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Air Travel and Flights

In to day’s world, air travel provides the means to individuals for fast, efficient transportation that allows you to travel any where in the world with relative ease to join a cruise of your choice. Regardless if you are a regular traveller or one that travels occasionally, there are additional stresses involved in this modern world of ours and one should be prepared to accept delays and additional security measures.

Today’s jet aircraft are pressurised, which leads to discomforts in the ears (mainly during take off and landing) stomach upset, swollen feet and jet lag. You will find that most discomforts from flying will disappear quite quickly. Occasionally you will notice the stress and strain of international flights where you flying for longer and through several time zones, your symptoms will persist for a little longer. Eastbound flights seem to be more proned to causing jet lag than westbound flights. It is always advisable to take a pre and post cruise hotel package, this will break up your journey and well reduce your stress level.

A number of cruise lines offer air deviations at a nominal cost of between $25.00 to $100.00USD. This enables you to have more control over departure and arrival times along with flights and the airline you travel on. Requests for air deviations must be made as soon as possible. Most cruise lines will not accept any air deviation requests less than 14 days prior to departure. During peak holiday periods you maybe find that obtaining an air deviation impossible and will have to accept the cruise lines air arrangements.

An air deviation is defined as

• Change of date
• Early arrival in embarkation and/or disembarkation ports
• Late departure in embarkation and/or disembarkation ports
• Stopovers
• Change of routing

If the cruise line has already issued the airline tickets regardless if you have received them or not and you ask for an air deviation, they will charge you addition fees for reissuing the ticket along with an administration fee. Should you have received your airline tickets from the cruise line, there will have to pay all the courier fess to pay.

Tips

There is no right or wrong answer on how to avoid the discomforts of flying, the list below is some precaution that may help you.

• Take day time flights where possible
• Arrive at or close to your normal bedtime
• Use direct flight where possible
• Avoid Airline hubs
• Make an advanced seat assignment(s) where possible
• Have a family member, friend or a limousine pick you up and take you to the airport
• Arrive early at the airport (ask your airline for advise on this as it varies)
• Have your documentation easily assessable for check in
• Take advantage of the airline clubs where possible (many have a one time usage fee)
• Eat a meal before boarding your flight (some airlines no longer of meal service onboard)
• Do not drink alcohol before or during your flight
• Drink only bottled water
• Take along some reading material
• Relax, watch a movie, listen to music, or read a book
• Rest for 5 hours after your flight

 

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Last Modified: 11/25/05