Secrets to Booking Cheap Airfare

Airline travel is becoming more expensive with each passing day. For the airlines, it's about getting you to pay as much as possible. So they don't make it easy for you to get a good deal. On a single flight, there can be more than a dozen pricing categories and as many as 50 different prices. Here are some insider tips to help you get a better deal.

Book six weeks in advance: Passengers pay the lowest price, nearly 6% below the average fare, if they buy six weeks before their flight. The six-week rule isn't necessarily a surefire strategy for snagging the cheapest fare but it's a good rule of thumb.

Scan for morning deals: Airlines only post a limited number of seats at a reduced fare at night. So try and snag seats early in the morning. The early morning is the time when you'll see most of the best deals.

Best time to buy: Tuesdays at 3 p.m. Eastern. If you don't find the discounts you're looking for in the early morning, studies show that the best time to buy airline tickets is on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Once again, this is a guide. Airlines post deals at other times as well.

Cheapest day to fly: Wednesday. The cheapest day to fly is Wednesday for domestic travel. This is the day with the most seats available and thus ... more empty seats that require discounting to fill the plane. Other low-cost days to fly are Tuesday and Saturday.

Check Twitter and Facebook: Airlines have been experimenting with blasting special reduced fares via social media. But you have to be fast: Some deals can be gone within hours.

Fly out early: The cheapest flight is typically the first flight of the morning. The next-cheapest flight times are during or after lunch or at the dinner hour. The absolute cheapest time to fly is on those limited routes with red-eye flights.

Fly two different airlines: Sometimes it's worth it to mix and match. Most airlines now sell one-way flights at reasonable prices, meaning one might be cheaper for the outbound flight while the other works better for the return. You could even fly to one airport and depart from another.

Check low-cost airlines individually: Comparison airline ticket websites don't necessarily get you the best price. Some low-cost airlines, like Southwest, don't allow their tickets to be quoted on popular comparison websites. So be sure to check them separately. Make sure the so-called "low cost" airline doesn't tack on extra fees that drive up the cost. This is a favorite tactic of some budget airlines.

Build a relationship: If you're an elite member of an airline's frequent-flyer program or if you have a credit card that's tied to the airline, you automatically have a leg-up on other travelers. Credit cards tied to the airlines now offer perks that were once standard, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and seat selection, so they may be worth signing up for if you fly frequently on one airline.

Independence Day Travel Tips

During this week many of you will start your travel for the Independence Day weekend. Here are a few advanced tips ... just in time before you start your well-deserved break from work:

Schedule your travel days
If you can, try to travel during off-peak days. As can be easily guessed, tonight and tomorrow morning are  expected to be one of the busiest days in airports or at freeways.

Cheaper Gas Price
You can use the following sites for locating gas stations with cheaper price: GasBuddy.com or GasPriceWatch.com.

6 Basic Tips for Air Travel
(i) Do not forget to carry a current government-issued photo identification.
(ii) Medications taken on a regular basis should not be packed in checked bags.
(iii) Leave any gifts unwrapped so security can inspect them.
(iv) Remove all destination baggage tags from previous trips. Use new tags for each bag, inside and out, with the traveler's name and contact information.
(v) Allow plenty of time for checking in and for security screening at the airport. If traveling on the busiest days, plan for longer-than-usual security lines.
(vi) Do not forget to fully charge your cell phone and laptop.

Know what you can carry
It's worthwhile going through the website of the Transport Security Administration (TSA) and getting familiar with the new security procedure in order to avoid your frustrations after arriving at the airport. In particular, it's important to go through the list of prohibited items (click here) and make sure what you can and can't carry in your carry-ons. A few quick tips: (i) Leave any gifts unwrapped so security can inspect them. (ii) At the security checkpoint, place metallic objects (e.g., coins, keys, pens, cell phone, watch, camera) in carry-on baggage. Plan to carry small electronics and spare batteries with you. (iii) Pack liquids or gels in carry-on baggage in containers of three ounces or less. Place these in a one-quart zip-top bag. Only one zip-top bag is allowed per passenger, so what does not fit must be packed in checked luggage. Note that larger quantities of medications and baby formula can be carried onboard.

