Travel Scams to Avoid

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

One of the unexpected spinoffs of Michael’s Jackson death was a whole new take on an age-old travel scam: selling counterfeit or nonexistent tickets to unsuspecting people traveling from out of town to attend an event. With 1.6 million people applying for 17,500 seats to a bona fide “once in a lifetime” experience there were bound to be scams, including scalpers hawking free memorial service tickets for thousands of dollars each on Craigslist and eBay-before the online sales sites cracked down on the blatant exploitation.

Entertainment and sports events are a natural attraction for scam artists. Anyone is potential victim, but out-of-towners are especially vulnerable. Each year comes fresh tales of people traveling thousands of miles to attend an event only to discover that their package tour didn’t include tickets or that the tickets they paid for by sending cash or money orders never really existed. Want to avoid becoming a travel scam victim on your next trip? Follow these tips:

Hotel Room ID Theft – Crafty crooks have learned that one of the easiest places to harvest data necessary to steal someone’s identity is a hotel room. Never leave anything lying around that may contain personal information. Just like any other valuable (passport, cash, jewelry, etc) lock those documents in the room safe or your luggage.

Unscrupulous Parking Valets– From pocketing small change to pilfering laptops and jewelry, parking valets at hotels, restaurants and other establishments can have very sticky fingers. They’ve also been known to park cars in red zones and other street areas subject to tickets or towing. Always stash your valuables in the trunk or take them with you. And if it’s not obvious your vehicle is headed straight into a garage, ask where it’s being parked before you hand over the keys.

Knockoffs that knock you off – Counterfeit Gucci bags or Michael Bolton CDs may not be harmful to your health (well, Bolton might be), but a growing number of counterfeit products could be. Among the cheap but dangerous fakes being offered gullible travelers are drugs laced with everything from motor oil to paint, electronics that can explode or catch fire, and phony luxury brand shampoo and perfumes full of bacteria. And that doesn’t even get into the whole topic of the fines that are now being levied on travelers for trying to sneak counterfeit items back into their home countries.

Crafty Money Changers – Money changing scams can range from minor annoyances like inflated airport commissions and lousy hotel rates to more serious troubles like receiving wads of banknotes that are no longer in circulation or money changers who literally take your money and run. The lines might be a little bit longer, but good old-fashioned banks often offer the best rates and the safest ambience….although one could argue that ATM fees and debit card currency exchange fees are yet another twist on this travel scam.

Tags: Identity Theft, Travel Scams
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Invasion of the Body Scanners – coming to an airport near you

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

There has been growing opposition to full body scanners at airports including warnings from medical experts that the machines may be more dangerous to passengers’ health than initially thought. A scientist from the center for radiological research at New York’s Columbia University, has been quoted by a number of media outlets questioning whether the machines may pose a skin cancer risk, especially in children.

The European Commission issued a report in June saying scientific assessment of potential health risks is needed before the machines are deployed there, though individual countries are free to decide whether or not to use them. The report also said the machines “bring a serious risk of fragmenting fundamental rights of EU citizens.” In Dubai, security officials said the machines would not be used because of concerns about personal privacy and because health risks are unknown.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has also raised questions about whether the machines can even detect explosives or other dangerous people might hide. At the same time the International Air Transport Association, which represents 250 airlines around the world including most major U.S. carriers, has questioned how body scanners fit into a comprehensive security plan. The machines are in place at 133 U.S. airports and TSA has plans to install more.

Below are answers to some questions with a TSA spokesperson:

Which airports have the full body scanners? There are 133 airports where millimeter wave machines have been deployed. Visit the TSA website to learn more.

Which airports are planning to get the devices? While the exact times and locations where the scanners will be received have not been disclosed at the current time, the U.S. government is working to equip airports around the country with the machines.

Will everybody be scanned, or only certain individuals? This screening option is completely voluntary to all passengers.

Can you decline a full body scan? Yes, for now, but you must submit to a full body pat-down.

Do they save the scanned images? There is no storage capability. No cameras, cellular telephones, or any device capable of capturing an image is permitted in the remotely-located resolution room. Use of such a device is a terminable offense.

Are they harmful for any individuals? Two types of scanners currently exist: the millimeter wave scanner and the backscatter scanner. “Millimeter wave technology” bounces harmless electromagnetic waves off the human body to create a black and white image. The energy emitted by millimeter wave technology is 10,000 times less than what is permitted for a cell phone. “Backscatter technology” projects an ionizing X-ray beam over the body surface at high speed. The reflection, or backscatter, of the beam is detected, digitized and displayed on a monitor. Each scan produces less than 10 microrem of emission, equivalent to the exposure each person receives in about two minutes on an airplane flight at altitude.

