As you likely have already heard, the Transportation Security Administration has recently announced that it will soon allow pocket knives and some sporting equipment in carry-on luggage on board flights originating in the U.S.

This change will take effect April 25. The new guidelines state that knives with blades that are 2.36 inches or shorter and less than a half-inch wide will be permitted on U.S. airline flights as long as the blade is not fixed or does not lock into place. See the image to the right from the TSA blog that outlines more specifically which types of knives will be permitted.

In addition to certain knives being allowed, golf clubs (up to two), toy bats, ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks or pool cues will also be allowed in carry-on luggage.

As a travel agent, I haven’t personally heard much feedback regarding this change but I have read a lot about the debate from both the airline employee and traveler perspectives. There have even been several requests from travelers, airlines and airline employees for TSA to reverse this decision.

I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings regarding this rule change. Will you begin traveling with any of these items?  How will you feel if your seat mate is carrying one of them?

For more information on these new guidelines, visit TSA’s blog posting about it here.

As a Corporate Travel Counselor, the top question that I am asked is, “Can I change my flight?” Related follow-up questions are generally, “What times are available?” and “How much is it?”

To address the, “Can I change my flight?” question, here are some key details to look for:

• Review the existing ticket rules—is it refundable or non-refundable?
• Check your carrier’s change policy and related fees
• Evaluate their same-day confirmed option. If you’re changing to a similar flight within the same day, your flight may be able to be changed for a lower fee depending on the carrier’s restrictions
• Determine availability on the new flight
• Calculate the fare difference plus applicable change fee
• Look for alternative flights that may be available for a lower fare difference

 

Of course, I primarily work with business travelers—many of whom are frequent travelers—so that factors into the type of questions I receive.

After recently helping some family members book a leisure trip, I was reminded about how different their questions can be. These particular individuals travel very infrequently, and some of their questions were, ”Can I check a bag?”, “Where should I park my car?” or “Does that flight go out of the big airport?”

As you can see, travel-related questions can vary greatly. But as a travel counselor, if we do not know the answer to your question offhand, we can typically find it with some quick research.

What questions have you ever wanted to ask a travel counselor? Include them in the comments below, and we may address them in an upcoming post as part of our new “Ask a Travel Counselor” series!

Travel during the winter months can be stressful! There are several things you can do to reduce the stress before your flight even departs.

Book non-stop flights if possible – Don’t run the risk of getting stuck in your connection city due to delay or cancellation.

Travel early in the day – In case of delay or cancellation there are backup flights that depart throughout the day.

Head to the airport early – Even a dusting of snow or light rain can make traffic slow to a crawl.  Depart early for the airport to eliminate some of the stress of arriving on time.

Check-in for your flight early – Eliminate having to stop at the check-in kiosk or see a ticketing agent. Check-in early online and head straight to the gate.

CWT To Go app – The CWT To Go mobile app will allow you to check-in for your flight, receive flight alerts, search alternate flights, check the weather and more all from your smartphone.

Book through Travel Agent – If your flight is delayed or cancelled, it is many times easier to get through to your travel agent than the airline for help.

What other tips would you add to the list?