National Weather Services & NOAA Airport Weather Forecast
International Directory of Official Weather Services / Meteorological Offices:
The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS / NOAA) maintains weather stations or direct data feeds from airports all over the
United States and from around the world, which
provide up-to-the-minute weather conditions. Quick Search NOAA Current Weather Conditions by Destination Airport by
using the drop down box below to locate your destination and then clicking on the Submit Button:
Aviation Weather Center / NOAA (includes Current Turbulence & Current Icing Advisories)
Airport Delay
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains data feeds from a select group of major airports
in the United States, which
provide up-to-the-minute airport status information. Quick Search FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center by Destination Airport by
using the drop down box below to locate your destination and then clicking on the Submit Button:
Security Checkpoint Wait Times / Transportation Security Administration
Airline Travel Guide
Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage.
Spare batteries are the batteries you carry separately from the devices they power. When batteries are installed in a device, they are not considered spare batteries.
You may not pack a spare lithium battery in your checked baggage
You may bring spare lithium batteries with you in carry-on baggage
Even though the DOT recommends carrying your devices with you in carry-on baggage as well, if you must bring one in checked baggage, you may check it with the batteries installed.
Batteries and Battery-Powered Devices / U.S. Dept. of Transportation
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Announces Changes Regarding Carry-on Luggage for Flights Originating In or Headed to the United States.
On Monday, September 25, 2006, the TSA announced that it will now allow liquid and gel toiletries in carry-on baggage as long
as the items are in containers of 3 ounces or less and only if they are stored in a clear, one quart zip-top plastic
bag (this means 3 oz. per each container, not cumulative, and you may not bring larger containers that appear to only have 3 oz.
of liquid or gel in them). The bag, and 1 one quart zip-top plastic bag only per traveler must be removed from your carry on luggage and placed for separate x-ray screening.
You may still bring containers larger than 3 ounces on a flight with you but these items will have to be placed in
your checked luggage.
You may also bring in your carry-on baggage 4 ounces of commercial over-the-counter eye drops, saline solution, non-prescription medicines
and personal lubricants
.
Medicines are exempted (Bring your perscription) and Baby formula, Breast milk and
Juice are also exempted as long as you are traveling with an infant/child but must be presented for inspection and you
may be requested to ingest the substance in front of an inspector.
Once you have cleared Security Checkpoints you may purchase liquid and gel toiletry items, and consumable beverages
(soft drinks and coffee in excess of 3 ounces),
at stores within the secure passenger waiting area and bring these items on the aircraft with you.
Laptop computers, cellular phones, iPods, and other portable electronic devices
are still allowed on board an aircraft as carry-on items. These items must still be screened at the security checkpoint.
Tioiletries are considered such items as Perfumes, Colognes, Makeup/Cosmetics (Liquid mascara, Liquid foundation, Face wash and moisturizer),
Mouthwash, Soap, Aerosols, Shaving Cream, Toothpaste, Sunscreen/Suntan products and hand and body Lotions.
On average, "Trial Size" or "Travel Size" toiletries are:
Men's stick deodorant: 0.5 oz. (even regular size are on average 3.0 oz. to 3.25 oz.)
Tooth paste: 0.75 oz. or 0.82 oz.
Men's aerosol shaving cream: 2.25 oz.
Hand cream / Face cream: 1.7 oz.
3-1-1 for Carry-ons / Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Permitted and Prohibited Items List / Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
New York State Airline Passenger Rights Law (General Business Law, Article 14-A (251-F - 251-J); On January 1, 2008,
New York State passed a law that required all airlines operating out of
New York airports are required to provide passengers with food, water, fresh air, power, and working restrooms on any
flight that has left the gate and been on the tarmac for more than three hours. On March 25, 2008, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the law by ruling that New York's state
law interferes with federal law governing the price, route or service of an air carrier.http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/
In the United States, the U.S. federal government Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to exercise oversight
for air travel within and to and from the United States.
The control tower at an airport is only responsible for aircraft which have only recently taken off or are on final approach (or
are already circling the airport in a hold pattern) and the movement of aircraft on the ground.
Tracon (Terminal Radar Approach Control) controls aircraft to a maximum radius of 40 miles around any airport.
While in flight, aircraft within U.S. airspace are controlled by Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC), which have
jurisdiction over specific air corridors and then hand over control of airborne traffic to a contiguous ARTCC. These
regional centers (en-route center) control aircraft operating in excess of an altitude of 12,000 feet.
Local air traffic control and airport administration do have some control over airport operations during poor weather conditions.
However, whether actual flights are granted permission to proceed as scheduled during less than optimal weather conditions is
up to a respective airline's licensed FAA Dispatcher.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, a modal organization within the DOT) is responsible for the safety of civil
aviation. The FAA issues and enforces regulations and minimum standards covering manufacturing, operating (U.S. commercial airlines
are inspected under the Air Transportation Oversight System / ATOS), and maintaining aircraft, certifies pilots and
airports that serve air carriers. The FAA is also authorized with the oversight of developing and operating a system of
air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft.
Aviation safety standards have been definitively established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which
is the United Nations agency that conducted the technical research of aviation operations and drafted the international standards and recommended
practices for aircraft operations and maintenance. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains the
International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program in order to rate a foreign country's civil aviation authority and
determine that it licenses and oversees air carriers in accordance with ICAO international aviation safety standards.
The FAA IASA assessments are not an indication of whether individual foreign carriers are safe or unsafe; rather, they
determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations.
FAA inspectors (IASA program) rates aviation authorities' compliance with ICAO standards by using a 2 category system:
Category 1 countries Do Comply with ICAO Standards
Category 2 countries Do Not Comply with ICAO Standards
Category 2 countries may continue operate existing airline services to the United States under FAA surveillance and may only expand operations by
leasing aircraft from a U.S. carrier or a carrier authorized by a Category 1 country.
International Aviation Safety Assessments (IASA) Program / FAA
As of October 27, 2209, airline seats in new aircraft will be desinged and manufactured to be able to withstand
an impact at 16X the force of gravity (compared to the present 9X) with out breaking apart in the event of a crash. The
revised regulation is not retoractive to seats on older aircraft.
