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Chapter 1. Fuselage

craft as well. Fuselages vary widely

in shape, size, and style, depending on the purpose of the aircraft that they are
attached to. They are hollowed out to reduce the overall weight of the craft,
and they provide the structural framework to which the wings, tail, and other
features are attached. If you have ever flown in an aircraft, chances are that
you have been inside a fuselage.
The word comes from the French fusel, which means spindle shaped, a
reference to the classic cylindrical fuselage used to produce commercial
aircraft like the Boeing company's 7-series. Construction of a fuselage starts
with assembling a framework which accounts for specific needs in the plane
design, and then covering the framework with a lightweight metallic skin. The
plane may be insulated to help control the temperature inside, and then the
inside of the fuselage is fitted out in accordance with the plane's purpose.
In a passenger plane, for example, the fuselage is divided into a cargo section
and a passenger section. The passenger section is fitted with seats,
temperature control devices, and other equipment needed to make the flight
more comfortable, such as bathrooms and kitchens for preparing meals. On a
cargo plane, the inside is usually less finished, since the plane is only used for
packages, not for living organisms.
Fuselage is the body of an aircraft, which houses passengers, cargo, and usually the pilots of the

The aerodynamics of a fuselage can vary. For example, on a fighter jet, the
fuselage is made extremely sleek, to allow the plane to fly more quickly.
Smaller personal planes might have less sleek fuselages since speed is not as
important. Some commercial aircraft have very bulky fuselages with
projections to accommodate the pilots and first class passengers, while others
are more streamlined since they are designed for quick commutes.
In some cases, a plane lacks a fuselage altogether, although this is rare. Socalled flying wing aircraft like stealth bombers, drones, and spy planes do not
have a fuselage, since they are built from a single main wing. Flying wing
aircraft are built by several military contractors to accommodate special needs,
and there has been some debate over how efficient these craft really are. The
lack of a fuselage certainly makes a flying wing aircraft much lighter, but these
planes can be difficult to control without the stabilizing tail installed on a more
traditional aircraft.

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Chapter 2. Ticket Scalping

Ticket scalping, also known as ticket resales, is the time-honored practice of

buying tickets to an event and reselling them for more than you paid for them.
This is distinct from ticket brokers, businesses that buy up blocks of tickets for
events for future resale, marking them up to whatever they feel the market will
bear. Ticket scalping is most common for sporting and musical events. Tickets
to a sold-out game or concert may be available at the right price. The
stereotypical ticket scalping scenario is to go to the event venue without
tickets and purchase them from a hustler in the parking lot for two or three
times what the scalper paid for them.
Professional ticket scalpers often hire youngsters to wait on line for tickets to
popular events to go on sale, at which point they buy as many as an individual
is allowed. Ticket scalping requires a finely honed sense of the market. If the
band you buy tickets for suddenly goes out of favor with the concert-going
public, you might have to sell the tickets at face value or even at a loss to
recoup some of your original investment.
Ticket scalping may or may not be legal in your area - local laws vary widely. In
areas where ticket scalping is illegal, it is usually defined as selling tickets to an
event at the venue itself, on the day of the event. Selling tickets from a
storefront or online days prior to the event, at whatever markup, is usually
quite legal.
There is ongoing debate about whether or not there is any reason to regulate
ticket scalping. It would seem that if a person or company wants to invest the
time and money to acquire blocks of tickets in advance, taking the risk that
they may lose value, and people exist who are willing to pay far over the facevalue for those tickets, that ticket scalping is supply and demand in its purest
form. The other side of the argument is that if the ticket scalpers had not
bought up all the tickets, the event would not have been sold out and
attendees could have purchased face-value tickets at the event itself.
Then there are the 'accidental scalpers' - the people who purchased more
tickets than they needed, not knowing friends would cancel on them, who try
to recoup their costs by selling the excess tickets as they go into the event. In
many areas, asking anything more than face value for your excess tickets is
considered illegal ticket scalping, so make sure you know what the local laws
are before you try this.

