Safety is a main concern among many travellers in today’s world.  Luggage gets stolen everyday and yes, while it can be prevented, a lot of people can’t help it.  Recently, I had heard on the news about a ring of thieves that would sit around the baggage carousel and steal luggage and proceed to sell the bags on eBay, etc.

When it comes down to securing your luggage, there are some things that you can do to prevent it from happening.  If your luggage gets lost, it’s hard to prevent that but 99% of the time, the airlines will reimburse you.

Try and bring on carry-on only

If you’re going on a short trip, you should be able to do this but if you’re going to be gone for longer than 4-5 days, you may not be able to do this and it’s understandable.  If you’re able to carry-on your luggage, then by all means, do it.  You’re going to save on those pesky carry-on fees and you’ll also be able to keep your eyes on your bags at all times.

Always lock your bags with a TSA lock

If your bags don’t have a lock on it, get a lock but make sure you get a TSA approved lock so that if the agents want to look through your bags, they can get into it.  When thieves are looking to steal, they are looking for bags that don’t have locks, this is going to be easy access for them and that’s why I recommend them.

Never keep valuables in your bag

When checking in your bags, never leave valuables in there like electronics, jewelry and other things that are worth value.  Instead, you should only leave your clothes and other items that you can afford to lose if it does happen.  Clothes really have a value so at least you’ll know they won’t get much out of your luggage.

Get to the baggage claim as soon as you can

Once you get off the plane, go straight to the baggage claim and wait for your bags to come down.  You’ll usually get there before the bags do and when you do get there, watch every bag go down.  Once you spot your bag, keep your eye on it and grab it right away.  The ones that generally get stolen are the ones that are left behind for a while afterwards. 

It’s not hard to keep your luggage secure and it just takes common sense.  Use some of these tips above and let’s hope that your baggage doesn’t get stolen anytime soon.

Most airlines today love to charge fees.  From charging you for a blanket to checking in your luggage.  What ever happened to the older days where there were no fees at all?  It seems as if when you buy your airline ticket, you have to double it after you pay all of your fees.

Since 2007, a lot of major airlines like Northwest and Delta have resorted to charging a fee when you check in your luggage.  Sure, it’s angered a lot of passengers but a lot of them have just coped with it and would rather just carry-on luggage to avoid paying the fee and I don’t blame them!

When bringing on carry-on luggage, there are a few things that you have to keep in mind.  First, you have to make sure that it’s small enough to fit in the compartment.  Second, you have to make sure that the airline will allow you to bring it on.  If they don’t, you’ll have to check it in with no questions asked.  Last but not least, make sure you pick one out that works for you.  You won’t want to go too small because you’ll find you can’t fit all of your clothing into the bag itself.

Below are a few bags that you should check out when it comes to airline approved carry-on luggage bags:

Delsey Helium Fusion Carry-On Expandable Suiter Trolley:  This airline approved luggage comes equpped with inline wheels, a telescoping handle and a graphite frame.

Travelpro WalkAbout Lite 2 22″ Rollaboard Suiter:  This light weight travel bag comes with a single-hand locking handle, comfort grip and it weighs less than 10 pounds!

Olympia 19″ Rolling Backpack:  Constructed of high density poly-dura, this durable rolling bag comes with a hide-away handle system along with mult-zipper compartments for easy storage.

High Sierra Axle Wheeled Backpack:  This wheeled backpack by High Sierra comes with a large front-load main compartment, a zippered front pocket and 2×2 inline skate-style wheels.

Skyway Sigma 2 22″ Vertical Expandable Carry-On Case:  This vertical skyway carry-on luggage is constructed of water and tear resistant fabric.  It comes with in line wheels and expands 3.5 for extra packing capacity.

J World Sport 17″ lightening wheel rolling backpack:  This reasonably priced bag comes with a 3 stage handle system, lightning clear wheel system and a rubber molded bottom.

There are a lot of carry-on based luggages on the market.  Do your homework and find one that suits your needs.  Whether you need lots of pockets or you want one on wheels, find one that works for you and hopefully you can save on those pesky airline check-in fees.

A few months ago, I wrote a post on the best airline pillows on the market.  With so many airlines today resorting to charging you for a stupid blanket and pillow, it makes no sense to buy a blanket that is as thin as paper.  Why pay $10 for this?  Instead, put your $10 elsewhere and get something that is well worth it.

If you fly a lot or you just fly here and there, if you’re going to fly long flights, I find it the best to sleep because it’s going to pass the time the quickest and you won’t have to really worry about passing the time with entertainment. 

There are a few kits and blankets out there when it comes to travel and below are some that I recommend that you should check out.

