How to Pack for a successful trip

The new rules are out and those of you who feel the need to bring your entire wardrobe on every trip are in trouble. Airlines are cutting back and allowing less weight and smaller bags on every flight, or simply enforcing the rules. This has reduced the weight of checked bags to as little as 50 pounds and even has airlines wieghing the carry-on bags. In some cases, it will cost you a bundle to check HEAVY bags and some flights will not take them at all. Before you give up on traveling, read the suggestions below and contact your airline to see what changes they have made. Remeber, if you travel with us, you can take one checked bag and one carry-on.

Before packing, make a list of everything that you want to take, including clothes and toiletries. That way, you're less likely to forget an item and have to purchase it at the destination, where it will probably cost you more than it would at home. This also helps to avoid over-packing.

Do not over-pack, especially in your carry-on items. That way, if you are chosen for a random search of your items, it will be quicker and easier for you to re-pack. Each airline has their own standards on the size/weight/amount of luggage that you can carry with you. Be sure to check with your airline before flying to ensure that you do not incur any surprise extra baggage costs at check-in. Advantage International, LLC group trips only allow one (1) checked bag and one (1) carry-on. NO EXCEPTIONS

You should never pack any of the following items: fireworks, flammable materials (including matches), drain cleaners, containers that are under pressure, weapons, anything that would be considered a "hazardous material" (for example, gas-powered tools).

PACKING YOUR CARRY-ON
You should always carry important documents and valuable items in your carry-on luggage. You'll especially want to keep your travel I.D. forms (passport and tickets) handy for going through the security checkpoints. You should also carry all medications with you in your carry-on luggage. Consider traveling with copies of your needed prescriptions as well as copies of your passport and credit cards separate and secure from the originals, also leave a set with someone at home. Carry your camera and film on the plane with you, as film can be damaged by the increased x-ray capabilities of machines that perform scans on checked baggage.

PACKING CHECKED LUGGAGE
Be sure to pack any sharp instruments in your checked luggage. Items like knives, scissors, metal nail files and box cutters cannot be carried onto the plane. If you have any sharp items that you need for medical purposes, be sure to have documentation from your physician. Put anything like shampoo, perfume, sunscreen, etc. into re-sealable plastic bags. That way, if any of them spill, it will keep the liquid contained and not soak any of your other personal items. To reduce wrinkling of shirts and pants, roll them up like a newspaper. Over-packing of luggage will cause excess wrinkling and damage to clothing.

WHILE AT THE AIRPORT
Keep your luggage with you at all times. Never allow anyone that you do not know to "watch" your luggage for you. Never carry anything for someone that you do not know, or watch a bag for someone that you do not know.

Follow these suggestions and enjoy your trip. For more information, go to http://www.advantage-intl.com/travelnews.shtml

Travel tips from TSA

A MUST read for anyone traveling by air...
Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.

Before the Airport

Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport. Read the Permitted and Prohibited Items list is available at http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1012.xml.
Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.
Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.
Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.
Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film. Got to http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1248.xml for details.
Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.
If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock. A list is available at http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_multi_image_with_table_0234.xml
Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.
Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

At the Airport
Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once.
Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint:
Mobile phones
Keys
Loose change
Money clips
PDA's (personal data assistants)
Large amounts of jewelry
Metal hair decorations
Large belt buckles
Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint.
Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

Go to http://www.tsa.gov/ for complete information.