect US passport holders and anyone else from an EU visa-waiver country wishing to visit a Schengen country.  
• It is expected to begin sometime in 2022. 
• It is not a visa, but rather an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) much like the ESTA program for international visitors to the USA from visa-waiver countries.

Resources

• https://www.etiaseurope.eu/
• https://etias.com/etias.com/

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Health & Wellness:  US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• ​Traveler Advice by Destination:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
• Traveler Homepage:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/traveler-information-center
• Zika Virus for Travelers:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-information
• Traveling Abroad with Medicine:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/travel-abroad-with-medicine
• Cruise Ships - ​General Info:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/cruise-ship
• Cruise Ships - Inspection Results:  https://wwwn.cdc.gov/InspectionQueryTool/InspectionSearch.aspx
• Motion Sickness:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/motion-sickness
• Avoid Blood Clots (Flying & On the Road):  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/dvt
• Traveling with Pets:  https://www.cdc.gov/importation/traveling-with-pets.html

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Europe and the Schengen Area:  https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-countries-list/

• What is the Schengen free-travel area/zone?
• Which countries are part of Schengen?  Just because a country is an EU trade member does not mean it participates in Schengen.

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Do I Need a Electrical Plug or Power Adapter?
https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/

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Get Past the Language Barrier

• Download the Google Translate app to your smartphone or tablet that you'll carry with you
• Select the country and download the specific language for that country
• Super Cool:  You can point your device's camera at any printed text and see a translated version appear directly on your device's screen over the top of the existing image.

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LET'S CONNECT

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