3 Piece Travel Blanket Set:  This 3 piece blanket set is great for all travellers.  For less than $20, you’re going to get a lot more than just your typical blanket.  You’re going to get a pillow, a blanket and an eye mask so that it makes sleeping on a plane a breeze.  The thing that makes this kit so great is that you’re able to store it in a simple bag and it’s great for storing on and off the plane.

DreamSack – BLUX – Airline Luxury Cashmere and Silk Blanket:  If you want to sleep and luxury and spend a few dollars, you’ll want to look at this amazing blanket and sleeping kit that is designed for those that fly a lot.  No matter where you’re located on the plane, you’ll be able to enjoy your seat in comfort with this warm airline blanket and pillow equipped with a case.  All 3 pieces roll into a carry bag that can be put into the pillow case that is able to reverse itself.

There are a lot of kits online when it comes to sleeping in comfort.  From pillows to blankets, I recommend that you look at these kits because they are designed for an airplane.  You’ll find that with any other blanket or pillow, it’s going to be to big for the seat and making it uneasy for you.  Check out some of the kits above and see if they are meant for you and the airplane.

When travelling the great blue skies, you may find that every once in a while that you may need to bring your dog or cat along.  Before you do though, make sure that you know the rules when it comes to transferring your pet because there are restrictions on each airline.

Once you get that out of the way, you want to also make sure that you have an airline approved pet carrier.  You won’t want to show up at the airport and find out that the carrier you’re using won’t be allowed on the plane.  I did some research on some of the pet carrier based websites and came up with a few that you may want to check out that don’t break your budget.

Bergan Comfort Carrier Soft-Sided Pet Carrier, Large, Black

This large black pet carrier can fit animals up to 22 pounds.  It comes with a nice padded shoulder strap so that you don’t have to worry about ruining your back or shoulders while carrying around your pet.  It also comes with a great fleece travel bed so that you know your pet will be comfortable during the flight.

Skipper Economy Pet Carrier

This one isn’t necessarily a bag but is a sturdier, harder case.  This case is ideal for just about any animal.  From small dogs to cats, it comes equipped with a locking metal door and has a sleek design so that you don’t feel embrassed carrying it around.  For less than $20, you can be carrying around your animal in no time.

Sherpa Pet Delta Air Lines Deluxe Pet Carrier

This pet carrier that is approved on all major airlines comes in a black color and can fit dogs up to about 20 pounds.  It has padded shoulder straps, a great ventilation system and a small zipper door on the front so that it’s easy access for your pet.

Teafco Argo Airline Approved Aero-Pet Carrier

This Teafco branded airline approved carrier comes in all sorts of colors and styles.  From a large size to a small size, you’ll be able to pick a size that fits your pet comfortably.  This pet carrier is durable, trendy and is constructed of a light material, making it extremely easy for you to carry your dogs or cats around.  It also features a top zipper and compact side pocket with shoulder straps.

When taking your pet on a trip, it’s important to remember that your carrier is airline approved.  If it isn’t, you’re going to find that you’re going to get in trouble with the airline and you may not even be able to bring the carrier on board at all.  Make sure you look at some of these and do your research so that you can bring your pet on board safely.

When looking for a credit card, specifically an airline based credit card, I’m going to show you what you should look out for in order to find the best deal possible.  An airline credit card in my opinion is different than most cards since it has different options, rewards, etc.   Let’s take a gander at what matters when it comes to one.

How can you redeem your points?

You want to make the most out of your credit card when it comes to using it.  If you’re loyal to an airline, that’s great because you’re going to take the most advantage.  The true question is though, “How many points will you get when you make airline related purchase?”  If you don’t get more than 3 points per dollar, I don’t think you’re getting a great deal.  The points system in my opinion is the most important.

How many points for rewards?

I don’t know what you want your card for but if you want it for free airline tickets, how many points is it going to take to get your free ticket?  The industry standard is generally around 25,000 points.  If it’s anything higher, you may want to look at other cards because they will all vary and the main reason many people get a travel based card is solely based on the fact that they can redeem it for free airline tickets in the future.

Are there extra discounts with partnered vendors?

The cool thing I like about travel cards is that a lot of the major issuers like American Express, etc, will work with other companies to get discounts.  For example, you may find that one card will give you 10% off if you book with a particular car rental company.  This works out great if you book hotels, rent cars and all of that with your card.  The more vendors they partner with, the more savings that are passed onto you.

How many fees are associated with the card?

Now, when it comes to an airline based credit card, many of them are going to have annual fees but don’t let this scare you off.  If you travel a lot, the rewards are going to out-weigh the annual fee.  If you’re not a frequent traveller, you may want to look at a different card without the fees but you’ll find out that they just aren’t as good as one with an annual fee.

When looking to apply for a credit card of this nature, I would ask yourself these questions to help you get a better understanding on what kind of card you should apply for.    There are a lot of great cards out there, so do your homework and find one that works great for you.