Airline Overbooking and Passenger Bumping
Airlines purposefully overbook a particular flight (if there is sufficient reservation requests, overbooking can be as high
as 150% of available seats) as it is less expensive to bump a passenger and pay them with a voucher than it is to have an
aircraft take off with empty seats. U.S. airlines are now operating with reduced fleet size and reduced flights per route,
thus the possibility of being bumped as increased. However, it is still approximately less than 2 passengers per 10,000
passengers. However, you can still have a ticket that you paid for month's in advance and show up at the airport 2 hours
ahead of the scheduled flight just to be told that you have been "involuntarily denied boarding".
Airlines usually first ask if any passengers are willing to give up their seat voluntarily and usually this can free up
space on an aircraft. The motivation for voluntarily giving up one's reserved seat is usually cash or a travle voucher from the
airline and being put on a wait list for the next available flight. The vouchers received from the airlines for
voluntary bumping usually offer the holder a free flight, however there are certain limitations regarding destination,
blackout dates, redeeming them in person as opposed to over the telephone or on-line, etc. Thus, if you are flexible you may just
get another day on vacation and some sort of additional compensation.
If an insufficient number of passengers give up their seats voluntarily and you are bumped involuntarily then one does have rights under Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines. This first means that one
is entitled to cash compensation (on the spot) over a voucher. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that
airlines compensate the bumped passenger with $200 if they are unable to get you to your originally scheduled destination
within 2 hours of the originally scheduled arrival time on domestic U.S. flights and within 4 hour hours on international
flights. The amount of cash though is up for negotiation and it depends on the cost of your initial itinerary and the cost
of your delay, for instance if you are traveling to connect to a cruise. At the minimum, the DOT again requires that if
the airline is unable to meet the 2 hour / 4 hour deadline then the passenger is entitled to $400, overnight expenses at
a local hotel and a refund of your airfare.
Airlines direct their customers to make their own reservations on the airline's corporate site or on an on-line
travel site and then print out your ticket at the end of the session or through E-mail confirmation. You will be charged
an additional fee if you make a reservation by telephone and charged another fee if you request that a paper ticket be
mailed directly to you.
The most comprehensive online fare and route comparison tool is provided by ITA software. The company's
QPX search product is utilized by airlines Alaska Airlines, Alitalia Airlines, Continental, US Airways and
LOT Polish Air; travel comparison sites Kayak, SideStep, Farecast, CheapTickets; travel packaging sites Accovia; travel
websites Hotwire and Orbitz; Global distribution system (GDS) Galileo; and reward redemption operator Aeroplan to provide
customers with a range of options. matrix.itasoftware.com/
Make sure that you reserve, purchase and print your ticket in the same name as appears on your driver's license
(domestic flight) and / or passport (international flight). The failure of the ticket name and the picture identification
name to match can result in additional processing time at airport check-in.
If your plans require that you fly overseas then try to determine if the flight is a codeshare flight. For instance,
you may get on American Airlines website and book a flight but the aircraft and flight is actually completed with Cathay
Pacific. Try booking the exact same flight with Cathay Pacific to determine if there is a cost savings.
Try to take the first flight of the morning.
A morning flight is not dependent upon the arrival of an aircraft from another destination.
As no flights are scheduled in front of this flight it should be able to depart on time.
Avoid flying mid morning or mid afternoon rush hours. Flights scheduled during this least efficient time frame
have the worst on-time preformance record.
If at all possible, fly non-stop. Once a trip requires a connecting flight the on-time performance declines.
Try to get a specific seat assignment when you book your flight. Those passengers without a specific seat assignment are the first to
be bumped from an overbooked flight. Many online travel websites have improved their booking process and included aircraft
diagrams. If for some reason you have not been provided with one at the time you can open seatguru.com in another
browser and look up the airline / aircraft type. www.seatguru.com
If your aircraft needs to be de-iced prior to take off expect a minimum one hour delay.
If your flight is overbooked or cancelled due to aircraft problems or local / destination weather conditions then
attempt to get to a telephone immediately. Dial the airline 1-800 telephone number to book a new flight. This is much more
efficient than standing in line at the customer service desk. Unfortunately, your next task is to then locate your luggage,
which may have already been sent to your original final destination.
If your flight is delayed or cancelled by the airline itself you will only be reimbursed for immediate needs
expenses such as meals, lodging and ground transportation. You will not receive any compensation for any loss of
wages or loss of opportunity related to missing a business meeting.
Also be aware that the luggage weight allowance is lower on small, propeller-driven aircraft (and even on some
smaller jet aircraft operated by regional carriers). Depending on the
size of the aircraft you may only be allowed from 25 pounds to 40 pounds of checked luggage.
Regardless of whatever someone tells you or you read somewhere else: airlines do not update their servers sometime around
midnight or just thereafter. Servers and specific flight information is maintained on a constant basis and availability
(only through a confirmed cancellation) is updated as received. You are not going to magically locate a low fare at 2:00am in the morning.
If at all possible, travel with a carry-on suitcase (21 to 22 inch). You will substantially reduce your check-in time
by perhaps being able to use a ticket kiosk, and your belongings will arrive with you at your destination.
If you will only be traveling with carry-on luggage then make the effort to check-in for your flight on-line
and print out your boarding pass (this can usually be done 24 hours prior to the flight).
Bring a snack (you can no longer bring drinks
through the security checkpoint) - especially in the event of a delay
and the food concession area is closed. In all honesty, assume that you will receive nothing during your trip - be self-sufficient
and plan ahead for your own comfort.
General Travel Tips
Documentation
Check the website of the embassy for the country that you are traveling to determine if you require a visa for
entry. Do not rely on travel websites or publications as they may be out of date.
Make a copy of your passport and bring it with you. If your passport is lost or stolen it is easier for the local
Embassy or Consulate to replace your passport if they have a copy to work with from the start.
Also make a copy of your Driver's License and bring it with you.
You can even scan a copy of a passport and store the file on a laptop computer or PDA however this raises a
second problem of what happens if the device is lost or stolen. You can also E-mail the scanned document(s) to third
party E-mail account you have previously set up (yahoo.com, google.com, etc.) and then if you need the copy you can just
go to the Eimail account and open up the specific E-mail.
Always pay with a credit card, either on-line or at a resort (in all honesty there may not be any alternative)
so that there is a record of the transaction and you can perhaps rely upon the credit card company's customer service to
help resolve any billing problems.
Bring a limited number of credit cards and/or debit/cash cards. Write down the account number of the card(s) you
are bringing and the emergency number for the respective credit card issuer to notify in the event of the card being
lost or stolen.
Always double check your bill at a hotel. Make a daily list of everything you purchased or charged
to your room number or the credit card on file with the front desk and make sure it reconciles with the bill.
Bring a copy of your airline, hotel, travel service or rental car booking / reservation so you and the
corresponding party knows exactly what was indicated as "included" in the price at the time of booking. If you do not have a written
record then you will have no case to challenge lack of services or additional charges.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that airlines lost 7 bags for every 1,000 passengers
in 2007. This situation has continued to increase every year since 2002 when airlines lost 3.84 bags for every 1,000 fliers.
Theoretically, you should pack what you are willing to never see again although that type of thinking seems strange
and it limits the quality and quantity of clothing. Some seasoned travelers even bring emergency under garments
(an perhaps an extra shirt / blouse) in their carry-on luggage just in case.
All electronic equipment should be placed in your carry-on luggage for easy security inspection (also remember
to lay it flat in the bag as it goes through the security check point). Remeber to also place all cords in the same carry-on
bag, not in your checked luggage, because if the checked luggage is lost then you will have no way to connect / recharge
your equipment.
Health & Safety
Center for Disease Control (CDC), Travelers' Health (All Topics) www.cdc.gov/travel/
Bring necessary prescription medication on your trip in the bottle issued by the pharmacy with the sticker attached
by the pharmacy indicating your name, the name of the medication and the dosage.
Bring extra dosages of necessary prescriptions, enough for several days in the event that your trip does not go as
scheduled due to weather or some other issue.
Carry your personal prescription medication(s) on your body or in your carry-on luggage (never in checked luggage).
Bring a copy of a medical prescription, eyeglass prescriptions, extra batteries for hearing aids, eyeglass repair kit,
etc. Medical prescription are important, not just to have them filled in an emergency but to also verify to authorities
that the substance you have in your possession is legal and necessary.
Check the Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Website for spcific country advisories
or warnings.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationList.aspx
(Includes Travel Notices, Recommended Vaccinations and Preventive Medications).
Bring a basic first aid kit with you, always. If you need to call the front desk for even something a simple as a bandaid
then you will be waiting a long time. Sufficient medical supplies and basic hygenic toiletries should be carried to meet all foreseeable needs for
the duration of the trip. This is done as the local availability of specific medications is not certain and the time
that may be required to obtain baisc first aid supplies or medication can be dramatically reduced. In all honesty, do not
rely upon the hotel accommodations provider to be there for you in a timely or competent manner.
You may have seen it written elsewhere or on a news program: the most used services in a hotel room are those that provide the greatest
risk of picking up a virus: door knob, television remote, telephone, bed spread. Bring anti-bacterial hand wipes with you.
Determine what medical services your health insurance plan will cover outside of your home country. Either read your
policy, contact the plan provider directly or speak to your employee benefits representative at your
place of employment. Your major concerns are emergency medical treatment and/or emergency surgery while traveling, or emergency evacuation
to a country of your choice and emergency medical treatment and/or emergency surgery provided out of plan.
Please be advised that most standard, employee provided U.S. medical insurance plans do not provide or cover emergency medical evacuation
from the another country to the United States.
Remember to bring both your medical insurance plan identity card as proof of such insurance coverage and if possible
bring a claim form.
If necessary, purchase separate traveler's medical insurance coverage that will cover you when abroad. Some companies sell such coverage just
for a specific trip and time frame. This health insurance should
include coverage for changes to the itinerary, emergency repatriation for health
reasons, hospitalization, medical care in case of illness or accident and repatriation
of the body in case of death.
Gastrointestinal problems are the most common problem which afflict travelers. In most cases
they are not life threatening however one can develop a terrible fever and diarrhea (which itself can lead to dehydration).
This affliction is the result of contaminated water, fruits and vegetables being contaminated, foods not being refrigerated
and unpasteurized diary products. Usually, one must ingest some type of antibiotic to eliminate the bacteria within your system however this is a several day
process which will effect the quality time of your trip.
Commercial aircraft are pressurized to counter the high altitude at which they operate however they are not pressurized
to a condition similar to what one would experience at sea level. Rather, they are pressurized to to a level of several
thousand feet and this low pressure can affect certain individuals. The lower pressure condition results in one's heart
and lungs working harder an this can affect individuals with pre-existing cardiac, pulmonary, circulatory and high blood pressure
ailments. The low pressure condition can also possibly counter the effects of medication that one takes for these ailments.
Deep vein thrombosis is a condition of blood clots developing within the arteries of the legs due to a cramped seating
position, inactivity and low air pressure as is sometimes experienced on commercial aircraft on flights long duration. The best way to counteract
the possibility of this condition developing is to stand-up and walk around the aircraft several times during the flight,
do some minor stretching of your neck and arms
and to consume non-alcoholic liquids to counter dehydration.
U.S. citizens traveling outside of the United States can get registered with the U.S. State Department Travel
Registration Service: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ (secure website)
Rail Travel
Since the construction of the highway system in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, passenger rail service
has been neglected. Amtrak is the now the sole inter-city U.S. passenger rail carrier within the continental United States.
Amtrak is a government sponsored corporation and its funding is subject to legislative approval. Time and lack of funds has
resulted in a passenger rail network that does not have very good or convenient interconnection, which is an unfortunate situation
considering that ridership has increased substantially in response to the very high gasoline prices in 2008. Passenger rail service is
divided among several operations:
Corridor trains
Regional networks
Commuter trains
Light rail
Amtrak does operate some trains in cooperation with several states, primarily in the Pacific Northwest and California.
Other commuter and light rail passenger systems operate primarily within the municipal jurisdiction of several dozen cities
and counties in the United States.
Amtrak does not own the physical rail tracks that it travels over (with the exception of the Northeast Corridor,
most of the rail line are owned by the major, regional and shortline
freight railroads). The ability to travel and maintain a schedule will often be subject to freight traffic.
Amtrak travel is also affected by weather conditions.
The Acela is Amtrak's high speed train service on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington. However, due
to the amount of congestion, and the layout and age of the track network, speed is reduced during most of the trip.
There really is no bullet train in the United States similar to systems in Japan and Europe. There has been funding allocated
to high speed rail as part of the financail stimulus plan in 2008 / 2009. However, it is unclear when or if a bullet train
system will ever be constructed in the United States.
Depending on the specific route, ticket and train, some trains will have assigned seating and some will have
first-come-first-served seating. Once you have had your ticket validated by the conductor you will have a seat check
(a small stub of paper with a three-letter code) placed above your seat. Not all trains and not all train stations have
checked baggage service.
