Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Alaska Airlines
(
&
800/426-0333;
www.alaskaair.com),
America West
(
&
800/235-9292; www.americawest.
com),
American Airlines
(
&
800/433-
7300; www.aa.com),
Continental
(
&
800/525-0280; www.continental.
com),
Delta
(
&
800/221-1212; www.
delta.com),
Frontier
(
&
800/432-
1359; www.flyfrontier.com),
Horizon
Air
(
&
800/547-9308; www.horizon
air.com),
JetBlue Airways
(
&
800/
JETBLUE; www.jetblue.com),
North-
west/KLM
(
&
800/225-2525; www.
nwa.com),
Southwest
(
&
800/435-
9792; www.southwest.com),
United
(
&
800/241-6522; www.ual.com), and
US Airways
(
&
800/428-4322; www.
usairways.com).
For information on flights to the
United States from other countries,
see “Getting to the U.S.” in chapter 3.
Seaplane service between Seattle and
the San Juan Islands and Victoria,
British Columbia, is offered by
Kenmore Air
(
&
800/543-9595
or
425/486-1257; www.kenmoreair.com),
which has its Seattle terminals at the
south end of Lake Union and at the
north end of Lake Washington.
There is also helicopter service to
Seattle's Boeing Field from Victoria
and Vancouver, British Columbia, on
Helijet Airways
(
&
800/665-4354
or 250/382-6222; www.helijet.com).
The flights take about 35 minutes
from Victoria and 80 minutes from
Vancouver (depending on the connec-
tion, as you must connect in Victoria
for the flight to Seattle). Ballpark
round-trip airfares are $238 to $278
between Victoria and Seattle and
$440 to $506 between Vancouver and
Seattle.
GETTING THROUGH THE
AIRPORT
With the federalization of airport
security, security procedures at U.S.
airports are more stable and consistent
than ever. Generally, you'll be fine if
you arrive at the airport
1 hour
before
a domestic flight and
2 hours
before
an international flight; if you show up
late, tell an airline employee and he or
she will probably whisk you to the
front of the line.
Bring a
current, government-
issued photo ID
such as a driver's
license or passport. Keep your ID at
the ready to show at check-in, the
security checkpoint, and sometimes
even the gate. (Children under 18 do
not need photo IDs for domestic
flights, but the adults checking in with
them should have them.)
In 2003, the TSA phased out
gate
check-in
at all U.S. airports. Passen-
gers with E-tickets can still beat the
ticket-counter lines by using
elec-
tronic kiosks
or even
online check-
in.
Ask your airline which alternatives
are available, 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-row seat, you
will be able to do so using most air-
lines' kiosks; again, call your airline for
up-to-date information.
Curbside
check-in
is also a good way to avoid
lines, although a few airlines still ban
curbside check-in; call before you go.
Security checkpoint lines are getting
shorter than they were during 2001
and 2002, but some doozies remain. If
you have trouble standing for long
periods of time, tell an airline
employee; the airline will provide a
wheelchair. Speed up security by
not
wearing metal objects
such as big belt
buckles. If you've got metallic body
parts, a note from your doctor can pre-
vent a long chat with the security
screeners. Keep in mind that only
tick-
eted passengers
are allowed past secu-
rity, except for folks escorting children
or passengers with disabilities.
Federalization has stabilized
what
you can carry on
and
what you can't.
The general rule is that sharp things
are out, nail clippers are okay, and food
and beverages must be passed through
the X-ray machine—but that security