Get the traffic report
For knowing traffic conditions in roads, visit Traffic.com or SigAlert.com.
Find out what's happening at the airport on Federal Aviation Administration website which lists real-time flight delays. For security lines, check out the website at TSA which lists security line wait times by hour for any terminal at any U.S. airport. You may also use sites like flightstats.com.

Park online.
Airport parking lots fill up fast during holidays. You can reduce stress by making sure you have a place to park once you arrive at the airport. Sites like Airportparkingreservations.com  or CheapAirportParking.org reserves spots at parking lots near 50 airports in the U.S. and Canada. It displays a matrix of airport parking lots close to the terminals. You view an airport map and sort by price, parking type (self, valet, covered) or by company. Note that most lots offer a 10 to 25 percent discount to online bookers.

Surf for free
Before you leave your home, find free airport Wi-Fi hotspots at wififreespot.com/airport.html so you can easily get online during long flight delays and spend some quality time.

[Disclaimer: LiveInUSA has no connection whatsoever with the commercial sites mentioned in this posting. Users should use those sites and information therein at their own risk.]

Hotel Secrets You Must Know

It is estimated that nearly 100 million Americans travel each year and most stay in a hotel. Here are some valuable hotel travel tips that hotels would rather you didn't know:

1. Call the hotel's local number for the best rate. The 800 number will link you to an off-site, centralized call center. Ask to speak with the Manager on duty. They have the authority to negotiate room rates.

2. Rooms are more expensive in the morning. The best time of the day to make a reservation by phone is right after 6pm. This is when hotels wipe out all the no-show reservations that were unsecured by a credit card. They then offer these rooms at bargain rates.

3. Everything is negotiable. If the parking lot looks half empty, offer less than the daily rate. Planning to make a lot of phone calls? Ask for a per-day flat fee.

4. Rooms are available even when a hotel has no vacancies. In any large hotel, there will be rooms listed as "out of order". The problems are usually something simple. Tell the manager you are willing to take an out-of-order room that has only a minor problem.

5. Hotel rooms are infested with germs. Many items in hotel rooms never get cleaned. The biggest trouble spots include the TV remote control, telephone, and clock radio. Travel with a package of antibacterial wipes, and clean these items when you arrive.

6. A thief takes one credit card, not your entire wallet. Smart hotel thieves now take just one credit card when they find an unguarded wallet in a room. Often, the victim doesn't notice the card is missing until the credit line is maxed out.

7. It pays to tip the housekeeper every day. Housekeepers are the most overworked, underpaid and under appreciated people in the hotel. Leave a $2 or $3 tip for them each day. You'll get better service and knowing the housekeeper also reduces the chances that your room will be burglarized.

8. Your bags aren't safe with the bellhop. Luggage can get stolen right off the luggage carts in the lobby. Even though these bags are in possession of the bellhop, the hotel assumes no legal responsibility for the loss. If your bag is going to sit for more than a few minutes, ask that it be placed in a secure room.

9. The lost and found is a great resource for cell phone users. If you use a cell phone, odds are that someday you'll forget to bring your recharging cord or lose it in transit. Recharging cords are the No. 1 item left behind in hotel rooms. Most hotels are willing to lend cords from their lost and found.

10. Never pay for the minibar. Minibar charges are, without question, the most disputed charges on any bill. That's because the process for applying those charges is horribly inexact. Keystroke errors, delays in restocking, double stocking, and hundreds of other missteps make minibar charges the most voided item. Just say "I never had those items" and they will most often be removed from your bill.

Beware of Identity Theft When You Travel

Summer is here and probably you are already traveling or still planning a vacation. Here we are giving a few tips that you must consider in these days of identity theft and other kinds of frauds while you are out in the middle of your travel:

Interact with trustworthy companies only for your travel needs. If you're not sure about a company's reputation, check it out with the Better business Bureau ( BBB) or the Attorney General's office in the state in which it's based.

