New Shopping Magazine from Consumer Reports Includes Five Travel Dos and Don’ts

YONKERS, NY – Traveling isn’t much fun these days, and flying during the holidays is enough to make Santa park his sleigh and use FedEx. To ease minds, the December/January issue of ShopSmart, the new shopping magazine from the publishers of Consumer Reports, shares key information to help travelers handle some of the worst travel nightmares.

“This guide will help consumers get through cancelled flights, bumped seats and lost baggage,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief, ShopSmart. “Being prepared for the worst will help you and your family stay sane and save money.” 

Follow ShopSmart's advice to get through travel mishaps and avoid them when possible:

A Cancelled Flight

• Know the facts: Before you get to the airport download your airline’s “Contract of Carriage” from its Web site. It will detail the policies of your carrier and the compensation they will provide for delays or cancellations depending on whether they are due to maintenance, weather, terrorism or labor strikes.
• Fix the problem: Airlines often say they will rebook you on the next available flight, but during peak holiday season, seats will be scarce. Visit www.oag.com to find out which other carriers fly that route in case you need to switch. Don’t wait on a long line at the ticket counter; call another airline immediately to ask whether your ticket will be honored. If the second airline won’t honor it, consider purchasing another ticket and then seeking reimbursement later.
• Avoid a cancelled flight: Travel early in the day so you’ll have the best chance of arriving on time. Also, avoid connections if possible.

A Bumped Seat

• Know the facts: You can accept travel vouchers if your flight has been oversold, but the government requires airlines to give you a check if you want one. Don’t hesitate to insist on it.
• Fix the problem: During the holidays, you’ll probably want to be rebooked rather than refunded so that you can still get to your destination. In this case, the carrier will arrange “substitute transportation” either on its next available flight or on another carrier.
• Avoid a bumped seat: Get to the airport on time. The earlier you get to the airport, the less likely it is you’ll be bumped. During the holidays, pad those times by an hour to accommodate traffic, parking, check-in and security delays.

A Lost Bag

• Know the facts: In February the liability limit for lost bags on domestic flights was boosted to $3,000 per passenger. However, high-ticket items like laptop computers and jewelry are not covered. Despite exclusions, airlines will cover clothing and certain other items up to this limit. You shouldn’t need receipts, though hold onto them as airlines may ask for them.
• Fix the problem: If your bag is lost or damaged, file a claim immediately upon arrival; in most cases a missing bag will turn up, but doing the paperwork will make things easier if it doesn’t.
• Avoid lost luggage: Pack valuables and gifts in your carry-on luggage. Also, consider shipping bulky gifts in advance. Never leave the airport without inspecting your bag. If there is a problem, file a report with the airline immediately and get a copy, no matter how long you must wait in line to do so.

A Hotel Reservation Given Away

• Know the facts: If you had a guaranteed reservation, they should offer you equivalent accommodations at another hotel, or a refund. If the only available room is at a higher rate, you should not have to pay any extra for it.
• Fix the problem: Carry a copy of your hotel confirmation, and if you are bumped, be sure to negotiate for other accommodations immediately. Don’t leave the hotel to explore other options, because by doing so you would be tacitly agreeing to being bumped.
• Avoid losing your reservation: Have your reservation guaranteed in advance, and notify the hotel if you’re running late.

Five Travel Dos and Don'ts

1. DO travel early or late in the holiday season or fly on the actual holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s). Check out travel site www.hotwire.com, which posts a detailed holiday calendar with the best and worst days to fly.
2. DO keep meticulous records. Have dates, times, names titles, flight numbers, etc., at hand in case you need to seek compensation for a cancelled flight or lost bag later on.
3. DON’T travel broke. Be sure you always carry a small amount of cash and an ATM card. You may need it to get home as unexpected situations can arise during the hectic holiday travel season.
4. DON’T fly with banned items that could be confiscated. If you’re not sure what you’re allowed to take onboard these days, check the regularly updated “Pack Smart” tips at the Transportation Security Administration’s Web site.
5. DON’T bring a wrapped gift on an airplane. Security screeners might require you to unwrap it before you get onboard.

About ShopSmart magazine:
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports' celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix.