‘Tis the Season for Travel

Santa, great food, quality time spent with family and friends - these are the things you look forward to during Christmas. Increased airport traffic, snowstorms and flight delays are not. For the most part, these aspects of Christmas are unavoidable but there are ways to get around them. To help keep you in the spirit of the season, here are some travel tips that are sure to help make your holiday travels pleasant.

I’ll be home for Christmas

You promised you would be home for Christmas. Now you actually have to get there - a task that is simple for some, frustrating for others. If you are traveling with children, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. Family and friends are counting on you to arrive safe and sound . . . and on time.

Book Early

When you know exactly where and when you are leaving, it is always best to book early. Go to a reputable travel agent that is a member of a travel industry association to find the best deal and to be sure that all aspects of your trip are taken care of. And, unless your trip is totally refundable, consider buying cancellation insurance just in case the unexpected actually happens.

Stay on Schedule

Try to book flights early in the morning or late at night. Early and late flights give you the best protection against being bumped, delayed or completely cancelled. You should also call ahead to the airport before leaving home. They will be able to tell you if the airport is very busy in which case you should plan to be there a bit earlier. You can also find out if your flight is expected to be delayed.

Earn your flight

Some credit card companies offer travel reward miles and some airlines offer frequent flyer miles. It’s a good idea to save these miles for flights that you must book in advance and have definite destinations and arrival times such as Christmas flights. These types of flights tend to be more expensive than last minute or seat sale flights and some reward programs require advance time to process reward purchases. You may also be feeling the money crunch during this time of year so saving money on your flight may make you feel better about your trip, especially if you are traveling with your family.

Alternate destination

If you are traveling to a large city where many connector flights are handled, you can often get a cheaper flight by flying into a neighbouring city or town’s airport. If you plan on renting a car anyway, the drive from city to city may be worth it. Renting a car also gives you freedom during your stay to come and go as you please and not have to depend on your hosts for transportation.

Students

Exams are over and it’s time to head home for some home-cooking and holiday fun. So you’re not breaking the bank this Christmas, put some effort into planning your trip.

• Try to be flexible with your dates. This gives you a better chance to find a cheap flight. Try to avoid weekends as the rates are often higher and flights are more crowded.
• Don’t limit yourself to only one mode of transportation. VIA Rail offers a 35% discount for students who have an ISIC (International Student Identification Card).
• Although you are always reminded that procrastination is not always a good thing, when it comes to air travel, some of the best deals happen at the last minute. In this case, you usually have to be quite flexible and patient. You should only wait until the last minute if you are very flexible.
• Cheaper airfares are usually available for any day within a few months but some have blackout dates which means that on certain days, the cheap fare is unavailable. Blackouts generally happen on days that are expected to be overly busy days for airlines or on holidays. Be sure the day you choose is not blacked out so you can save the most on your airfare.

Planning that Last Minute Holiday Getaway

During the holidays and throughout the year, last minute online travel deals are a great way to get away to places you may not have considered to travel to before. The trick is to be flexible in your destination and your dates. Most airlines offer last minute online deals. For you, it gives you the chance to relax as the sales often occur during non-peak seasons. For airlines, sales fill seats on otherwise unfilled flights.

If you’re not picky, some low-budget airlines offer great one-way offers for popular Canadian destinations. To make the trip even less expensive, consider alternate modes of transportation on the return end. Travel by train, bus or car on the way back will give you the chance to see places in between your two stops and to relax and enjoy the ride.

Calling All Holiday Travelers

Pre-boarding Tips
Due to increased airport security, it is always a good idea to be prepared for pre-boarding processes so that you are not delayed before you even reach the departure area.

• Don’t pack sharp objects in your carry-on
• Have your photo ID and passport ready (if applicable)
• Follow the airline’s policies for carrying dangerous goods
• Remove all old airline tags
• Attach ID tags to the inside and outside of your bags providing your destination and your home address on the inside and just your destination on the outside
• Before departing, be sure to check your return flight details in case changes have occurred that you were not notified about.

Protect Yourself
Pay for your flight using a credit card. That way, you will have a record of your purchase and it may be easier to get a refund if you don’t receive what you paid for.

Non-Peak Travel Time
Actual holidays such as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are less busy and if they are convenient for you, may make your trip more relaxing.

Patience, Patience, Patience
Christmas may be one of the most popular times of the year to travel but is also known for delays and cancellations. You will encounter many impatient travelers, shoppers and children throughout the holiday season. Having patience will help you make better decisions and will make everyone around you more happy and helpful.

Economical Packing

• Although you will probably be traveling with Christmas gifts, try to pack as lightly as possible. You don’t want to have to pay extra charges for baggage. In some instances, it may be cheaper to mail gifts to your destination instead of traveling with them.
• If you are traveling with someone, split your baggage so that each of you has necessities in the other’s bag. This will be a great relief to you if by chance, your luggage gets misplaced during the Christmas rush.
• Pack toiletries and liquids in zipper top bags so the contents don’t leak on to other items in your bag.

For more travel tips and ideas visit the BBC.