Leave your Social Security Number at home. Don't pack any ID that has your number on it. If it's on your medical insurance card, or other document you must have, keep the card very secure.

Be telephone Smart. Don't give out your credit card number over.

Tame the Internet. Don't feel obligated to fill in every part of a website form. If you can't access the site without providing personal information--such as a home address, your age, or your credit card number -- go to another site.

If you are using a public computer in a hotel or airport, make sure that you properly log out from your bank of email accounts and that the browser does not remember your log-in name and password. A simple technique is to close down the browser and open it again and check if the sites you visited are still remembering your account information.

Pay by credit card. Not only does this protect you financially-- if you don't get travel product you were promised, you can request that the charges can be removed -- it also protects your identity better than payment by check or debit card.

Prune your wallet. You don't need all your credit cards on a trip. Take just two. Leave one Locked in the hotel safe and carry the other in a front pocket, secured with Velcro or some other pick-pocket-deterring fastener. Also, don't bring checks or a checkbook with you

Educate yourself. To learn about the latest scams, check out the Identity Theft Resource Center's website at http://www.idtheftcenter.org/ or call the center at (858) 693-7935.

Use passwords. Protect your cell phone, PDA, and laptop computer with passwords. If the objects are lost or stolen, your data will remain hidden.

Travel Tips for Thanksgiving Weekend

Many of you will start your travel today for the Thanksgiving day weekend. Here are a few advanced tips ... just in time before you start your well-deserved break from work:

Know what you can carry
It's worthwhile going through the website of the Transport Security Administration (TSA) and getting familiar with the new security procedure in order to avoid your frustrations after arriving at the airport. In particular, it's important to go through the list of prohibited items (click here) and make sure what you can and can't carry in your carry-ons.

Get the traffic report
Find out what's happening at the airport on fly.faa.gov, which lists real-time flight delays. For security lines, check out waittime.tsa.dhs.gov, which lists security line wait times by hour for any terminal at any U.S. airport.

Park online.
Airport parking lots fill up fast during holidays. Book a spot early at parknflynetwork.com . Most lots give a 10 to 25 percent discount to online bookers.

Surf for free
Before you leave the house, find free airport Wi-Fi hotspots at wififreespot.com/airport.html so you can easily get online during long flight delays and spend some quality time.

Change in Foreign Travel Policy

The Bush administration today suspended a new policy that would have required passports for Americans who travel by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The policy has overwhelmed the State Department with passport applications and in some cases disrupted summer travel plans. The suspension should allow the State Department to catch up with the massive surge in applications.

In a press release, the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda who have applied for but not yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily enter and depart from the United States by air with a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007.

Adults who have applied for but not yet received a passport should present government-issued photo identification and an official proof of application from the U.S. Department of State. U.S. citizens with pending passport applications can obtain proof of application at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html.

Children under the age of 16 traveling with their parents or legal guardian will be permitted to travel with the child’s proof of application. Travelers who have not applied for a passport should not expect to be accommodated.

Note: This accommodation does not affect entry requirements to other countries. Americans traveling to a country that requires passports must still present those documents.

Gas Prices All Time High

Road travel in the forthcoming Memorial Day weekend could be more expensive, as AAA announced today that gasoline prices hit an all-time high, $3.22 a gallon. According to AAA, since May 4, the average price for a gallon of gas has been above $3. In the last month, it has jumped 13%. Many experts predict prices will climb higher during the busy summer driving season. But others do not expect a supply shortage and predict prices will soon stabilize.

Here are a few websites which may come to your use for finding gas prices in your area:

-- Find out which gas station in your town has the best fuel prices by searching the handy state-by-state list at GasBuddy.com .

-- You may find the lowest gas prices in your neighborhood by visiting GasPriceWatch.com .

-- You can use AAA's fuelcostcalculator.com to find out the cost of making a trip by putting information about your starting point and destination.