In Europe, downtown-to-downtown rail connections give high-speed rail an access advantage over air travel.
Hotels & Resorts
When checking into a hotel room for the first time, check the alarm / clock radio and make sure it is still not in
the "ON" position from the previous guest.
Open the security box / electronic safe in your hotel room the night before you leave to retrieve your airline ticket(s),
passport(s) and valuables. If you wait until the morning and there is a problem then you may not make it to the airport
on time. Secondly, hotels really have no liability for items stolen from your in-room security box. For better
security inquire whether the front desk has a security box or safe and inquire what is their liability policy.
Forgot the recharging cradle for your mobile telephone or PDA? Check with the front desk and ask if they have a
box of lost or forgotten chargers to see if there is one that may work for your model.
There is no item in a hotel minibar that is priced comparable to any price that you would pay for the same item at your own
local supermarket, bulk wholesaler, liquor store or beer distributor. Minibars are designed for increased hotel income not
guest satisfaction. In addition, there is no way of determining how long an item has been in the minibar.
Join Customer Loyalty Programs / Rewards Programs. Many of them have no fee to join or have a nominal fee and
will provide you with preferential treatment when making reservations and during check-in. If you travel enough then the
reward points actually do start to add up. However, in 2006 / 2007 a number of the major hotel chains increased the minimum
point requirements for room upgrades / free rooms.
The major international hotel chains and their affiliated operations are:
Accor
Motel 6
Studio 6
Formule 1
Etap
Ibis
All Seasons
Suitehotel
Mercure Hotels
Adagio
Novotel
M Gallery
Pullman Hotels
Sofitel
Carlson
Radisson
Radisson Blu
Radisson Edwardian
Regent
Park Plaza
Country Inns & Suites
Park Inn
Rezidor Hotels
Four Seasons
Hilton
Hilton Garden Inn
Embassy Suites
Hampton
Doubletree
Homewood Suites
Conrad
Hyatt
Grand Hyatt
Hyatt Place
Park Hyatt
Hyatt Regency
Amerisuites
InterContinental
Crowne Plaza
Hotel indigo
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn Express
Marriott
Residence Inn
Renaissance
Courtyard by Marriott
Fairfield Inn
TownePlace Suites
Mövenpick Hotels
Omni Hotels
Starwood
St. Regis
W Hotels
Sheraton
Le Méridien
Aloft
Element
Fpour Points by Sheraton
Wyndham
Amerihost Inn
Baymont Inn & Suites
Days Inn
Howard Johnson
Knights Inn
Ramada
Super 8 Motels
Travelodge
Wingate Inn
Microtel
Hawthorn Suites
The Global Hotel Alliance includes the private hotel companies of Anantara, Cham Palaces and Hotels, Dusit International, Kempinski Hotels,
Landis Hotels & Resorts, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, Marco Polo Hotels, Omni Hotels, Pan Pacific Hotels and
Resorts, Parkroyal Hotels, The Doyle Collection.
Automobile Rental
The minimum / maximum age criteria for renting an automobile is fairly standard within the industry in the
United States: 25 to 70 years old.
Some of the companies will rent to 21 through 24 year olds however a surcharge is added to the daily standard rate (and
the surcharge can be quite substantial. USD $25 to $100 per day). However, the minimum age limit is actually already lower
on some islands in the Caribbean thus the surcharge may not be incurred.
There may also be a supplemental charge if there is going to be a second designated driver of the rental automobile
who is not the spouse / domestic partner of the primary driver.
Within the United States, some of the automobile rental companies do random quick searches of the Motor Vehicle
department of your state of residence to determine your driving record. Previous problems incurred by you while operating
a motor vehicle within the past 36 months may result in a higher daily
rate and in some instances may result in the company not providing their service to you.
Make sure you understand what sort of accident liability / collision damage coverage that either your existing autombile insurance
policy and / or umbrella policy of your homeowner's insurance and / or your credit card already provides to you (and
passengers) when you are driving a rental automobile prior to purchasing supplemental insurance
coverage from the rental agent. MasterCard Gold and Platinum cardholders offer secondary damage coverage (after
the primary policy and the deductable) when that
credit card is used to rent the automobile with the exception of Jamaica in the Caribbean region. American Express also does not offer collision coverage in Jamaica. U.S. homeowner's and automobile insurance policies may not provide additional coverage of
rental automobiles (and personal property within the rental automobile) outside of the United States or one may
have to purchase a rider to the policy that covers the insured when overseas.
Supplemental insurance coverage is usually offered by rental agencies:
Collision damage waiver / Loss damage waiver / Physical damage waiver - the renter is not responsible for any
financial payment if the rental automobile is damaged or stolen, nor financially responsible for "loss of use" (the inability
of the rental agency to rent the car to another party due to damage).
Liability insurance - a claim for ompensation another driver would make against you if they experienced injury from an accident while
you were driving a rental automobile.
Personal accident insurance - a claim for compensation you would make if you experienced personal injury from an accident while driving
a rental automobile.
Personal effects coverage - a claim for compensation you would make if you experienced the theft of personal property while driving
a rental automobile. One must be able to document the proof of ownership of the item(s).
If you are planning to rent a car then join the (free) loyalty program ahead of time in order to receive preferential
treatment in the actual pickup / dropoff office or receive an upgraded automobile.
Use your digital camera or use your cellphone camera to take a picture of the
odometer of a rental vehicle when you drop it off. You will have a record of exactly what the mileage was in the event that
there are added charges appear on the bill.
You can research U.S. retail gasoline and diesel prices at service stations in the United States at the U.S. Energy Information Administration
tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp
Credit Cards / Money - ATM and Branch Locations
Please note that the European Union and Canada have migrated its credit card payments processing to credit cards that possess a
microchip embedded in the card (EMV standard), which U.S. credit cards do
not have (they have a magnetic strip which contains unencrypted data) and you may find that your credit card is not accepted at some credit card readers that require a Chip and PIN
in order to complete the transaction. Chip and PIN means that one will not sign a paper receipt, rather one enters
their four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) to complete the transaction.
Outside of the United States, the Discover Card is only accepted in Canada, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and China.
Lost or Stolen Credit Card Notification:
American Express Card Replacement Unit United
States: 1-800-992-3404; Outside U.S.: 1-336-393-1111 (Call collect); American Express Blue: 1-888-BLUE-741 (258-3741).