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Chapter 3. Long-haul-Flight

A long-haul flight is a flight which is over seven hours in length. Long-haul

flights often involve intercontinental travel; flights from Asia to the Americas,
for example, are always long-haul flights due to the distance which must be covered by the aircraft. In some cases, a plane may
need to stop to refuel during a long-haul flight, especially in the case of smaller
aircraft.
For travelers, a long-haul flight can be grueling. Most people do not enjoy
being trapped in a plane for an extended period of time, and they may start to
feel bored or restless. Long-haul flights can also create health problems like
deep vein thrombosis, which can be caused by sitting still for too long, or they
can exaggerate existing health problems as passengers breathe in recycled air
and struggle to remain hydrated.
Most airlines recognize that long-haul flights can be rather grueling. In-flight
entertainment such as music and movies is often provided, with many airlines
having private entertainment stations at each seat which allow passengers to
pick from an array of movies, television shows, games, and music. Food is also
generally offered on a long-haul flight, along with beverages.
A few things can make long-haul flights more bearable for passengers. It is a
good idea to dress comfortably, and to pack supplies like books, magazines, a
computer, a personal music player, and a sleep mask to cover the eyes while sleeping. Pillows, blankets, and other comfort items
can also make the flight more enjoyable, as can familiar snacks. It's also a
good idea to get up to stretch periodically.
In many cases, a long-haul flight is associated with jet lag at the other end, because the plane has crossed several time zones. A
variety of techniques can be used to cope with jet lag; regular travelers often
develop their own. Many people recommend setting your watch to the time at
your destination when you board the plane, and trying to sleep or rest during
the night, regardless as to what time it is on the plane.
Cabin crew must also cope with the stresses of a long-haul flight, because in
addition to dealing with being trapped in an airline, they must also handle
customers. Many airlines provide a space for cabin crew to rest or sleep, and
the crew may rotate duties on a long-haul flight so that no one has to work all
the way through the flight.

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Chapter 4. Official Passport

An official passport is a passport which is issued to someone who must travel

internationally on official state business. These passports are issued
specifically to people who need to travel, rather than to people who are being
assigned or posted overseas. For people who are being assigned overseas for state purposes, a diplomatic
passport is issued. Official passports are usually a different color from regular passports, to make
them easier to identify, and they do not entitle their bearers to any special
privileges.
This type of passport is sometimes called a service passport. It is a no-fee passport, which means that people do not need to pay
to apply for it. The application for an official passport typically includes all of
the materials needed for a regular passport, along with forms which confirm
that the applicant needs a passport for official business. Many government
agencies which require international travel will assist people with official
passport applications.
The official passport can only be used while traveling for official reasons. If
someone wishes to travel as a tourist, a tourist passport is required. While it is
perfectly legal to carry both, both will require their own visas, and it is
important to make sure that visas match up. If someone enters a country with
a tourist passport and tries to leave with an official passport, for example, this
can cause problems.
Often, people can get visas for official passports without a fee, depending on
whether or not their government has worked out a visa agreement with
another nation. However, if someone tries to use an official passport and visa
for recreational travel, he or she may face legal consequences. If people are
unclear about whether a trip would be considered official business, they should
consult a superior or supervisor.
By convention, when someone is deemed eligible for an official passport, so is
his or her immediate family. Family members will need to apply for their own
official passports, and they will need to observe the same rules, using tourist
passports and tourist visas for recreational travel.
One of the most common applications for official passports is military service.
Nations which have military cooperation agreements with each other may

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accept copies of military orders as proof of right to pass, but in other cases,
members of the military may need to carry passports endorsed with visas.
When members of the military are required to travel internationally, their
superior officers will inform them about whether or not they need official
passports.

Chapter 5. Regional Flights

there is a simple reason for that.