Quicker Expiration of Airline Miles

If you are a member of airline mileage programs, be warned: Without account activity, you could lose those miles you've worked so hard to accumulate.

Low-cost carriers like Southwest and Jet Blue tend to have programs that expire miles after a set period of time. They simply nullify those points after a year, if you do not use those and there's nothing you can do about it. Most major carriers, however, will let you keep your miles indefinitely — provided your account remains active. But, as of January, several airlines started imposing new, quicker expiration dates in place for miles:

Delta SkyMiles expire after two years of account inactivity, instead of three.

United Airlines Mileage Plus miles expire after just 18 months of account inactivity. Previously, they expired if you hadn't added new miles to your account balance within three years.

U.S. Airways Dividend Miles expire after 18 months of account inactivity. Before the January change was put in place, consumers had three years.

Each major airline has dozens of ways to earn or redeem miles and keep accounts active. For all your options, visit the frequent-flier section of the airline's web site.

Airline Quality Report

The Airline Quality Rating Report has been compiled annually since 1991. This year, the study looked at 18 airlines and was based on Transportation Department statistics. The study is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Wichita State University and examines 15 things important to consumers.

Those factors include on-time performance, mishandled baggage and consumer complaints. As expected, the report tells that hassles like missed connections, delayed flights, lost luggage, are on the rise for the third straight year.

When it came to rating the airlines, the top 3 on the 18-airline list were Hawaiian, JetBlue and AirTran. The bottom 3 were, from worst to best, Atlantic Southeast, American Eagle and Comair. Among the findings, united and US Air tied for the most consumer complaints in 2006. Southwest had the fewest. Hawaiian Airlines had the best on-time performance. Atlantic Southeast had the worst, with those same results in the baggage-handling category.

The Air Transport Association, which represents the major U.S. airlines, released a statement calling many of the problems out of the airline’s control, they said, “The annual study once again focuses on the symptoms rather than the root causes of passenger and airline frustrations. The vast majority of customer service issues arise from weather and congestion flight delays." The study did not include information on recent weather-related delays.

You may read the full report here: Airline Quality Report.

Passport Application/Renewal

From Tuesday, January 23rd U.S. travelers will need a passport to fly back into the country from any destination outside the U.S., including Mexico, the Caribbean and Canada. Until the new rules, travelers could often complete such a trip with the proper photo identification and birth certificate alone.

As a result, the number of people applying for passports is increasing. Despite the rush, passport agencies continue to promise their standard 6-week turnaround time. The State Department is also offering an expedited service with a turnaround time of about two weeks, for an additional $60 fee on top of the $97 to apply for a new passport (for kids under age 16, the cost is $82) or $67 to renew a passport.

If you're planning to travel abroad, and already possess a passport -- you may feel you need not worry about anything else. But beware of the fact that some countries require not only a valid passport, but one that will be valid for up to 6 months after you leave that country.

You must apply for a new passport in person at one of about 9,000 passport application acceptance facilities nationwide. You will need two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver's license.

U.S. passports are valid for 10 years and you might not remember exactly when your passport is going to expire. So, open your closet, look at your passport and, if needed, apply for a renewal. Passport renewals can be done either by mail, or in person at a passport agency. Visit this page to find a passport application acceptance facility near you.

Application by Mail: if you have an undamaged passport that was issued to you in the past 15 years and you were at least 16 years old when that passport was issued, and you still have the same legal name, you can apply by mail. You'll need to send: (i) completed application form (available here) (ii) Your most recent passport (iii) 2 color passport photos taken in the past 6 months (iv) Fees for processing the application ($67), payable to the Department of State (v) If your name has changed, you'll need to include a certified legal document specifying the change.

Apply in Person: If you do not meet the criteria to apply by mail, you must apply in person. Also if you have lost or damaged your passport, or need expedited service to receive your renewed passport, you need to do so. You must present the same materials as for a renewal by mail and the (i) Proof of U.S. citizenship, in the form of a certified U.S. birth certificate or your expired passport, as long as it is not damaged. (ii) Proof of identity, such as a driver's license or government or military ID. You may also present an expired passport if it is not damaged. (iii) Your Social Security number.

