Travel Reminder: Always book with a credit card

As many of us attempt to become less dependent on credit, it remains a good rule of thumb to continue to use a credit card whenever you make certain purchases. Always use a major credit card when booking flights, traveling internationally, or booking with a hotel that takes a deposit.

When Direct Air filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in March 2012, customers were told to contact their credit card companies to seek reimbursement for tickets purchased that would not be honored. While the company wasn't honoring their obligations, the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) gives consumers a chance to recoup their losses if they used a credit card for purchase. Customers using a debit card were out of luck.

The economic downturn has affected hotels, tour operators, and other travel-related areas of business, and if you venture to countries that have less stability in financial infrastructure, you stand to lose it all if you've traveled using a debit card.


Sources: Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
"Direct Air under fire as it files for bankruptcy," USA Today, March 20, 2012

When Travel Gets Dangerous

I've given a lot of thought to what to do if things go wrong when I'm traveling. I'm a worrier by nature and I have no trouble with scenarios that involve things erupting, terrorists attacking, and various weather catastrophes. But a few stories have given me further pause. I'm not interested in visiting Arruba. Iran was pretty low on my list before they imprisoned three American hikers. And while I'm not willing to swear off Italy, after the Amanda Knox trial, I am not too certain about their criminal investigations.

So what is a traveler to do?

• If you are going anywhere outside the United States, be sure you check out the State Department's travel alerts and warnings. And be sure to carry the name and address of the nearest U.S. Embassy should you get into trouble.
• Take a few minutes to enroll in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a service of the State Department that helps them notify you in case of an alert and makes it easier for you to have embassy access. (Embassy are high security operations. You don't just walk in.)
• Also leave copies of your passport number, credit card information, and full itinerary with someone at home just in case you leave in a hurry. Or worse. 

Stay safe.

Glacier Park International Airport Gets Zany with Security

Kudos to the Glacier Park International Airport staff who decided to make something people might pay attention to.

How Old is Your Airplane?

Southwest Airlines made the news  after one of its Boeing 737s suffered engine failure but safely landed. Not what the PR department was hoping for following the April 2011 incident when the ceiling tore open on a flight out of Phoenix. That plane was also a Boeing 737.

Despite these incidents, Southwest is lucky. They carry the distinction of having the safest record of U.S. airlines with no fatalities in the airlines history. (If you want to analyze a lot of air safety data, check out: AirSafe.com). But their 737s have the distinction of being the oldest planes in Southwest's fleet, ranging from 14-27 years old.

But the average age of a plane in Southwest's fleet is only 11 years.  Which isn't bad compared to many U.S. airlines. "Of the 5,363 jets used by U.S. airlines today, almost 1,300 are more than 15 years old and 235 of them were built before 1988, the year the government banned smoking on most domestic flights, " the AP reported in April.

But before you get too concerned, the good news is that since Congress passed the Aging Aircraft Safety Act in 1991, airlines are required to inspect aging aircraft more frequently. Which costs more and results in a greater frequency of delayed and canceled flights. 

Apparently the airlines are starting to be concerned as well. American plans to begin replacing its U.S. fleet and Delta plans to retire the 39 DC-9s it flies that date back to the 1970s next year. (Sources: AP and Seeking Alpha blog)

In the meantime, you might want to start paying more attention to what you're flying. And if your plane still has a place to discard your burning cigarette, it isn't good news.