What does “flying standby” mean?

Flying standby simply means that you, the passenger, are put on a waiting list, called a standby list, for a given flight.  Passengers on standby are assigned seats on the flight as they are available, usually after the plane has boarded.  These are either seats that have not been sold, or seats that are empty because the original ticket-holder has failed to show up.

Why would anyone fly standby?

Many airline travelers find themselves flying standby when their original flight has been cancelled, when a delayed flight causes them to miss a connecting flight, or when they fail to make their flight on-time and must try to get on a later flight.  Airline employees, and sometimes their family members/direct dependants, may also fly standby, for free or at a reduced fare.

Airport Do’s and Don’ts

DO arrive at the airport early if you’re flying standby, for the best chance of getting a seat on the flight.  At minimum, follow the FAA guidelines (for U.S. travelers) , 2 hours early for a domestic flight, 3 hours for an international flight.  Your position on the standby list will be determined in part by when you check in; the earlier you check in, the higher in priority you will be.

DON’T leave the gate area once its 20 minutes before the scheduled boarding time.  The airline representative at the gate may start calling the names of standby passengers even before boarding has started, if they have confirmed that there are empty seats available on the flight.  If your name is called on the intercom, you must re-check (go to the gate desk) immediately to receive your seat assignment and boarding pass; if you don’t present yourself within a couple of minutes, they will move on to the next person on the standby list, and you will lose your seat.

If you have Guatemala in your sights in the near future, and you plan on traveling, or visiting soon, here are some small tips that you can use, when you plan your next visit.

Getting There

The most common way to get to Guatemala from the US would be by air.  There are only a few airports in the US that fly directly to Guatemala, such as, Houston, Dallas, LAX, New York, Atlanta and Miami.  Therefore, there is a good chance you may have a layover during your trip.  It is important to plan your Guatemalan arrival for daytime hours.  The La Aura airport in Guatemala City is very clean, modern, and nice, but is not always safe at night.  When you leave the airport there is a very large group of indigenous people standing outside waiting for arrivals.

Places to visit

Although Guatemala is not an extremely popular tourist site for Americans there are many places to visit.  Antigua is a colonial city in Guatemala and is very beautiful.  There are many old churches to explore and quaint little restaurants and shops to enjoy.  There are also 3 active volcanoes in Guatemala, including a water volcano.  You can visit the volcanoes and climb all the way to the top on your own or with the help of a guide.  At the top you will see hot lava oozing from the volcano.  The Pacific coast of Guatemala is unique because of its black sand due to the volcanic ash.  On the Eastern side of the country are the Mayan ruins of Tikal in the rainforest and the water falls of Semuc Champey.
Where to stay

There are many nice, modern hotels in Guatemala City and Antigua, but not so great hotels in other areas of the country.   I have stayed at the Westin Camino Real and Grand Tikal Futura in Guatemala City and they are both very nice.   Also, in Antigua and throughout the country there are many hostels for travelers to stay at.

The Climate

The Climate of Guatemala changes drastically as you move around the country.  Starting on the Pacific coast, it is very hot and humid all year long.  As you move through the mountains and into Guatemala City, the humidity drops away and temperatures are much more tolerable in the 70’s, most of the year.  Then as you move across the country to the East it once again gets hot and humid.  The rainy season throughout the country is from April to October.  During this time it may rain everyday for weeks at a time.

Avoid the baggage fees next time you fly short hops by learning to pack extremely light.  With some airlines charging $15-25 for the first bag, you can escape these extra fees by not checking your luggage at all.  Once you get in the habit of not checking your luggage, you will find there is usually no need to visit the check-in counter, giving you more time to relax in the terminal.  For trips that last a week or less, a hassle-free flight ought to be a top priority.

Don’t Bring Liquids

To simplify the process at the security checkpoint, leave the hair gel, perfume and cologne, aftershave, and mouthwash in the bathroom at home.  If you absolutely must smell like your favorite fragrance, spray some on your clothes before you leave and you will still get some whiffs of it throughout your short trip. For contact lens wearers, a small travel sized lens solution that is less than 3 ounces will usually make it through security without a problem.