Real Emergency: If you want your passport within 24 hours, you can make an appointment at one of the 15 passport agencies nationwide that are open to the public and prove your emergency. If you have such a case, first call the State Department's toll-free number at 877-487-2778 for more information. Here is the list of 15 passport agencies that are open to the public.

Also visit this U.S. State Department page for more information.

Holiday Travel Tips

Christmas travel is going to be rough this year with bad and snowy or foggy weather in some of the states disrupting airline schedules. We can expect more delays and other airport annoyances. Here are a few advanced tips ... just in time before you start your well-deserved break from work:

Know what you can carry
It's worthwhile going through the website of the Transport Security Administration (TSA) and getting familiar with the new security procedure in order to avoid your frustrations after arriving at the airport. In particular, it's important to go through the list of prohibited items (click here) and make sure what you can and can't carry in your carry-ons.

Get the traffic report
Find out what's happening at the airport on fly.faa.gov, which lists real-time flight delays. For security lines, check out waittime.tsa.dhs.gov, which lists security line wait times by hour for any terminal at any U.S. airport.

Park online.
Airport parking lots fill up fast during holidays. Book a spot early at parknflynetwork.com . Most lots give a 10 to 25 percent discount to online bookers.

Travel: Dollar Exchange

If you are going abroad in the forthcoming holidays, here are 6 tips for getting good exchange rates for dollar:

First for credit cards and checks:

1. Before you go abroad, check out what fees your credit-card company will charge you for international transactions.
2. For traveler's checks, try to exchange them at a branch of the bank that issued them.
3. Check the back of your ATM card or credit card for symbols of international ATM network companies like Cirrus and Plus. If those are on your card, then your cards will be accepted at their international ATM networks. You can get very good exchange rates --sometimes even the best rates -- simply using your credit card or debit card.

Then for actual Forex dealing to be done by you:

1. Foreign exchange dealers in USA tend to charge more than those in other countries. So, it is better to make most of your exchanges at your destination country.
2. Change only enough money for your immediate expenses (i.e. taxi fare, coffee and snack, tips, etc) either in USA or at your port of entry to the country you are visiting. Some of the worst exchange rates are usually found at airport and train-station booths.
3. The best rates are usually found at banks and post offices. For example, in France, you will get the best rate with almost no exchange fee at La Poste. The worst are hotels and the "tourist" exchange bureaus found on every street of Europe.

Important Insurance for Travel Abroad

This time, like all other time before, bears uncertainty in all aspects of life. So, if you are planning a vacation or tour abroad, it is good to have an insurance that can bring you back home in case of any emergency. In case of an emergency your regular health care insurance may provide only the medical cost but they donot bear the cost of bringing you back to the comfort of your home or hometown.

Even though you go on a vacation with a round-trip ticket, in case of an emergency, you may not find any seat in the earliest possible flight. This may sound too panicky but in these days of terrorism or tsunami and frequent break-outs of things like bird flu you never know what you might need.

"International SOS" (internationalsos.com) is the world's leading evacuation and assistance company for business and leisure travelers as well as expatriates. It provides at a reasonable price international medical assistance, emergency services, healthcare, evacuation and repatriation services. The company basically offers an international 911 line by providing critical medical and security help to those in need while away from home. Their emergency and day-to-day medical, security, personal and travel assistance services are globally supported by their staff at service throughout the world with the help of a global infrastructure and 20 years of expertise. So, next time you go abroad, you may seriously consider carrying their membership card in your wallet.

Disclaimer: 'LiveInUSA' does not have any kind of relationship whatsoever with the company mentioned in this posting. This information is provided because we think it may benefit our readers.

Passport Deadlines

The US Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security have extended their passport requirement deadlines. US citizens now have until June 1, 2009 (extended from January 1, 2008) to get a passport for land and sea travel to and from Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Carribean, and Barmuda.

