Staying Fit
If you are getting ready to travel, you probably have a pre-travel checklist that you follow. TSA PreCheck? Active. Passport? Check. But if you haven’t traveled in a while, you might not know where to start checking for the necessary information and documentation.
After the record number of passengers screened in 2023, David Pekoske, the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said earlier this year that the agency expects the trend to continue this year. Indeed, 65 percent of people 50-plus plan to travel this year, according to the AARP 2024 Travel Trends survey.
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As you prepare to travel this summer, here are eight tips you never knew to follow before taking a trip.
1. Call the non-U.S. 800 number for airlines
Peter Greenberg, the travel editor for CBS News, wants travelers to not rely solely on online research when booking a trip. “The websites are by design misleading because the presumption that people make, which is false, is that they’re seeing all the availability and inventory on their screen. They’re not.”
Greenberg suggests having a conversation with a travel agent, travel adviser or travel provider to find the full availability that often isn’t depicted online. Instead of being put on hold on a U.S.-based airline 800 number, call an 800 number for United Airlines in London, American Airlines in Dublin or Delta Airlines in Paris, he says. “They are open 24/7. They won’t put you on hold. And they’re seeing the same thing on their screen that the headquarters are seeing” in Chicago, Dallas or Atlanta, Greenberg says.
2. Check the expiration date on your passport
Many countries, including most of Europe, Morocco, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand, will not let you enter if your passport expires in less than six months. Check the U.S. State Department’s travel site for more details.
3. Get an international driver’s permit
Do you plan to drive overseas? If so, there are some countries that require an International Driving Permit, says William Lee, the head of marketing for Chima Travel in northeast Ohio. According to usa.gov, if you visit Canada or Mexico, your state driver’s license is all you need. However, a trip to Spain or Greece will require an International Driving Permit. “The process to get one is actually really simple,” Lee says. Before you travel, either visit AAA in person or online. AAA is the only entity that issues the permit in the U.S. Supply two passport-style photos or have the pictures taken at certain AAA offices. The fee for the permit is $20, plus processing and delivery fees. You don’t need to be a member of AAA to use this service.