Bank of America Credit cards United States: 1-800-732-9194; Outside U.S.: 1-757-677-4701 (Call Collect);
Bank of America Check cards United States: 1-800-848-6090; Outside U.S.: 1-315-724-4022 (Call Collect)
Discover Card United States: 1-800-DISCOVER; Outside the U.S.: 1-801-902-3100; TDD: 1-800-347-7449
HSBC Customer Service United States: 1-800-395-4500; HSBC United Kingdom: 08456 007 010;
Outside U.K.: +44 1442 422 929
JPMorgan Chase Credit Card United States: 1-800-945-2000; Chase Debit Card United States: 1-800-935-9935
Visa Global Customer Assistance Center United States: 1-800-847-2911; Visa United Kingdom: 0800-89-1725;
Visa Germany: 0800-811-8440; Visa Hong Kong: 800-96-7025 usa.visa.com/personal/security/get-help-now.html
Credit card acceptance is universal but you will still require cash for small purchases. Fortunately, ATM systems
also operate farily well across national boundaries and most often include an option for instructions in English. ATM
transactions will usually result in a usage fee.
Debit cards are not always accepted by retailers outside of the nation where the cardholder resides.
Tipping
We are not sure why on-line / off-line travel guides, books and magazines list some type of "rules" about the minimum
amount of a tip for certain services. It's a "tip",
remember? If you like the person or the service you leave what you want and what you can afford. There is no minimum or
maximum.
Travel Planning Resources
U.S. State Tourism Offices
U.S. State / City Transportation Departments
Official U.S. City / County Tourism Offices / Convention & Visitors Bureau / City Government
National & Regional Tourism Offices
Official International City Tourism / Government Offices
U.S. Regional / County / City Transit Systems (Bus, Tram, Metro / Subway, Light Rail, Rail, Ferry, Traffic Conditions)
International Regional / City Transit Systems (Bus, Tram, Metro / Subway, Light Rail, Rail, Ferry)
National / Regional Passenger Rail Lines
National & Regional Bus Systems (Public & Private Company)
U.S. Airports
International Airports
Airlines
U.S. Passport Requirements
U.S. citizens have been required to use a passport to enter the European Union, Asia and South America for quite some
time. The recent revisions have been in regard to the Caribbean region, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Central America to
which one use to be abale to travel to, and re-enter the United States, with a birth certificate and government-issued
photo identification. That situation is no longer in effect.
Some dated tourist books will advise you that one may enter a Caribbean country without a passport and only with
alternative documentation such as a Voter's Registration Card and photo identification. A Voter's Registration Card or a
Social Security card is no longer considered valid proof of United States citizenship and is therefore not valid ID for
re-entry into the United States.
Additionally, if your passport has less than six months validity (approaching expiration date), please be aware
that some countires will not permit you to enter.
The U.S. State Department Travel Registration Service allows U.S. citizens to register their overseas travel
plans, which will assist the State Department in the event an emergency (registration is entirely voluntary): https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ (secure website)
A Permanent Resident Alien legally residing in the United States may travel with their
Permanent Resident Card (also known as the Green Card / Form I-551), existing passport from their nation of citizenship / domicile
and photo identification. However, you are not considered
a citizen of the United States and are subject to each respective nation's visa regulations for your nation
of citizenship / domicile regardless if you have U.S. re-entry permit. If you are outside the U.S. for more than 12
months, you will need to show additional documentation to re-enter the U.S. as a Permanent Resident.
The Permanent Resident Card (Green Card / Form I-551) does not bestow similar rights as citizenship. All it means is that
the holder has the right to:
• Live and work permanently anywhere in the U.S. as long as one obeys laws, pays taxes and renews their paper work
• Apply to become a U.S. citizen once you are eligible
• Leave and return to the U.S. under certain conditions.
First Time U.S. Passport Applicants
In the United States, first time applicants for a passport must apply in person at either a Passport Agency office,
local Post Office or designated clerks of court, public libraries and other state, county, township, and municipal government offices
that accept applications. The necessary documentation includes:
A completed Form DS-11 (Do Not Sign the form prior to submittal, the form must be signed in the presence of the receiver)
The State Department also has a secure, on-line DS-11 form that you can fill out and then have copy of your application
re-formatted in a .pdf form that you can print out and / or save to your computer. travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html
2 Photographs: The photos must have been produced within the past six months, are exactly 2 inches (height) by
2 inches (width) in size, the full face portrait is 1 to 1 3/8 inches, the applicant may not where dark glasses or
clothing that obscures the facial features and the background must be white
Proof of United States Citizenship:
Certified birth certificate (issued by a local government or state agency and includes a raised seal)
Previous fully valid U.S. Passport
Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240)
Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350)
Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization from BCIS
To obtain an original or state certified copy of a
birth certificate, you can contact your hospital of birth or the Vital Statistics Department of the County where you were
born. To find where to write for Vital Records see the CDC: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
Photo Identification: Valid driver's license, Military Identification or Naturalization / Citizenship Certificate
To find one of the 14 Passport Agency Offices to apply in person for a passport use the U.S. State Department:
Passport Agency Office Location Page
(You must call ahead to make an appointment, you may not just show up and apply).
When paying in-person at a Passport Agency one may use:
Major Credit Card - Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover
Debit/Check cards (not ATM cards)
Checks, bank drafts, money orders
Existing U.S. Passport Renewal
In the United States, applicants for the renewal of an existing passport may apply in person at either a local Post
Office or a municipal Court Office that accepts applications or may apply by mail. The necessary documentation includes:
2 Updated Photographs: The photos must have been produced within the past sixmonths, are exactly 2 inches (height) by
2 inches (width) in size, the full face portrait is 1 to 1 3/8 inches, the applicant may not where dark glasses or
clothing that obscures the facial features and the background must be white
To find one of the 14 Passport Agency Offices to apply in person for a passport renewal use the U.S. State Department: Passport Agency Office Location Page
Or you can mail your application (in a padded envelope) to:
National Passport Center
P.O. Box 13349
Pittsburgh, PA 19101-3349
If you use an overnight delivery service that does not deliver to a post office box, then send it to:
National Passport Processing
Attn: Department 13349
1617 Brett Road
New Castle, DE 19720
If you mail-in your DS-82 Passport Renewal Application then you can pay by Personal Check or Money Order (Make
Payable to the "U.S. Department of State"). DO NOT SEND CASH. (See below for a summary of Passport Application Fees)
To check on a pending passport application, travelers must go to
the State Department website, and provide their last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their social security
number to verify their identity.. travel.state.gov/passport/status/status_2567.html
The loss or theft of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or
Consulate. The U.S. Embassy can assist you in obtaining a new passport. However, in the event of a stolen passport the
investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of the respective local authorities. Always
bring a copy of the inside cover photo page and biographical information page with you when you travel. In the event
that your passport is lost or stolen while outside of the United States, having the copy of the information will greatly
accelerate the ability of the the U.S. Embassy / Consulate to assist you in obtaining an replacement passport.