So, if you are planning a Mexico or Carribean cruise before June, 2009, you do not need to have a passport. However, those who are travelling by plane to and from these international destinations, will need a passport by January 8, 2007.

For the latest information and updates, visit travel.state.gov or call (877) 487-2778.
To know how to apply for a passport or renew an expired passport, read our past posting.

Cruise in Fall

Oil prices and the travel boom have driven cruise prices up from last year, but there's a little -known way to get a steal. Here is the
secret!

Fall is "repositioning" season, when cruise lines move their fleets from summer ports, like Alaska and New England, to the Caribbean
for the winter. Hitch a ride and pay up to 75% off regular rates.

The drawback? These cruises tend to be longer than usual, have fewer port visits and can have fewer amenities. Sometimes cruise lines use the time to do maintenance on the ships. They're not heavily marketed, But you can find them on sites like Cruise.com or CruiseCompete.com, or
CelebrityCruises.com or through travel agents, who tend to get the early words on these sails.

Vacation With RV

Have you ever dreamt of taking a vacation driving an RV in countryside for a few weeks? We thought we should help you by giving some tips for RV rental today.

RV Types: The first question that comes to every RV-dreamer's mind is: What type of RV should I rent? The size you rent depends on how many people will be traveling. The vehicles most commonly available for rent are Type A motorhomes (sometimes called "bus" style, 27-36 feet long) or Type C mini-motor-homes (sometimes called "cabover" style, 17-27 feet long). Type A vehicles have a bedroom, a dinette that can be converted into a bed, and sometimes a sofa bed. Type C mini-moter-homes are smaller, with an additional sleeping area over the driver's cab, which is great for kids but can be a bit claustrophobic for adults. Both types have bathrooms with a shower.

Driving RV: Many rental companies allow you to try driving an RV before you rent. You should be aware of the vehicle's greater height, length and width. Don't take turns too tightly; You could run over the curb on right turns or graze oncoming traffic on left turns. Be sure to take sufficient care when backing up. Keep to the left in your lane to avoid drifting into the next lane to the right. And be aware of warning signs about low bridges or tunnels ahead.

Rental Cost: Rental costs vary depending on the season: higher in summer, lower in winter. Typically, a Type A motorhome will cost at least $130 a day plus mileage; a Type C will cost between $80 and $120 a day plus mileage. Bringing your own pots, pans, sheets, and towels will save you money.

Additional Costs: The main cost will be fuel. RVs usually get 7 to 12 miles per gallon, so the total will vary depending on whether you plan to travel every day or drive to a destination and vacation in one spot. Ask about fuel rebates. Other than fuel, campground fees can range from $10 to $50 a night, depending on the campground. You can save money by opting for only a water and electronic hookup instead of the full hookup which includes sewer.

Travel Restrictions Changed

If you are planning a trip, it's worthwhile going through the website of the Transport Security Administration (TSA) and getting familiar with the new security procedure in order to avoid your frustrations after arriving at the airport. In particular, it's important to go through the list of prohibited items (click here) and make sure what you can and can't carry in your carry-ons.

Today's Transport Security Administration (TSA) announced a new "bag and zip" policy that will allow travel-sized toiletries of three ounces or less (typical drug-store sample sizes) through security and aboard airplanes. Travelers will be required to put the toiletries in one quart-sized zip-top plastic bag and place the bag in a bin on the conveyor belt to be x-rayed separately, as is required for laptops.

Larger amounts of prescription liquid medications, such as diabetic glucose treatments, and non-prescription meds such as cough medicine and contact solution, will also be allowed in carry-ons. They won't have to be put into plastic bags, but they must be declared at the checkpoints for additional screening.

Bottled water and other beverages purchased within the secure areas will also be allowed.

Travel in Labor Day Weekend

If you have planned a trip during this Labor day weekend, it's worthwhile going through the website of the Transport Security Administration (TSA) and getting familiar with the new security procedure in order to avoid your frustrations after arriving at the airport. In particular, it's important to go through the list of prohibited items (click here) and make sure what you can and can't carry in your carry-ons.

