Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
23
Tips
Kids with Colds
It's even more difficult for kids to make their ears pop during takeoff and landing
than it is for adults. The Eustachian tube is especially narrow in children, and the
passage is even tighter when mucous membranes are swollen. This can make
ascent and descent especially painful—even dangerous—for a child with con-
gested sinuses. If your little one is suffering from a cold or the flu, it's best to keep
him grounded until he recuperates, if that's an option. If you simply must travel
with your child as scheduled, give him an oral child's decongestant an hour
before ascent and descent or administer a spray decongestant before and during
takeoff and landing.
smaller and easier to navigate, but fares for
cabs and shuttle buses into the city ar
Generally, you'll be fine if you arrive at the
airport
1 hour
befor e a domestic flight
and
2 hours
before an international flight;
if you show up late, tell an airline empl yee
and she'll probably whisk you to the front
of the line.
Bring a
current, go vernment-issued
photo ID
such as a driver's license or pass-
port. Keep your ID at the ready to show at
check-in, the security checkpoint, and
sometimes even the gate. Childr en under
18 do not need go vernment-issued photo
IDs for domestic flights, but they do for
international flights to most countries.
The TSA has phased out
gate check-in
at all U.S. airports. Passengers with e-tick-
ets can still beat the ticket-counter lines by
using
airport electronic kiosks
or
online
check-in
from your home computer. Ask
your airline which alternativ es ar e av ail-
able, and if you're using a kiosk, bring the
credit card you used to book the ticket or
your frequent-flier card. If you're checking
bags or looking to snag an exit-r ow seat,
you will be able to do so using most air-
lines' kiosks; again, call y our airline for
up-to-date information.
Curbside check-
in
is also a good way to av oid lines,
although a fe w airlines still ban curbside
check-in; call before you go.
Security checkpoint lines ar e getting
shorter, but some doozies r emain. I f y ou
have trouble standing for long periods of
e
about 50% higher.
It's worth checking y our options flying
into either airpor t, as y ou'll sometimes
find a cheaper or mor e conv enient flight
arriving in Oakland. The Oakland airport
also often enjo ys better w eather than S an
Francisco, wher e flights can be delay ed
due to foggy conditions or be r elegated to
circling the skies while waiting for an
available runway. The great news at SFO is
the beautiful ne w I nternational Terminal
and the BART extension.
Airlines that fly into the B ay Ar ea
include
Air C anada
(
&
888/247-2262;
www.aircanada.ca),
Alaska
(
&
800/252-
7522; www .alaskaair.com),
American
(
&
800/433-7300; www.aa.com),
British
Airways
(
&
800/247-9297; www .ba.
com),
Continental
(
&
800/525-0280;
www.continental.com),
Delta
(
&
800/
221-1212; www .delta.com),
JetBlue
(
&
800/538-2583; www .jetblue.com),
Northwest
(
&
800/225-2525; www.nwa.
com),
Southwest
(
&
800/435-9792; www.
southwest.com),
United
(
&
800/241-
6522; www .ual.com), and
US Air ways
(
&
800/428-4322; www.usairways.com).
Getting Through the Airport
With the federalization of airport security,
security pr ocedures at U.S. airpor ts
are mor e stable and consistent than ev er.
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