Passport Services:
General passport information and status of pending applications: 1-877-487-2778
Lost or Stolen passports: 1-877-487-2778; Operators are available 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., ET, Monday-Friday, excluding Federal holidays;
Report Your Valid Passport As Lost or Stolen Using Form DS-64:
travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds64/ds64_845.html
As of August 14, 2006, the United States began issuing the "e-Passport."
An e-Passport includes an integrated 64kb RFID (wireless) computer chip embedded in the back cover and is capable of storing
biographic information from the data page (name, date of birth, passport number), a digitized photograph, and other biometric information
(not presently used but perhaps in the future it will also include digital, inkless finger scans and iris scans). e-Passports have been in limited issuance by the
U.S. State Department since December 30, 2005 (primarily diplomatic passports). Not every U.S. Passport Agency production
facility began issuing the e-Passport on August 14, 2006, however every domestic facility
will be converting to this format and every U.S. airport is required to have e-Passport readers installed as of October 26, 2006.
The use of the RFID chip in the passport is controversial and there are various arguments regarding identity theft, the
tracking and surveillance of individuals, and cloning of the passports. The U.S. Department of State indicates on its web site
that it has employed a multi-layered approach to protect the privacy of the information and to mitigate the chances of the
electronic data being skimmed (unauthorized reading) or eavesdropped (intercepting communication of the transmission of
data between the chip and the reader by unintended recipients). Metallic anti-skimming material incorporated into the front
cover and spine of the e-passport book prevents the chip from being skimmed, or read, when the book is fully closed; Basic
Access Control (BAC) technology, which requires that the data page be read electronically to generate a key that unlocks
the chip, will prevent skimming and eavesdropping; and a randomized unique identification (RUID) feature will mitigate the
risk that an e-passport holder could be tracked. To prevent alteration or modification of the data on the chip, and to
allow authorities to validate and authenticate the data, the information on the chip will include an electronic signature
(PKI).
Previously issued passports without electronic chips will remain valid until their expiration dates. However:
U.S. Passports issued between October 26, 2005, and October 25, 2006, should and must include a digital photo
printed on the data page (inside front cover page)
.
U.S. Passports issued before October 26, 2005, should and must include Machine-Readable Zones.
A machine-readable passport has two lines of text as letters, numbers and chevrons (<<<) at the bottom of the personal
information page (inside front cover page), along with the bearer’s picture.
All U.S. airports will begin to have immigration lanes that display the Electronic Passport logo (which also
appears on the front cover of the new U.S. e-Passport), which will indicate that the lane has an e-Passport reader.
Source: U.S. State Dept.
e-Passport (Front) e-Passport (Back Inside)
Registered Traveler Program
The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has oversight of the Registered Traveler (RT) Program.
The RT program allows citizens can purchase a pre-approved biometric pass card that allows them to pass through airport security with the minimum of search.
However, in order to qualify for such a pass a citizen will have to
submit to being photographed, finger printed, personal information application submitted, bank records reviewed,
credit history reviewed and property records examined. Although such a program could improve the airport security clearance
experience for frequent fliers, there is some contorversy over whether privacy laws are being
circumvented through such a program and also whether the government's desire to privatize the administration of such
a program would place the job of security review into unqualified, non-government hands nor could private
companies adequately safeguard personal private information.
The program of conducting the background search, issuing the pass and operating the checkpoint is actually administered by a private
company certified by the TSA. For instance, CLEAR, operates RT Programs in Orlando International Airport and
at New York JFK International Airport. Unisys is also certified by the TSA to operate an RT program. The benefit to travelers
(within the United States) is that the amount of time it takes to pass through a security check is substantially reduced.
www.tsa.gov/approach/rt/index.shtm
U.S. Entry Requirements
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security operates the Electronic System for Travel Authorization website for
international travelers who are seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.
www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/
As of September 2010, travelers under the ESTA will be required to also pay a US$14.00 operational and travel promotion fee
(US$10.00 fee and a US$4.00 administration fee) if they do not possess a U.S. visa, which all travelers under the ESTA
program are not required to have. The fee must be paid in advance, electronically by debit from a credit card, at
the time of the ESTA application on-line. The US$4,00 administration fee is non-refundable, even if the application is
refused. The feee is only to be collected once every two years per applicant.
Which
countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program?
Andorra
France
Luxembourg
Singapore
Czech Republic
Austria
Germany
Monaco
Slovenia
Estonia
Australia
Iceland
Netherlands
Spain
Hungary
Belgium
Ireland
New Zealand
Sweden
Latvia
Brunei
Italy
Norway
Switzerland
Lithuania
Denmark
Japan
Portugal
United Kingdom
Slovakia
Finland
Liechtenstein
San Marino
Republic of Malta
South Korea
All persons arriving at a port-of-entry to the United States are subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers. CBP Officers will conduct the Immigration, Customs and Agriculture components of the Inspections process. If a traveler has health concerns, he/she will be referred to a Public Health Officer for a separate screening.
Canadian Passport Requirements
Passports in Canada are issued by the Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa.
Applicants must be able to provide a Canadian Birth certificate (issued by the province or territory of birth) or a
Certificate of Canadian Citizenship. Applications must also include 2 (two) photos taken within the past 12 months. A
Canadians 16 years of age and older, presently residing in Canada, may go on-line to the website of the Passport Office
to fill in the adult passport application electronically. A 24-page Adult passport (age 16 year and older) costs CAD$87.00
(as of January 1, 2005), Childern under 3 years of age CAD$22.00, Children ages 3 to 15, CAD$37.00. A 48-page (for
frequent travelers) Adult passport (age 16 year and older) costs CAD$92.00 (as of January 1, 2005), Childern under 3 years of age CAD$24.00, Children
ages 3 to 15, CAD$39.00. . Passports are valid for five years except passports for children under three years of age, which
are valid for three years. A passport cannot be renewed, therefore, a new passport must be obtained upon expiry.