Though the term is often used to describe certain flights, there is no rule in
place, or definition, to determine what a regional flight is. Thus, differentiating
regional from domestic flights is problematic.
Domestic flights are flights that initiate and terminate within the same country.
Regional flights also initiate and terminate within the same country. However,
they are thought of as flights over shorter distances. For example, flights
between Miami, Florida and Los Angeles, California would be considered
domestic flights. Flights between Miami and Orlando, both in Florida, could be
considered regional.
The term regional flights may be one of the most misunderstood in the aviation industry and

Despite the lack of a uniform definition, there are a number of suggestions that
would make sense when terming a certain flight a as regional. Regional flights
could be any flights that are within a day's drive, or 12 to 15 hours, of the
originating airport. This would, by default, limit the area to a certain defined
geographic region.
One other possibility is to split the United States up into quarterly regions and
say all flights within that area are regional flights. However, arbitrarily drawing
lines leads to some problems. For example, a flight originating in St. Louis,
Missouri and landing in Louisville, Kentucky may be between two different
regions. However, the distance between the two cities is easily reachable in a
day's drive. In fact, under this definition, some regional flights may be longer
than what would be termed domestic flights. This makes the definition
somewhat awkward.
Perhaps regional flights are best defined by the type of plane that is used. This
definition would make the most sense for a number of different reasons. Often,
smaller jets or prop planes have a limited flight distance, so they must stay
within a more limited geographic region than a jumbo jet.

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Typically, these smaller jets are called commuter jets or regional jets. So it
would logically follow they serve regional flights. Usually, these jets carry less
than 50 individuals and have a range on a single tank of fuel of approximately
1,500 miles at most. Thus, if you are taking a flight that has approximately 50
seats or less and you are going less than 1,500 miles, you could reasonably
term that as regional.

Chapter 6. Public Transportation Services

There are several different forms of public transportation services available to

transport citizens from one location to another whether it is within the city
limits or over greater distances. Like buses, various forms of train systems
provide either short- or long-distance travel for passengers. Airplanes are a
suitable choice for persons wishing to travel longer distances over land or sea
at greater speeds. Public transportation can include any means of
transportation a person shares with other members of the general public.
Ships are one of the earliest forms of public transport services and carry
passengers from one continent to another. Early wooden ships, powered by
sails, evolved into the great cruise liners of today. With the invention of
airplanes, ships are used for more recreational purposes such as vacations or
holidays. The speed of airplanes makes travel over longer distances more
practical, and passengers are able to arrive at their destination within hours or
days rather than the weeks it takes to travel by ship.
The industrial revolution brought about the invention of trains as a form of
public transportation services. Train tracks cover the length of entire countries
and transport passengers from one end to the other. Cities constructed trolleys
or electric street car systems for citizens and visitors to travel around. This led
to the invention of the mass transit systems of subways, which run below the
city through tunnels. Some cities have an elevated train system which runs
above city streets on an elevated track.
Buses became an prominent category of public transportation services after
the invention of the automobile. Buses transport school children to and from
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school and are used for the general public as transportation throughout cities.
Some cities supply double-decker buses, a bus with seating on a lower and
upper level, for tourist or general use. Motor coaches are more luxurious than a
typical bus and are capable of transporting individuals over longer distances.
Another benefit of a motor coach is it is less expensive than taking an airplane.
Governments and manufactures work closely to make modern public
transportation services faster and more efficient. Public transportation is better
for the environment and reduces carbon emissions in the air by cutting down
on the amount of drivers on the road. It also benefits individuals and families
through transportation savings on fuel, automobile insurance, and the cost of
vehicles. Cities who build effective public transit system create jobs for
citizens.

