How to Plan Ahead for Holiday Travel

Airlines have made many changes in the past year to try to cope with the loss of revenue due to high fuel costs, such as cutting flights and services. Those changes will impact your ability to get the travel dates you want, and may even affect what you pack to avoid paying for extra baggage. By planning ahead, you will be able to avoid impacting your holiday plans, especially for traditionally family oriented holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Request days off from work, and structure your vacation time so that you have enough time to get a flight or train to avoid the worst of the holiday rush. Try for days off that begin on the Thursday or Friday prior to the holiday if you will be traveling by air or rail so that you can get reservations. This may also increase your odds of getting lower priced tickets as flights fill up fast during the holidays.

2. Make your reservations as early as possible to ensure that you can get where you want to go in time. Let the customer service representatives know that you want your family to be seated together and whether you want window or aisle seats.

3. Structure your vacation dates or paid time off from work to give you plenty of traveling time if you will be traveling by car. Give plenty of time to stop and rest, eat, stretch your legs, make bathroom stops and gas up your car to decrease the potential for an accident.

4. Print out maps from your home to your destination 1 or 2 weeks ahead or purchase an atlas and use a highlighter to mark your route so you can follow it more easily.

5. Pack a carry-on bag a few days before your departure date, including a change of clothing for each person, personal hygiene items like toothpaste, two extra bottles for your baby and prepackaged snacks like crackers and dried fruit in case your luggage gets lost or you become stranded due to inclement weather.
   Include a couple of coloring books with crayons, age-appropriate books and a portable DVD player with movies in the carry-on bag so everyone has something to do while on the plane or train, and in case you get stranded because of inclement weather. Add car travel games to an activity bag, if traveling by vehicle.

6. Add perishable food items the night before you will be leaving to your carry-on bag so nothing gets forgotten, and set that bag by the front door of your home. Put the luggage you will be checking in at the airport or train station in the trunk of your vehicle 2 or 3 days ahead of time (or by the front door of your home if you will be getting a taxi).

7. Check current weather forecasts so you will be aware of any inclement winter weather that could result in a flight or train being canceled or that may necessitate your leaving earlier for the airport or Amtrak station, or for your destination if you will be traveling by car.

Tips & Warnings

• If traveling in your vehicle, make sure to put heavy coats, thermal wear and several heavy blankets or down comforters in the trunk of your car so that if you should get stranded or forced to stop on the road because of mechanical failure, inclement weather or an accident. Consider purchasing insurance through AAA a week to a month before you travel, so you will have free towing and other perks if your vehicle breaks down. Ask which insurance package ensures free towing for long distances. If you get AAA, your ID card can be used to get a discount at many hotels which could come in handy if you run into inclement weather and need to stay overnight at a hotel.