Take Half of Your Clothes

While I am packing for a trip, I tend to lay all the clothes I would like to bring in a stack in the suitcase.  Then, I reduce the pile to half by taking out any redundant articles of clothing, usually shirts and pants.  Though I would recommend leaving plenty of underwear and socks, if you reduce your main mass of clothes to half its size your bag will zip up properly and you will have plenty of room for souvenirs.

Speedy Check-In

Most airlines allow you to print your boarding pass the day before the flight, and if you are not checking luggage you can take advantage of a hassle-free trip through the airport.  On domestic flights, you can forgo the check-in counter with your printed boarding pass and head straight to the gate for your flight.  Enjoy a quicker time through security with your lightly packed luggage, then   stroll onto the plane with ease.

Whether you’re traveling with friends, or you’re going to attempt to do it alone, there are some things that you should keep in mind, before you go out, and travel the great world.

Travel with Friends

Anything that is done with friends becomes so much fun, this is especially most true when it comes to traveling.  Pleasure holidays are so much fun if you travel in groups, and if that group are people who know each other.  Fun is not all that you get if you decide to travel with friends, there are other perks too such as cheaper plane tickets due to group discounts, and the safety of having people who would always look after you.  It’s also a lot of savings on the tour as you get a price that’s normally cheaper by the group.

Read about the Place

Knowing about the place you’re going to would not just make the place more interesting but would make your traveling a lot easier in more ways than one.  Sure, some of your friends or colleague would give you advices on where to go, what to do, which transportation to take, but there is no such thing as too much information when traveling.  So the best thing to do would be to read up on the place you’re headed and get some facts from the travel books or the internet.  It will save you the trouble of hiring a tour guide and save you some money as well as you would find out a lot about the place and articles about the popular tourist spots when you read a book, magazine or internet article.

Plan the Itinerary

Planning is always a must in any travel if you want a hassle free vacation.  After finding out facts about the place you want to go, you only have a certain time in your hands to go over the places you only saw in pictures.  Plan the itinerary with your friends, that way all of you will get to decide which places are important and which places can be left out.  Worse comes to worst, you may want to have two itinerary to accommodate your personal choices and your friends and then meet up at a certain time in a certain place.  The important thing is, with the itinerary, travel time will be used wisely because things has been planned in advance.

When we take a vacation we want to make the whole trip worthwhile.  We want a nice flight or drive out there, fun things to do, and beautiful scenery to look at.  Not to mention, most importantly we want to relax, get a good night’s sleep and get a nice hotel to stay at.

If you’re heading your way to the Flagstaff area of Arizona, you’re going to have a wonderful time.  There is plenty to do and see.  Not to mention, the scenery and climate will relax you even more (depending on the time of year.)

Flagstaff is a nice area that has several great hotels to choose from.  Although, if you want the most for your money, and the ones that are highly recommended, consider a few of the ones below!

Top 3 Hotels for Flagstaff, Arizona:

Springhill Suites by Marriott – If location makes a difference to you, you will want to consider this hotel.  It is just five miles from the city’s main airport and only a short distance from the area’s most popular attractions!  You’re close by everything exciting, and where all the action is.  Not to mention, this hotel comes with a complimentary breakfast, access to their pool and fitness center, and comes with an Internet connection for you to use!

Little America – This hotel is located on 500 acres of private Ponderosa Pine forest, is four miles from downtown Flagstaff, and 10 miles from the recreational opportunities at Arizona Snowbowl – a year round recreational area.  This hotel is also nice because it has a pool, jacuzzi, restaurant on-site, Internet, business center, and fitness center!

Travelodge – Now if you’re looking to get the best value for your money, be sure to consider the Travelodge!  This hotel runs for a cheap average price, is your typical hotel, and even comes with a complimentary breakfast each morning!

If you want to make the most of your trip to Flagstaff, you should really consider one of these great hotels.  All of these got great reviews, are highly recommended and are a good deal for your money!