Chapter 7. Left Luggage

In most cases, left luggage is luggage that passengers have deliberately left in
designated luggage storage facilities. Airports, train stations, and hotels
throughout Europe have offices where travelers can store bags, usually for a
fee. The same offices exist in the United States and Canada, but are usually
referred to as baggage check facilities.
Some of the most familiar left luggage offices are in hotels. Guests who arrive
at a hotel before their room is ready may have the option of storing luggage
with the hotels luggage service. The same services are usually available to
guests who must check out of their rooms before their scheduled departure
time. Hotel luggage storage service is usually free of charge, though patrons
are often encouraged to tip baggage attendants.
Left luggage offices in more public settings are sometimes also monitored
luggage storage rooms. Most left luggage rooms charge a per-piece fee,
assessed on either an hourly or daily basis. More often than not, however,
these facilities take the form of locker banks. Lockers provide the same basic
benefit namely, to afford travelers a way to store their bags in order to
sightsee or travel about unencumbered but usually at a much lower cost.
Baggage lockers are mainstays of most of Europes airports and train stations.
The lockers are usually large enough to accommodate many sizes and types of
luggage. Storing left luggage in these systems once required patrons to supply
or rent their own locks, though most use a digital combination system today.

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They are coin or credit card operated, based either on the hour or the day.
When time expires, the lockers usually automatically open. This discourages
long-term storage and prevents locker space from being monopolized by
abandoned property.
In some circumstances, left luggage can refer not to luggage meant to be
stored but rather to luggage that has been lost or unclaimed during travel.
Bags that are unclaimed at a luggage carousel, for instance, are sometimes
referred to as left luggage in that they were left or forgotten by their owners.
Left luggage in this sense is lost, not intentionally checked or temporarily
stored.
Most airlines and train carriers maintain lost luggage offices where passengers
can make inquiries and file claims for bags that have been left or have not
arrived when promised. Lost luggage officials find lost bags either through
computer database searches based on claim number or by identifying bags
that have been unclaimed at the destination where they erroneously wound
up. Airlines usually store lost luggage for a certain amount of time in hopes of
reconnecting it with its owner.

Chapter 8. Online Check-in

The advantages of online check-in can be numerous, but those benefits can
vary greatly from one airline to another, depending on the policies. Generally,
the greatest convenience of online check-in is for travelers who have little or
no luggage, and do not need to check bags. In such cases, they can bypass the
typical long lines at the check-in counters, and proceed right to the airport
gates. Extra benefits include being able to choose a seat before arriving at the
airport and other incentives as well.
One of the major benefits to online, or Internet, check-in is the ability to make
sure the traveler has a spot reserved before arriving at the airport. This allows
the traveler to bypass the ticket counter, where waits can be long, especially
before popular flights. Usually, this only works out for the traveler if there are
no bags to check. In some cases, curbside check-in could take the checked
baggage even if the traveler has already utilized the online check-in system;
this will depend on the airline.
The online check-in system usually allows travelers to print boarding passes
directly from a home computer. Therefore, the traveler is generally assured of
having a spot on the flight, even if he arrives at the last minute. If the flight is
overbooked, there are still no guarantees, however. Airlines are also not under
any obligation to wait for a late-arriving passenger, regardless of whether he
has checked in online.

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Another benefit to checking in online is the ability to choose a seat

assignment. While not all airlines offer this, it can be a good incentive for those
who have tickets, but not assigned seats. It allows the passenger to choose a
seat before all the desired seats are taken, especially if the passenger will be
arriving at the airport close to departure time.
Financial incentives can also play a role in online check-in and be a big
advantage for some travelers. Certain airlines, recognizing the benefits of the
automated process, offer passengers bonus frequent flier miles for checking in
via the Internet. This speeds up the process at the airport, which in turn leads
to happier passengers and possibly more cost efficient staffing arrangements.
Therefore, the system is good for both the passenger and the airline.
The final benefit of online check-in relates to those who will have a busy
itinerary before the flight. Many airlines allow you to check in as early as 72
hours before the flight, or at least 12:01 a.m. on the day of the flight. This
allows travelers who have commitments up until the time they arrive at the
airport, the flexibility to check in at an earlier time so that there is one less
thing they need to worry about later.