Just a few quick points here:

• You're still allowed 2 carry-ons of the appropriate size in domenstic flights.
• You still can take laptop, iPods, cell phones and Game Boys with you.
• Liquid medicine: Liquid prescription medicine can be carried with you if the name on the bottle matches the name on your ticket but only up to 5 oz. liquid or gel low-blood-sugar medications can be carried onto the plane. TSA also allows up to 4 oz. of "essential" non-prescription liquid medications.
• If you are traveling with a baby or a toddler, you are allowed to carry small amounts of baby formula, breast milk, Gel- or liquid-filled teethers as well as canned, jarred and processed baby food.
• It's better to carry all your cosmetics in checked luggages to avoid losing them at airport. According to the TSA website "some solid or powdered cosmetics are permitted past the checkpoint; however, this is left to the discretion of the security officer."
• You can travel with liquids (Champagne, cologne, perfume etc) bought in the airport duty-free shops but you can't carry them yourself. Such items need to be delivered directly onto the aircraft. But remember that if you're changing planes after your international flight, those items need to be put into your checked baggage for the remaining domestic legs of your trip and there's no guarantee that those will not be confiscated at that time.

New Rules of Air-Travel

If you are a regular traveller or just planning a new trip, it's worthwhile going through the website of the Transport Security Administration (TSA) and getting familiar with the new security procedure in order to avoid your frustrations after arriving at the airport. In particular, it's important to go through the list of prohibited items (click here) and make sure what you can and can't carry in your carry-ons.

Just a few quick points here:

• You're still allowed 2 carry-ons of the appropriate size in domenstic flights.
• You still can take laptop, iPods, cell phones and Game Boys with you.
• Liquid medicine: Liquid prescription medicine can be carried with you if the name on the bottle matches the name on your ticket but only up to 5 oz. liquid or gel low-blood-sugar medications can be carried onto the plane. TSA also allows up to 4 oz. of "essential" non-prescription liquid medications.
• If you are traveling with a baby or a toddler, you are allowed to carry small amounts of baby formula, breast milk, Gel- or liquid-filled teethers as well as canned, jarred and processed baby food.
• It's better to carry all your cosmetics in checked luggages to avoid losing them at airport. According to the TSA website "some solid or powdered cosmetics are permitted past the checkpoint; however, this is left to the discretion of the security officer."
• You can travel with liquids (Champagne, cologne, perfume etc) bought in the airport duty-free shops but you can't carry them yourself. Such items need to be delivered directly onto the aircraft. But remember that if you're changing planes after your international flight, those items need to be put into your checked baggage for the remaining domestic legs of your trip and there's no guarantee that those will not be confiscated at that time.

ePassports

As we reported last November (read our posting), the US State Department is all set to issue E-passports to its citizens this week. Despite the demonstration of possible cloning by a German security consultant and repeated warnings from experts that the step may pose a security threat to the nation, the issuance will continue as scheduled. The E-passports to be issued to American travelers contain Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips which are meant to reduce the chances of forged documents and lesser paperwork. According to a new program, E-passports will be processed first, at the Denver Passport Office and will be in full production through 17 passport facilities across the country by mid-2007.

E-passports will look much the same as today's machine-readable passports with the familiar gold-embossed blue cover. Since all personal information on a chip must precisely match that in the printed portion of the electronic passport, it reduces the chances of forgery. Also, if an electronic passport is stolen, the chip can be tracked by law enforcement agencies anywhere in the world via a unique identifying number.

The chip will be 64KB in size to leave room for additional biometrics data to be added in the future. The e-passport also will incorporate codes and additional anti-fraud and security features. With today's thin technology, the chip, coil and metallic security shield will not add any detectable thickness to the cover.

The screening process for the e-passport can take as little as 5 seconds. An immigration officer will hold an e-passport over a reader to view digital information embedded in the chip on a monitor to make sure it isn't altered.

For application or renewal of your passport, read our posting of July 5th, 2005.