Please see www.ppt.gc.ca/
A Cellular Network is actually a radio signal-based network, however the key is that it is designed with the mobility
of the user in mind (mobile wireless network) and it is designed to link one to land-based telephonic lines.
A cellphone call itself is actually a radio frequency transmission to a low power
antenna/transmitter (local station) within a geographic area (cell). When the mobile telephone
is turned on it commences to broadcast a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) signal and an Electronic Serial Number
(ESN) signal. Every antenna tower within the vicinity receives the signal and checks a database to determine if the MIN
and ESN correspond to it its respective carrier. The correct carrier antenna responds to the MIN and ESN and a connection
is initiated.
A cell station range is subject to structural and natural feature
interference and its capacity is subject to a finite number of simultaneous calls at any given time. When one is mobile
and leaves a cell and moves into a neighboring cell that is already at capacity then your connection is, unfortunately,
terminated. If one moves to the edge of the range of the cell (transmitter antennas are actually located on the edge
of a cell and extend their coverage inward) the quality of the sound decreases as the signal is
too low. The frequency strength is kept low on purpose so that neighboring cells may utilize the same frequency channel
within their specific range.
The largest wireless carriers in the continental United States are:
AT&T, Inc., (who acquired Cingular Wireless in 2007)
Provides service for the Apple iPhone
Verizon Wireless (a joint venture between Verizon Communications, Inc., and Vodafone Group, Plc.)
Sprint Nextel (Sprint acquired Nextel in 2005)
T-Mobile USA (Deutsche Telekom)
U.S. Cellular
Alltel
Qwest
Boost Mobile (Sprint Nextel)
SouthernLINC Wireless (southeastern U.S.)
Jitterbug
Virgin Mobile
When you purchase a mobile telephone you must select a calling plan from one of these operators (or you can
purchase the phone from them).
The wireless carriers specify what features may be included in the mobile telephone at the factory.
The wireless carriers specify what software applications may be included in the mobile telephone (smartphone) at the factory or may be
downloaded and installed on the telephone.
Mobile telephones / PDAs also have different operating systems (OS) installed:
iPhone OS X (Apple)
mobile LINUX (open source; Sponsored by Motorola)
Palm OS (PalmSource / ACCESS)
RIM BlackBerry (Research In Motion)
Symbian (Symbian, Ltd.; Sponsored by Nokia)
Windows Mobile (Microsoft)
Android (Google Nexus One)
In the United States, older existing cell phone services use radio frequency transmission protocols known as CDMA, TDMA,
iDEN or AMPS, all which utilize a combination of the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz frequency bands.
However, the United States is rapidly moving toward GSM and GPRS protocols.
Outside of the United States the most widely used protocol is GSM, which utilize a combination of the 900 MHz and
1800 MHz frequency bands.
In the United States:
Cingular and T-Mobile operate on the GSM network protocol.
Verizon Wireless and Sprint operate on the CDMA network protocol.
Using a mobile telephone outside the United States
Your cell phone must have the same frequency band that the GSM service is being broadcast on in order to be able to make and
receive calls.
Dual band handsets with the 850/1900 are suited for roaming in North America
however many new cell phones are already tri- and quad-band capable.
If you already have GSM service with a US wireless company (most modern AT&T / Cingular and T-mobile phones
are GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 compatible international cell phone) then you can probably ask your service provider to switch on
the global roaming feature and simply use your present phone and phone number anywhere in the world they have roaming
agreements.
If one uses their current mobile telephone and existing number then anyone can reach you: for the caller it is
a local call. However, for you it is a long distance call. Secondly, the international roaming charge can be very
expensive. Finally, if you use your telephone outside the U.S. to make local calls it is still a long distance charge
to you.
To get around the international roaming charge one can purchase a SIM Card (Subscriber Identity Module card),
which is a small printed circuit board that must be inserted in any GSM-based mobile phone in order to sign on as a
subscriber to a local cell phone service (the circuit board stores data that identifies the caller to the network service
provider).
For instance, one can purchase a prepaid SIM card for service in another country, have a local telephone number and pay local
per minute rates for local calls and pay long distance rates that are much less expensive than an international roaming
charge.
SIM cards have a fixed value amount so once one has used up the value (the per minute charge x length of call is constantly deducted from the total
value of the card) it is no longer functional.
SIM cards can also be multi-country capable if you are going to be traveling to several destinations.
The problem is that in the United States, most mobile telephones are sold "locked", meaning that they will not be able to accept and work
with a SIM card (smart card / circuit board; see below) from another service provider.
Your cell phone must be "unlocked" in order to be able to accept and work with a
SIM card from another service provider (all GSM telephones use a SIM card but the service provider who sold you the
telephone sometime locks the cell phone to only use their SIM). Getting your service provider to "unlock" your telephone
can sometimes be a hassle.
Another alternative is that if you do not have a GSM-compliant cell phone or can not get yours unlocked then one can
rent a handset from a local, in-country provider for the duration of your trip.
Applications
Most popular download applications apply to games, music, weather, maps / search, and social networks. However, there are quite a
number of business related applications for either the iPhone or Android platform. The major app stores are Apple App Store,
Android market, GetJar, MobiHand, PocketGear, Mobango, Handango, SK Telecom T Store, Blackberry App world, and Handster.
Google Applications
Google offers a number of free travel-related applications and Short Message Services (SMS or better known
as text messaging) to mobile telephone owners with web-enabled mobile phones, including Java, Windows Mobile, and Palm
devices. The service is free from Google but carrier charges may apply for receiving a text message.
For instance, Google Maps for mobile is a downloadable application that will allow one to make local information, directions and maps
accessible on your mobile phone web browser. The application will provide real-time traffic info, detailed directions, scrollable
maps and satellite imagery for over 30 major US metropolitan areas (maps are available for devices with or without GPS
capabilities). Google offers Maps for mobile for free, but mobile service providers may charge data-service rates for downloading and using the application.
You can access Google on your mobile telephone web browser by visitng mobile.google.com, and then use the browser for
various functions. For instance, type "weather" followed by your location, zip or city and state.
Visit mobile.google.com/local on your mobile browser and you can search for business listings, view maps, and find driving
directions.