Chapter 9. Travel Visa

A visa or travel visa is a document which gives someone permission to travel

into a specific country and stay there for a set period of time. They may be
stamped or glued directly into a passport for convenience, or they may be
issued separately, in the form of documents which must be carefully protected
to ensure that they are not lost or stolen. Some nations require everyone who
enters to get a visa, while others have what are known as reciprocal
agreements with certain nations which waive such requirements. It is
important to research visa requirements before traveling internationally, as in
some cases travelers must apply before they attempt to cross a border.
The term visa is a shortening of a Latin phrase, carta visa, which means the
document has been seen. These documents take a number of forms, ranging
from tourist to immigration visas, and each type has its own application
process. For example, someone who wants to enter a country to do business
would need to apply for a business visa, while someone who planned to
relocate to a country would apply for an immigration visa that would allow him
to enter the country and stay there for a set period of time while pursuing citizenship or residency permits.
Visas generally expire after a set period of time. In some cases, one may be
extended by permission, while in other instances, people need to leave a
country and re-enter it to receive a new one. They can also establish the
number of times someone enters and leaves a country. In the case of a single

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entry visa, it is canceled as soon as the traveler leaves the country. In multiple
entry, someone may leave and return several times before the visa is
canceled.
When looking at a visa, you should be able to tell what type it is, how long it is
good for, and whether or not multiple entries are permitted. Specific
restrictions may also be written in, or indicated by the class of visa. For
example, people with tourist visas are generally not permitted to work. If you
aren't sure about the restrictions, be sure to ask immigration officials.
In some cases, a visa is issued by immigration officials when someone crosses
a border into a new country. In other instances, people must apply for one
before traveling. During the application process, the applicant may be asked if
he or she has enough money to survive in the country for the duration of the
visa, and inquiries may be made about the applicant's health, character, and
intentions for the planned visit. In some cases, applicants are also
fingerprinted and photographed.
This document may be denied for any number of reasons. People with certain
infectious diseases, for example, may be told to seek treatment for those
diseases before a visa will be issued. They may also be denied to people who
could potentially strain the system of the country they are visiting: for
example, someone without enough money to get by might be denied a visa out
of concern that he or she could rely on public assistance for help.

Chapter 10. Hot Air Balloons

These days, hot air balloons can be a common sight on sunny mornings, but
before the late 18th century, the idea of humans actually flying was the stuff of
fantasy. However, on 19 September 1783, brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacquestienne Montgolfier, with the help of Jean-Baptiste Rveillon, launched a hot air
balloon in Paris, France. The balloon carried a sheep, a duck, and a rooster as
its first passengers. All three animals survived the trip.
The success of this experiment led to other attempts, and no less a historical
personage than Benjamin Franklin witnessed as Jacques-tienne Montgolfier
ascended above Paris in another hot air balloon, also in 1783. Nowadays, hot
air balloon festivals are common in the spring and fall in many parts of the
world. Balloon pilots now have propane burners to help keep the balloons aloft,
with chase crews following them to their eventual landing sites, so the pilots
can be picked up and the balloons packed up and made ready for the next
flight.
More about hot air balloons:

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Since hot air balloons are subject to winds when aloft, most flights take place
at dawn or dusk, when the winds are usually calmer.

The main part of a hot air balloon, known as the "envelope," is made from
ripstop nylon. The lower part, closest to the burner, is made from a fireresistant material like Nomex, similar to the fabric used for automobile racing
uniforms.

Balloon pilots must log at least 10 flights and 35 hours in the air in order to
receive a commercial license. They must also pass an oral and written test and
a flight check from an instructor.

