Airline Travel

Dear Travel Guru –

One of my friends emailed me about an international flight where he was stuck sitting in front of a baby who spent the entire flight vocalizing in high “Aaaaagh.” I’ve had similar experiences with seatmates competing for the Guinness Book of World Records in snoring. My friend mentioned that he had found some great earphones that cut out cabin noise, but I can’t locate that email anymore. I have a “two-for-one” international flight coming up next month, first to Los Angeles, then on to China and I don’t want to risk being a zombie at the end. I have a number of business appointments lined up and it’s important that I be sharp for them. Do you have any noise-buffering recommendations?

Mike C., Newark, NJ

Dear Mike –

Been there, tried to sleep through that! I now own my very own set of Plane Quiet Noise Canceling Headphones. Aaaaaah, what a difference!

What I like about them, other than the fact that they actively reduce noise up to 18 decibels, is that they’re also one of the lightest-weight pair you can find. They work with most electronic devices including the iPod ®/ MP3, CD, DVD players, laptop computers and desktop computers. Because the headband and earcups are both leather wrapped, they’re comfortable for long flights. They’re easy to slip into your briefcase or carryon because they fold flat and come with a travel pouch plus they also come with a 1/8” and ¼” adaptor. One feature I find useful is that with the click of a switch, you can turn the noise canceling feature on or off. They retail on Protravelgear.com for $99.95.

In case you need some pointers about dealing with JetLag, you may also want to read our article “ProTravelTip: Avoiding Jet Lag.”

Here’s to a good flight’s sleep!

The Travel Guru

At ProTravelGear.com, we are dedicated to providing you the best travel shopping experience possible, now even better with free shipping on all orders*. We proudly carry the industry's most recognized brands, like Patagonia, Ex Officio, Eagle Creek, Plane Quiet, and many others. We also offer new gift ideas, expert advice, and resources for trip planning.

ProTravel Tip: Avoiding Jet-Lag

Dear Travel Guru,

My whole family is taking a trip to Hawaii this spring, but I am really worried about jet lag going and coming. Do you have any tips or tricks that will help all my family members adjust to the time zones changes?

Brianna G. New York to Hawaii!

Dear Brianna,

A Hawaii trip will be a lot of fun--but it can be rough dealing with the time zone changes for sure! Mentally and physically, travelling long distances can take a toll. Frequent travelers have all sorts of tips and tricks for avoiding jet lag, or at least making the adjustment as easy as possible, and saving those precious hours for vacation fun, and certainly here at ProTravel Gear... we have tried them all!

The first thing to know is "the why"... jet lag occurs when your body’s biological clock does not correspond with local time. Essentially we all become in-tune with the time where we live because of sleep patterns and sunshine. When you travel across time zones, you confuse your body and it wants to "re-boot."

Jet lag sufferers report feelings of insomnia, irritability, headaches and dizziness, sore muscles, loss of appetite and stomach and indigestion problems. And none of this is any fun, so if you can lessen the affects, you will be a much happier vacationer!

Jet lag varies depending on the duration of the flight, the time zones crossed and the overall health and fatigue of a person’s body.

One way to ease jet lag is to choose flights that correspond to local time, and leave as much time in the day at the destination as possible, so you can walk around and enjoy the day light. This will help that internal clock.

There is no one sure way to cure jet lag, but travelers can try a few different strategies to help overcome jet lag, including getting plenty of sleep before your trip, adjusting your eating patterns in the days prior to the flight and getting plenty of rest on the flight. Never underestimate the power of a nap!

Limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you consume during the flight, opting instead for juice and water so you stay hydrated. And avoid big meals, choosing high protein snacks such as raisins, nuts, granola bars that will help your body recover. There are also some homeopathic jet lag remedies on the market that may work for you.

When you arrive get that natural light if possible, and if you do end up arriving at night local time, try to go to bed--even if you are not really tired. Do what you can to get on a "local" schedule so that any affects of the Jet Lag are nipped in the bud, and you can go enjoy your vacation!

I hope that this helps - enjoy your Hawaii trip!

The Travel Guru
Jet Lag Expert (Seriously!)

At ProTravelGear.com, we are dedicated to providing you the best travel shopping experience possible, now even better with free shipping on all orders*. We proudly carry the industry's most recognized brands, like Patagonia, Ex Officio, Eagle Creek, Plane Quiet, and many others. We also offer new gift ideas, expert advice, and resources for trip planning.