To access Google text messaging service (in the U.S. or Canada) you have to first enter the query (queries are not case-sensitive) and then send it to Google's text messaging access
number 466453 (you may have to also first work through your telephone's Menu to get to Send SMS / TEST MESSAGE).
One could obtain weather for certain locations by text messaging "w" or "weather" or "wx" and then the
name of the location or the zip code such as [ w houston tx ].
To make a search query and location for a local listing enter [ cafe houston tx ].
One can also send the start and end address to get driving directions by entering [ houston to galveston ].
To get a link to the map of an address, enter 'map' followed by the full address or zip code [ map houston ].
To get an airline's telelphone number enter [ united airlines ].
To obtain specific flight information / status enter the IATA 2-letter code for the airlines plus
the flight number [ ua 142 ] or [ aa 143 ].
To obtain information about an airport enter the IATA 3-letter code plus airport [ iah airport ]. 7nbsp;
Google Googles Text allows one to take a picture of foreign language text with an adroid-enabled mobile telephone
and then have Google translate the word to another language.
www.google.com/mobile/goggles/#text
Layar is a new generation of application that works with the camera feature of the mobile telephone (presently works with
the Google Android operating system). On can use the camera function of the telephone to obtain information regarding
nearby bank ATMs, restaurants, local businesses. Layar is presently only available in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
IEEE 802.11b (also known as Wi-Fi / Wireless Fidelity or wireless Ethernet or wireless LAN) is a wireless network connection sharing the same 2.4 Gighertz (microwave) radio band
as Bluetooth. The Wi-Fi wireless protocol is utilized by various electronic devices including
laptop computers to connect to networks (transferral of digital data over a modulated radio frequency). The data transfer rate is at approximately 11 Mbps to a maximum distance of
approximately 50 meters / 150 feet, but has higher power
requirements thus is not compatible with all types of portable devices. The interface and protocol is
supported by IBM, Dell and Apple. However, the 2.4 GHz band is also shared, along with the
Bluetooth protocol, mircowave ovens and certain portable phones. Thus, the band is already very
crowded. If a Blutooth enabled device is active next to a 802.11b device, then the Bluetooth
signal will cancel out the 802.11b signal. There is also an 802.11e (Enhanced) version that transfers data at 22Mbps.
The 802.11a (Wi-Fi5) standard using a 5 Gigahertz radio band
being developed to avoid congestion at the 2.4GHz band, may be able to transfer data at 24 Mbps, perhaps as high as
72 Mbps. Unfortunately, 802.11b and 802.11a are not compatible with each other. In addition, 802.11a (Wi-Fi5)
hardware cannot be connected to a computer by USB connection as the protocol transfers data in excess
of what USB 1.1 is capable of handling. The compatibility
issue may be resolved with the introduction of a related protocol, IEEE 802.11g. The IEEE approved 802.11g as a
new standard, which transfers data at a rate of 54 Mbps. IEEE 802.11g also operates in the 2.4 GHz
frequency band. Manufacturers have recently started offering combination 802.11b / 802.11a / 802.11g Access Point / Base Station
devices. It should be noted that Access Points are designed for broadband connections and usually only have a broadband RJ-45 Ethernet port / connection
(they rarely have a RJ-11 regular telephone line connector for dial-up internet connections).
Although the actual 802.11b/Wi-Fi standard is universal, you will find that because of encryption
and identification settings, the network card from one vendor may not communicate with the access point from
another vendor. Thus, one may be confined to the hardware from a single vendor.
In order to connect your laptop computer to the local network (for instance at the airport or a hotel), one must
have a either an internal transciever or have inserted and external card (card shaped circuit board with a transceiver)
into the appropriate slot of the laptop. This internal / external transceiver can then send signals to the base
access point as long as they are compatible and you are granted access to sign on. For instance, Sprint Mobile Broadband
Network (Sprint Nextel) requires that one purchase and insert the Sierra Wireless USB AirCard 595U into the laptop computer. One must
also sign up a new card activation (additional fee) and a 2-year service agreement (corporate accounts only). Similarly, AT&T requires one
to purchase and insert the AT&T Global 3G LaptopConnect Card to access the Internet by connecting to AT&T BroadbandConnect
and EDGE networks. One must sign up for a new card activation (additional fee) and a 2-year service agreement on the
DataConnect Plan.
Some portable telephones have a Wi-Fi chip (small circuit board) inserted within the device. As indicated above, you
can use your wireless telephone by subscribing to a cellular service. However, if your telephone is also Wi-Fi compatible
and activated then you could walk into a location with a "Wi-Fi Hotspot" and surf the Internet with the telephone and
make a telephone call by VOIP. Unfortunately, the major cellular telephone services do not allow subscribers
to shift between the cellular service and a Wi-Fi connection because if you are not using the cellular network connection then
they cannot charge you for the call (only T-Mobile allows subscribers shift between cellular and Wi-Fi). A Wi-Fi network
is typically faster than the typical cellular network. Wi-Fi chips are also inexpensive (the new Apple iPhone has an embedded
Wi-Fi chip and Apple's partner is AT&T).
Make sure you connect to a legitimate network. Look closely at your wireless network connection screen: make sure you
are connecting to "Security-enabled Wireless Network" not an "Unsecured Computer-to-Computer Network". There are persons
who name a rouge network the same name as a legitimate network just to attempt to have the unwary log-on.
When using a Wi-Fi hot spot in a public space (airport, restaurant, coffee shop, hotel lounge, etc.) turn off any file-sharing
application you may have installed on your laptop, and do not do any on-line banking or shopping where you have to type and transmit
account numbers and/or passwords.
WiFi on Aircraft
Some U.S. airlines have started offering onboard aircraft WiFi services. The individual must sign up (for a fee) for
access onboard the specific flight (if the aircraft is WiFi-equipped) and connect to the FiFi hotspot within the cabin
of the aircraft. The WiFi transceiver then connects to the earth-based or satellite-based service. Two service providers
are Gogo from Aircell LLC (earth-based cell tower system) and Row44 (satellite-based system).
Transportation Security Administration RSS News Feed / TSA.gov News
Aviation Weather Center / NOAA (includes Current Turbulence & Current Icing Advisories)
All U.S. airports will begin to have immigration lanes that display the Electronic Passport logo (which also
appears on the front cover of the new U.S. e-Passport), which will indicate that the lane has an e-Passport reader.
Source: U.S. State Dept.