Chapter 11. Pets Passengers

When flying with pets, many animal welfare organizations strongly recommend that the pets travel in the cabin area of the aircraft with you, rather than in the cargo hold. Although
the statistics on animal loss and death as a result of cargo hold shipping indicate that less than 5,000 animals are killed or lost every year in the United States, you do not want your
pet to become a statistic. For this reason, if you own a small animal such as a cat, small dog, or rodent, you should make arrangements for the pet to fly in the cabin. If your animal is
too large to fit in the cabin, you may want to consider an alternate mode of transportation instead of flying with your pets.
When traveling in the cargo hold, pets can be subjected to temperature extremes which may include excessive heat or freezing. For this reason, many airlines do not permit pets in
the cargo hold during the summer when travelers try flying with pets, as pets have been known to die in the intense heat of the closed hold while planes wait to taxi down the runway.
In a cargo hold with imperfect climate control, the hold can also reaching freezing temperatures very quickly once the aircraft is in flight, which could be fatal for your pet. It is also
possible for the cargo hold to lose pressure, and some cargo holds have imperfect air circulation systems, meaning that your animal has a chance of suffocating from lack of oxygen.

Traveling with pets can be very stressful; flying is even more stressful for the animal. Animals do not understand the rapid temperature and pressure changes which can occur, even
in the cabin of an airplane, and the stress may adversely affect the breathing and heart rate of your pet. If you are flying with pets in the cabin, you can keep an eye on their vital
signs, but if the pets are isolated in the cargo hold, they may reach a state of crisis without anyone being aware of it. When flying with pets, you should also not use tranquilizers or
nervous system depressants, which may cause respiratory collapse or heart failure if the animal becomes stressed in the air.

In addition to death, loss is also an issue when flying with pets, especially if you are forced to transfer. Pets are viewed as luggage or cargo by most airlines, rather than living
beings, and your animal's carrier may be handled roughly during transfers, adding to the emotional and physical stress that your animal feels. In addition, the cage may end up
among the millions of pieces of luggage lost annually around the world. In the United States alone, roughly six out of every 1,000 pieces of luggage is lost. If your pet is lost, the
airline may offer financial compensation, but this will not compensate you for the loss of a friend.

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If you absolutely must ship a pet as cargo, animal welfare activists recommend that you consider using the services of a professional live cargo shipping firm. These firms handle
your animals with care and respect in aircraft specially fitted out for animal transportation. The aircraft includes medical staff to watch your animal, and the cabin is climate controlled
and pressurized. Because the firm specializes in animal handling, your animal is also far less likely to be a victim of animal cruelty at the hands of an exhausted or irritable baggage
handler, an unfortunate result of flying with pets on crowded airlines.

Chapter 12. Boarding Pass

Boarding passes are documents issued by airlines and some other transportation services. The pass is a key document that makes it possible for the passenger to legally board the
mode of transportation. Although boarding passes are most commonly associated with airplane flights, and helps to facilitate the boarding process so that the procedure is
accomplished in an orderly fashion.

The typical boarding pass generally includes a few basic elements. The name of the passenger, as it appears on the travel reservation, is found on the pass. Along with the name of
the traveler, the identification number for the flight or train is almost always included. Rounding out the basic information is the date and time of the departure. Generally, the gate or
platform that is scheduled for boarding is also included on the pass.

At one time, it was necessary for the traveler to report to a service desk in order to receive a boarding pass. Over the years, one variation on this process has made it possible to
obtain the pass. Along with checking in at a reception station and receiving a boarding pass at that time, many people now choose electronic kiosks to complete the check in
process. The kiosk automatically prints out luggage tags and the pass. This process has helped to reduce waiting time, as well as allowed travelers to proceed directly to the correct
gate or platform for departure.
Generally, an airline or rail service will not allow a traveler to board without a valid boarding pass. In the event that the boarding pass is damaged or lost between the point of issue
and the departure location, most transportation services are able to replace the pass upon verification of your identity and your travel reservation. However, it is important to note that
the exact process used by different airlines vary, so the process may take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more.