Airline Travel: How to get an upgrade

Dear Travel Guru,

My sister travels for work and she is always bragging about getting a flight or travel upgrade. Why and how is she able to do this?

Katlyn V. Dallas, TX

Dear Katlyn,

Airlines generally give passengers upgrades based on a few standard factors: seat availability, type of fare paid and frequent flier status. It is probably likely that your sister, because she travels frequently and for work, not only knows when to ask, but has a better chance since she is paying full-price and has frequent flier "status, " making her more eligible for the special treatment. But that doesn't mean you can't also take advantage of an upgrade once in a while.

So here is the ProTravel Gear official advice for getting a free (or at least affordable) upgrade on your next flight:

1) Be nice! Ask; never demand the upgrade. They gate attendant does not "owe" you anything and the more you badger and harass, the less likely they are to accommodate you. Be respectful and ask: "Am I eligible for an upgrade today?" If they say "no" -- they mean "no."

2) If your have a frequent-flier program membership, use it. Having the membership is good, but being an elite or top-tier member in the airline's frequent travel program will improve your chances even more. And if your points don't work for this flight, they can add up for the next one.

3) Take your time: board later. After the agent knows if the flight is full (or over-booked) or empty, they may look to, or be more willing to upgrade. So don't rush to be the first one on board unless you need the extra time with a child, or because of mobility restrictions.

4) Look good! Dress well, and you may up your odds of getting an upgrade a bit, but a sloppy appearance will definitely hurt your chances. Look like you should be in first class.

5) The early bird... Arrive to check-in early and request an upgrade there. If you book a flight that leaves early in the day and get to the check-in counter before the crowds arrive you will have less competition for the available upgrades--and you are more likely to catch an agent at the beginning of their shift when they may be in a more generous mood.

6) Timing is everything. Use your common sense and only ask if you can see that the agent is not super busy or having a bad day.

7) Use your frequent flier miles for an upgrade. Just because you have status does not mean you will get an upgrade. So if you've got miles to spare, use them to "buy" an upgrade. But save these extra miles if you are planning on a long or international flight, where the upgrade will be really worth it.

8) Consider how you buy your flight ticket. If you have to fly at the last-minute for work or an emergency, and must pay the full airfare anyhow, ask for a "Y-UP" fare. These are considered non-restricted fares and put you on the short list for an upgrade if one becomes available--(but remember... they are not always available).

9) Who are you? If you work for some types of business (i.e. if you are a minister or work for a humanitarian cause, or work for a company that gets special fares because of frequent flights) you may be given special consideration. But don't abuse this option. You can ask the agent to add an "OSI" (other significant information) message to your passenger record saying that you are the head of a Fortune 100 company, or other VIP.

10) Sometimes you have to pay to play. Sometimes, the simplest way to get an upgrade is to pay for it. Check for available upgrades when booking your flight or at check-in. You might be surprised at how little you'll have to pay to fly up-front. You can also take advantage of promotions that allow you to pay a little to get the upgrade. The airlines offer significant discounts on some routes, so check for these ahead of time.

Hopefully this information will get you that flight upgrade you are seeking.

Happy travels,

THE Travel Guru
www.protravelgear.com

At ProTravelGear.com, we are dedicated to providing you the best travel shopping experience possible, now even better with free shipping on all orders*. We proudly carry the industry's most recognized brands, like Patagonia, Ex Officio, Eagle Creek, Plane Quiet, and many others. We also offer new gift ideas, expert advice, and resources for trip planning.

Travel Gifts Under $50

Dear Travel Guru,

I am looking for gifts under $50 for the travelers in my life. They have luggage and organizers, but I need something interesting and fun--and useful.

Do you have any suggestions?

Becky K.

Dear Becky,

I certainly do have suggestions, in fact on the Pro Travel Gear Website we have a whole section of "under $50" gifts.

My personal favorite travel gear gadget is the Luggage Locator Pro. This nifty traveler's invention easily locates your luggage from up to 60 ft away with a series of beeps and flashes set off by a remote small enough to fit in your pocket or on a key chain.

And... if you have multiple bags you can purchase additional receivers can be purchased separately and programmed to work with the your current Luggage Locator™ Pro remote.. which is great for the traveler who is traveling with a group or family. Think about the hassle this will save as you wait at the baggage carousel with 3 crabby children! You can get your bags quick, and get out of there!

For more information on this great gift idea for travelers--check out the Pro Travel Gear Website.

The Travel Guru
Pro Travel Gear