Who sees the images? Passenger privacy is ensured through the anonymity of the image. The transportation security officer attending the passenger cannot view the image, and the remotely-located officer who views the image cannot physically see the passenger. Images are not stored, transmitted or printed and are deleted immediately once viewed by the remotely-located officer.

Just how much is revealed in the full body scan? A privacy algorithm blurs facial features.

How long do the scans take? Screening takes approximately 15 seconds, while the scanning time is just a few seconds. The remotely located security officer who interprets the image takes approximately 12 seconds to do so. It takes a passenger with a joint replacement about 15 seconds to go through advanced imaging technology, versus a 2-4 minute pat down.

Will this solve the airport security problem? Advanced imaging technology safely screens passengers for metallic and nonmetallic threats including weapons, explosives and other objects concealed under layers of clothing without physical contact. Threats to aviation continue to evolve. The use of new and innovative technologies helps us stay ahead of those intent on harming our nation.

Tags: Airline Travel, airport security, body scanners, privacy, safety
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How To Eat Healthy While You Travel

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Forget hassling with airport security lines or sitting in weekend traffic. The toughest part about traveling is eating healthy, especially given all of the diet landmines in airports, hotels and highway rest stops. As long as you are willing to do a little preparation and get creative, though, watching your waistline really shouldn’t be that hard.

Travel Trap: The airport

Why it’s a problem: The nerve-rattling process of getting to your gate can leave you feeling tired and stressed — a bad combination for your diet. “When your mood is low, you crave something that will make you feel better, and that’s usually high-calorie,high-fat foods,” Being surrounded by Burger Kings and Cinnabons make it even easier to cave to those cravings.

How to eat healthy: Avoid mega portions at airport restaurants. Water should be your drink of choice to keep calories down and stay hydrated. For snacks, head to a newsstand where you can buy almonds or peanuts (avoid sugar-coated versions) or dried fruit. At restaurants, sandwiches can be healthy-look for whole-grain bread, a high-protein filling, veggies and no added extras like sauces or mayo. Other healthy meals and snacks include one slice of veggie pizza with a side salad; a burrito with beans, brown rice and veggies; or a low-calorie smoothie made on the spot.

Travel Trap: The hotel breakfast buffet

How to eat healthy: From breads and bagels to pancakes and waffles, these buffets are loaded with calorie-laden, non-nutritious carbohydrates. That highly-refined carbo load can leave you feeling sluggish later on.

How to eat healthy: Skip the waffles and muffins (even if they are blueberry) and look for healthy carbohydrates like whole-wheat bread or bagels, or oatmeal. Then pair that with fresh fruit and a lean protein like peanut butter or a glass of milk. If possible, grab an orange or apple to snack on later.

Travel Trap: The highway rest stop

Why it’s a problem: Chalk it up to boredom. After you’ve been staring at an endless highway for hours, pulling into a rest stop and chewing away your monotony sounds like the best solution. Problem is, when you’re in this mood, you’re easily swayed by processed junk food.

How to eat healthy: Pack a cooler of nutritious foods so you’re not tempted by high-fat choices at rest stop restaurants. Easy-to-travel foods include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheese sticks, carrots, apples, dry cereal, nuts, and dried fruit. Avoid fried or sugary and carb-loaded menu items at fast food joints. Starbucks is everywhere on the road and a regular coffee (avoid the mocha frappa lappa ding dongs which are fattier than some fast food megaburgers) will not only help fill you up, but will aid in your alertness. I like to munch on something crunchy (Corn Nuts are my crunch of choice) as the vibration of munching & crunching also helps keep me alert…and at only a few grams of fat, its a fairly nutritious choice.

Whatever you choose and wherever you are traveling, the rules are basically the same as they are in your every day life. If you have basic knowledge or good habits on healthy eating, the rule of the road are obviously still the same. You just have to prepare a little bit more.

And awaaaaay we go….

Tags: Eat Healthy, Travel Tips
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Top 12 Complaints About Airline Travel

Monday, May 10th, 2010

We all have a plethora of things to complain about when it comes to airline travel. I have devoted a lot of time to this blog on that premise and I can’t seem to get away from it. After all, laws wouldn’t change if we didn’t exercise our G-d given rights of free speech, so why not use whatever avenue we can to get our point across.

What upsets you about airline travel? Feel free to vent here with some commentary.