Chapter 13. ETA & ETD

Estimated time of arrival, or ETA, is a prediction of when a transportation

vessel, such as a boat, train, or airplane, will reach a destination. It can also be
used to describe the predicted arrival of a package, letter, or electronic file.
While many transportation services strive to stay accurate to the listed

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estimated time of arrival, it is important to remember that many things can

occur to throw this time off by as little as a minute or as much as several days.
Building flexibility into a travel plan will help avoid difficulties if an estimated
time of arrival is incorrect.
Estimated time of arrival will often be paired with a similar
prediction, estimated time of departure, or ETD. Most of the time, if a
departure time changes, an arrival time will correspondingly shift. This is not
always the case though, particularly with airlines. If an airplane is late taking
off, favorable winds may enable it to still arrive on time. Most estimated arrival
times are based on the average amount of time it takes to cover the distance
of the trip at a regular speed; it is quite common for variations in weather and
wind to cause a flight to land earlier or later than the average.
Many factors can affect an ETA, making it important to bear in mind that arrival
times are an estimate and not a guarantee. With public road transportation,
traffic can cause enormous delays to arrival time, particularly during periods of
heavy use such as rush hour. Holidays, city events, or even bad weather can all
serve to slow down public transportation. If using trains or subways, check with
ticket personnel to find out about delays and updates; they can often be very
helpful in providing information about alternative travel methods.
Since many transportation systems are now computerized, even computer or
power failures can throw a wrench into the system of timely departures and
arrivals. This frequently occurs in airports and can have a ripple effect on other
airports around the region and even the globe. Unfortunately for many
travelers, a downed system in Chicago can cause massive delay on a flight
from California to Germany. Though not all computer-related problems will
result in departure delays everywhere, some can have a surprisingly widereaching effect.
It is easy to become frustrated and annoyed when an ETA is changed or proves
to be incorrect. There are several things that a person can do to remain calm
and take useful steps to handle the situation. If there are time-sensitive travel
arrangements at the destination, such as a specific hotel check-in time, try to
call ahead before departure and let them know about the change. If a faulty
arrival time causes a person to miss a connecting flight or ride, speak calmly
and politely to transportation personnel to see about alternative arrangements,
and, if necessary, compensation.
Ward off boredom by bringing along a distracting hobby, such as an exciting
book, a tough crossword, or a knitting project. By choosing something that is
personally engaging and hard to find time for on a busy schedule, a delayed
arrival may actually be something of a pleasure. An incorrect estimated time of
arrival can be a great time to learn Italian, make out a Christmas list, or finally
beat that agonizing level on a video game.

Chapter 14. Stolen Passport

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Passports allow individuals to travel between countries legally. It is important to safeguard your passport to avoid things such as identity theft or the inability to obtain a new passport.
Several steps are available to you if you have a stolen passport, such as reporting the stolen passport to law enforcement officials, reporting it to your countrys embassy or
consulate if you are out of the country, filing the necessary paperwork with your local passport office and alerting all necessary parties to try to detect or prevent identity theft.
One of the first steps to take if your passport is stolen is to notify law enforcement officials. This should be done no matter whether the passport is stolen in your home country or in a
foreign country. Local law enforcement officials will be able to assist you with filling out the paperwork necessary to document the circumstances surrounding the theft of your
passport.

If you are out of the country and your passport is stolen, you also should notify your countrys consulate or embassy after you have notified law enforcement officials. This is helpful
for a variety of reasons, such as getting assistance with your stolen passport in your native language, notification of any other officials within your home country who might need to
be notified and obtaining additional documentation to note that you have had your passport stolen. In addition, this is one of the things that will help you obtain a new passport.

After you have made all of the necessary notifications, you should file stolen passport paperwork with your local passport office. Some offices require you to come in and fill out the
paperwork, but others allow you to do so online. If you choose the latter option, you likely will need to send in certain pieces of information for consideration with your online
application. It is a good idea to document everything, including when you mailed or submitted information, how you submitted it and to whom you submitted it.

