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 Best and Friendliest US Airport CityJump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [25 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
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 Location: IAH | Where you they work hardest to get rid of You' | ||
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Location: IAH | TOP TEN MEAL MOOCHER TIPS 1) Planning Most people want to go when the general public wants to go. Now I have traveled during Holiday seasons, but there is less stress traveling during off peak times.You may want to also consider to plan a trip where your currency is weak. For example , currently the Euro kicks ass on the USD. In this scenario , there would be less Non-Revs competing for seats to Europe. Remember when planning use NEWBID Travel page for links to Hotels, rental cars , and more. This link has many travel sites in helping choose what's best for you and a nominal fee is paid to our site. 2) Choosing Flights Always pick the first flight of the day. This is the bread and butter for the airlines as they are usually always on time. You know how it works.....Aircraft at the gate goes to point a to b to c and then to d. If that aircraft is late at the start , then it will be difficult for that aircraft to be on time , the rest of the day. Also you're counting on revenue passengers to get caught up in traffic or oversleep. It makes for a long day sometimes , but you can sleep on the plane. 3) Ticket/Gate Agents Always smile , and try to be nice. Flying standby can be very frustrating , especially when you are on holiday and flying with your family. Most agents are friendly but as you know some aren't. Try not to keep asking the agent too many questions. Ask if you are on the standby list and then just wait. Some agents may be on a double shift and may not be very gracious. They are under a lot of pressure. Gate agents are especially under the gun as they have to get the plane out on time and watch for late passengers. This on top of trying to get you on , over sales , and weight restrictions. So smile and be patient. 4) Dress Code If your airline or the airline you are traveling on has a dress code, by all means adhere to it. I gave buddy passes to my daughters' two friends ages 12 and 15. When I sent the tickets , I also included the pass requirements , which included a dress code. The girls parents never read the instructions and sent them with T-shirts-shorts and the origin city missed it. Forgot all about it and when I was shipping them back , the ticket agent started on me about it. Asked the girls and they didn't have a change of clothes. Talked my way into getting to the gate , but when I got there......the call was made and even though I knew the gate agent.....she wasn't budging.....$150 later (local souvenir shop) they got on the flight......lesson learned....what a beyatch..... Also consider in older planes......for weight and balance.......they like to fill up first......if they don't have enough VIPs on board then they'll pick you........if you're dressed properly!! 5) Baggage Learn how to live with a carry on, per person. If you check bags and they are delayed.......you are usually the bottom of the barrel as far as service. Most airlines will not deliver your bags.....because you should know better. Remember.......smile and be nice.......you can get a lot farther with a smile. Also see what they can give you.......most have a overnite kit , that has the basic needs..........If it has to get there or is of high value.....see if the carrier has a deal with a overnite carrier......ship it a few days ahead and get a better rate. I know an agent that packed a computer on his trip to GUA ........it never made it and he gave up trying to locate it.......his compensation $0. Keeping this in mind stay away from expensive bags....you can get a good cheap bag at Overstock or Walmart . 6)Gate Checks When I travel I usually place everything in my carry on.........passports......car keys......you name it. But if I get on and we are usually the last ones on and there is not enough room for my bag....they gate check it.......I take out everything I can't live without ......OUT!......because in the rush to get the aircraft out on time mistakes are made.......gate checks are the bags most likely to be delayed. They are usually hand written tags that are not in the computer system.....sometimes the gate agent writes the wrong flight number....sometimes the wrong destination.......sometimes the ramp doesn't know they are on the jetway. 7)Stay At The Gate If you get bumped at the gate you'll see everyone take off for the next gate or a Service Center. Stay at the gate.........when the Gate Agent announces that all of the seats have been filled and all standbys have been rolled over to the next flight.....stay.....stay until you see the aircraft being pushed back.........many a time the Agent will go down to the Aircraft and the Flight Attendant will verify counts and find that they don't match.......at this point the Pilot will say let's fill the seats......The gate agent comes back to the gate area and goes over the list via the pecking order.......if everyone else is gone the you're golden. 8) Traveling with Baby/Children Baby Strollers and car seats.......always check your car seat.....you can be pretty sure there will not be enough seats for the car seat.......count on your baby being a lap child........also if you have a stroller.....buy a cheapie.......umbrella stroller.....consider that the stroller goes down the slide last minute.....the heavier the stroller the faster is goes down the slide.......if it takes a beating.....remember you are last on the service list. However , most baggage service offices have baby formula and Diapers. The should have loaner car seats as well. As far as small children traveling in separate seats.........that's a tough one......you just have to prep them for several days before the trip.....some flight attendants and even passengers will try and accommodate you if the child is stressing.......but by no means should you expect or demand that you sit with your child......paying passengers go to great lengths to get that W or A. 9) LOB's/ID (Left On Board) Any bag or any item that you are bringing should be labeled.........it should at least have your name and current phone number. Everyday passengers and Non-Revs leave hundreds of items on board aircrafts, by TSA, at shops, trams, parking lots, etc....Everywhere you leave it has their own way of handling a LOB........Most people are honest and would like to return the items but to who?.......You need to put your name on everything of value because there is a chance you will leave it somewhere. .....DVD players.......Head Phones......neck rests.....liquor...duty free......the list goes on........put your name on it......in baggage place your name on the bag and inside the front compartment......this in case the name gets ripped off the bag........LOB's are a large money drain for the airlines and are on low priority......so if your name's not on the item, there is a good chance it will go here 10) Stuck It's one thing to get stuck at your home airport........it's another to get stuck far away. I remember several years ago....working next to a NW counter during a Semi NW strike , along with some nasty snow storms in DTW.......this flight attendant was hanging around the airport for 4 days.....I was told he was stuck there......turns out we had some seats.....but DTW was booked solid.......after 1 day...it's time to improvise.....if it's costing you 65-80 a day for a hotel plus?????.......Amtrak wasn't on strike and they travel through snow......initially there was an expense for this but in the long run staying will cost you a lot more.......do some research on alternate airports or transportation before you go on your trip.......on my recent trip to Italy.........I spent 100 Euro extra going to MXP instead of FCO......so I could get Business....was it worth it?.......Hell Yes....... WWW.nEwBiD.nEt | ||
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