In the meantime, do you ever wonder how your thoughts about airline travel compare with the mass public? Where does majority rule when it comes to customer complaints with the airlines? Well, according to a recent survey from Consumer Reports, fees and unhelpful staff are the two things that annoy air travelers the most. With participants rating the annoyances on a 1-to-10 scale (10 being the most annoying), feesactually took the top two spots among the air-travel gripes.

The next two gripes involved customer-service issues. The survey also returned an interesting result on delays. Respondents actually cited “poor communication about delays” as being more annoying than actual”flight delays.” The message to the airlines seems to be “tell us what’s going on. Don’t insult our intelligence and just treat us like a consumer. Like a person!”

Survey results of Top 12 air-travel gripes (on a 1-to-10 scale)

1. Luggage charges (8.4)
2. Added fees (8.1)
3. Rude or unhelpful staff (7.7)
4. Can’t reach a live service rep (7.6)
5. Poor communication about delays (7.1)
6. Seatmates who hog your space (7.0)
7. Flight delays (6.8)
8. People who hog carry-on space (6.7)
9. Long waits at baggage claim (5.9)
10. Long lines for security or check-in (5.2)
11. Puny/no snacks (5.1)
12. Crying babies, unruly kids (4.9)

Feel free to post your thoughts here. Do you have other complaints? What do you like about traveling? Which of the above do you agree/disagree with?

My favorite part about flying: that moment when the cabin doors are closed and you realize that the seat next to you is unoccupied. Stretch time!

For more information on other experiences you can be a part of on an Amazing Journey, visit https://amazingjourneys.net/

Tags: Airline Travel, Travel Complaints
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‘Twas the flight before Christmas….

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

It’s a busy travel season at the airports and you are soon to become one of the statistical “holiday travelers” about to embark on a journey along with tens of thousands of others. Coupled with some weather issues that are having residual effects across the country, you’re stressed about getting to where you want to be in a timely fashion. And…that’s certainly not how you want to define your much needed vacation. What can you do to improve your chances of getting where you want to be while minimizing the plethora of interruptions that are ever present?

The answer is; a lot!

Just follow a few simple rules and you increase your chance of jetsetting without too much a-do.

1. You should plan on longer lines than normal at check-in and security, and you should anticipate the real possibility of delays. By erring on the side of caution and getting to the airport early, you minimize your chances of a long line causing you to miss your flight (many airports no longer allowing a skipping of the line even if your flight is schedule to depart in just a few minutes) and you increase your chances of securing your seat on the flight (if the flight is “oversold”, the first people to get bumped are the travelers who check in last).

2. Travel insurance is relatively small expense to protect the valuable asset of your vacation, and it’s a wise choice on so many fronts. In addition to protecting the value of your personal belongings and your own well-being on the trip, insurance will provide you with travel assistance and reimbursement of additional expenses you might incur due to delay, cancellation or even losing of luggage. Airlines are not required to compensate travelers if delays occur due to weather, so without a travel insurance plan you would be on your own should you need to overnight somewhere, or if you missed the ship.

3. Map out a Plan B. Figure out your next best flight options in case your plane is delayed or canceled. A simple online search at sites like kayak.com will give you a quick snapshot of available flights. That way you can suggest alternatives that you prefer rather than end up at the mercy of a frazzled booking agent.

4. Load up your cellphone with some new phone numbers. In addition to the airline reservation line, include the number of your frequent flyer program if you’re a member. These agents tend to have more experience in looking for creative itineraries at the last minute and may be more helpful than that hard-to-understand agent from the Phillipines. If you booked through a third-party travel site like Orbitz or Expedia, their customer service department may be able to advocate on your behalf.

5. Pack smart. Those with carry-ons are more likely to booked on alternate flights since there’s no need for the airlines to worry about transferring checked luggage. If you do check luggage and a change to your flight occurs, your chance of having the luggage show up with you is significantly decreased. Not to mention…most airlines are charging up to $35 for a bag to check. Save a few bucks and a lot of headaches and carry on if at all possible. Do you really need that specialty shower gel or three sets of heels for a weekend at Grandma’s?

6. Know your rights. Travelers can receive up to $400 if they are involuntarily (or voluntarily) bumped and rebooked on another flight within 2 hours of a domestic and 4 hours of an international flight. They are elibible for up to $800 if they are not re-routed by then.

7. Be polite. Coutesy definitely gets more results than pushiness. Agents are people too and although they may sometimes appear to be ominpotent, stand-off-ish or regimented, they have feelings just like you. You can draw more bees to honey….

Applicable all the time, but especially during the busy holiday travel season, our best advice is summed up as: a little bit of advanced preparation may mean some down time at an airport, but an ON time arrival and the vacation you have been waiting for.

Happy trails (and holidays) to you…..

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