For many people, obtaining a replacement passport is one of the main things on their mind after their passport is stolen. This is important, but it also is imperative that you begin
monitoring your credit report. It is quite possible that someone who has stolen your passport will also try to steal your identity. You might contact credit bureaus immediately to make
them aware of the situation, and you might enact some type of service to monitor your credit reports.

Chapter 15. Direct Flight

A direct flight is a voyage in an aircraft that leaves the original airport and arrives at the destination airport without stopping at any intermediary airports. Direct flights tend to be more
expensive that non-direct flights. They are also more convenient and typically reduce travel times. Direct flights are not available between all cities. Some airlines consider a direct
flight any flight where passengers do not change aircraft, even if the plane does touch down before arriving at the destination.
Also called non-stop flights, direct flights are not necessarily for the budget-minded traveler. In todays difficult economic climate, yesterdays aviation conveniences have become
quite the luxury. In flight meals, check-in, and even carry on bags add extras to the bill. Most companies allow no flight changes without tacking on a hefty fee, even if changes are
made weeks before takeoff. Since most travelers would prefer a direct flight, they too come with an additional price tag.
Frequent flyers, families with small children and people who fear flying, really appreciate direct flights. In general travelers get to their destination faster than with connecting flights,
since there are no layovers, missed planes, or added delays. Once a traveler is in the plane, they only need to find their seats and load their baggage into the overhead
compartment once. Eardrums only pop once going up and once going down, which is easier on the head and the heart. International travelers do not need to worry about collecting
their bags and going through customs multiple times.

There are no guarantees that a direct flight will be available between two airports. Typically larger cities and airline hub cities have the most direct flights. Smaller, less frequented
airports have fewer direct flights, especially as companies have reduced their flight patterns in order to cut costs. Longer flights may not be available as direct connections, as
airplanes may need to be refueled or the flight crew might need to be relieved.

When purchasing airline tickets, travelers should be aware that not all companies define a direct flight in the same manner. Certain companies consider a flight direct if there is no
change in flight number, even if the plane does touch down at an intermediary airport. Most companies will provide this detailed information in fine print somewhere on their website.
Possibilities for reimbursement if the plane must land before the destination should also be available online or by contacting the company directly.

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Chapter 16. Travel Insurance

There are many things to consider when planning a vacation - where to go, what to pack, and what to do once you get there. No matter how well you plan, though, there are some
things that are out of your control. That's where travel insurance can come in very handy by compensating you for unforeseen emergencies while traveling.

There are several types of travel insurance to choose from, depending on the type of trip and length of stay. The first and most common is Trip Cancellation/Interruption coverage.
Most of these policies cover cancellations due to weather, sudden illness or death, jury duty, emergency military duty, and bankruptcy of airline or cruise line prior to departure. Many
also include terrorism insurance that reimburses your expenses in the event that the U.S. Department of Stateissues a travel warning advising not to travel within a given country for
a period of time.
Another common type of travel insurance is for medical emergencies. This type of coverage is particularly useful if you plan on traveling to underdeveloped countries, or for
individuals with a chronic illness that might require medical attention at some point during the trip. These policies will reimburse you for the cost of doctor visits, medication, and
sometimes even medical evacuation out of the country. It's best to check with your insurance provider regarding the details, as travel health coverage policies vary widely.

It is also possible to obtain travel insurance that will cover non-refundable tickets in the event that a trip has to be canceled for any number of reasons. Some coverage plans will
sometimes cover missed connections as well, which can be a lifesaver in the event of a flight delay or over-crowded and/or confusing airport terminal.

For longer trips, or for frequent travelers, a comprehensive insurance package is probably the best value. These usually provide a wide variety of coverage, and some even allow
you to choose what kinds of coverage to be included. Since it's impossible to know what problems might arise during your trip, these policies cover all the bases so that you have
protection against monetary loss in the event of nearly any emergency.

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