Travel Q+A: Summer Bargains, Security Guidelines

April 19, 2005 — -- Between choosing your destination, finding reasonable fares and then sorting through changes to the security procedures there's plenty to keep you guessing when planning a vacation. ABC News' aviation analyst John J. Nance is here to assist by answering a selection of the questions that you sent in via e-mail.

Nance is a veteran airline captain with 13,000 flight hours, a former U.S. Air Force pilot and a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves and writes a weekly travel column for ABCNEWS.com.

Angie in Cleveland writes: Hi, I heard someone say that by the end of the year it will be a requirement to have a passport for Canada, Mexico and Caribbean, have you heard this and if you have do you know where I can find more information about this? Thanks!

John Nance: The new rules will be phased in starting on Dec. 31, 2005. According to a recent ABCNEWS.com article from the AP: The new requirements would take effect on Dec. 31, 2007, for travelers entering the United States from Mexico and Canada by land, and on Dec. 31, 2006, by air or sea.

The deadline is a year earlier, Dec. 31, 2005, for travel from Bermuda, the Caribbean and Panama. The proposed rules are scheduled to be finalized this fall. Until then, the government will solicit comments from the public. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=645076&page=1

More information can be obtained from the Department of Homeland Security Web site at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4433

It's a bit onerous for those who don't have passports to go get them, but all 290 million of us need to remember that we are, in fact, a nation at war, and this is a very mild hardship compared to what our grandparents and great-grandparents went through in World War II.

Question: Is it necessary to have a passport for a child traveling overseas or will just a birth certificate do?

Nance: Well, let's put it this way. Under some circumstances currently you would have no problem using just an original birth certificate with photo ID, but once the new rules begin going into effect at the end of this calendar year, everyone, regardless of age, who wants to re-enter the United States from the Caribbean and South and Central America must have a valid passport, and at that point a birth certificate will not be good enough. By 2008, all ground, air and sea travel into the United States from anywhere will be subject to that requirement. The basic point is: Why wait and run a risk of being at the wrong place with the wrong document for your child? I would strongly advise applying for a passport now.

The Web site of Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., has the following information which includes the requirement for permission slips from absent parents:The most common document -- and one that you likely will need -- is a U.S. passport. Most foreign countries require a U.S. passport documenting your citizenship before they allow entry into their country. A few don't require a passport, but they require a certified (original) birth certificate with a photo identification. Even if the countries you plan to visit do not require a passport, it may be advisable to have one because it will facilitate your entry into the other countries and will facilitate your re-entry into the United States.

Also, a child under age 18 must have consent of both parents to travel abroad. One parent leaving the country with a child must have a notarized consent from the other parent or a child traveling with neither parent must have a notarized consent from both parents.

Caution About Returning to the United States:

Make certain that you can return to the United States with the proof of citizenship that you take with you. Although some countries may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, U.S. law requires that you document both your U.S. citizenship and identity when you re-enter the United States. The best document to prove your U.S. citizenship is a valid U.S. passport. Other documents that establish U.S. citizenship include an expired U.S. passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship or a Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. citizen. To prove your identity, either a valid driver's license or a government identification card that includes a photo or physical description is acceptable.

(The above reproduced from: http://www.house.gov/murtha/services/passport.htm)

Carrie in Virginia writes: My boyfriend and I are planning our first big trip together and we'd like to go to the Caribbean this summer, maybe St. Maarten or Jamaica. We're on a budget and the all-inclusive hotels seem like a good idea. Do you have any suggestions on which island is best, bad weather warnings or any ideas for smart package deals? Thank you very much!

Nance: Carrie, while the airlines have been trying hard to kill off the travel agent industry (and largely succeeding in favor of issuing their own tickets), travel agents are still in business and perform a valuable service.

I would recommend you check your local Sunday newspaper travel section for an agency that specializes in the Caribbean and let them give you some advice. I personally like Jamaica and know it better than St. Maarten, but an up-to-speed travel pro who sends people down there all the time would be your best bet. One big caution: Don't let anyone book you on a charter without knowing exactly which supplemental/charter airline is going to fly the trip. Better to take a reduced fare on American or Jamaican Airlines than end up on some third-tier charter aircraft with questionable maintenance and crew training. As far as weather warnings, hurricane season starts in late summer and should be avoided, especially with lower-cost advance purchase packages that can't be easily or inexpensively changed. Summer can be really broiling down there, but with global warming kicking in more each year, the chances for being caught in a dangerous hurricane in September through October in particular is quite substantial.

Nealy in St. Paul, Minn., asks: I've heard that there is a new airplane that will travel at the edge of outer space. Is this true? How does it work and what is the benefit? If it can go faster at a higher altitude, why is that?

Nance: Well, Nealy, what you've heard about are only developmental ideas at the present time. Most of us in aviation are convinced that the Air Force was experimenting a few years back with a black project the media referred to as "Aurora," and that it was a hypersonic reconnaissance aircraft designed to replace the SR-71 Blackbird, but it was removed from testing without being put into production (as far as we know). There are really two types of possible aircraft that would fit what you're referring to. One is a hypersonic capable of reaching speeds of 3,000 to 4,000 mph at altitudes above 100,000 feet (where the air is extremely thin and the heating from frictional collision with air molecules controllable); the other would be a so-called "scramjet" craft that would theoretically be able to reach suborbital velocities probably above 250,000 to 300,000 feet, or even a hybrid scramjet/rocket that would fire into a suborbital trajectory from, say, California, and re-enter in time to land in Sydney, all within 45 minutes. Again, all of these are incredibly expensive ideas, and one of the most important considerations is whether there would ever be enough passenger demand to pay for such a craft by heavy utilization over time at rather high ticket prices. Recall that the Concorde was never really profitable, even though it could cost as much as $8,000 round trip to fly it -- a cost that severely limited the number of passengers.

Bob in Texas asks: There seems to be some inconsistency from airport to airport regarding security searches. Some airports demand you take off your tennis shoes, others let you pass. In Houston recently, I was told if I didn't take off my tennis shoes I would be pulled out of line for a more thorough search. Why only some airports? (I believe taking off tennis shoes is a real overkill).

Nance: We can thank Richard Reid, the fool who tried to blow up himself and an airliner with a shoe bomb for these sensitivities at American airports. It just so happened the individual was wearing tennis shoes specially modified with plastic explosives, and TSA is still very sensitive about such shoes. The inconsistencies are a bit disturbing, since one of the hallmarks of TSA's takeover of passenger screening was to impose steady, standardized procedures nationwide. I see some minor variations day to day around the nation, but for the most part they've succeeded. Frankly, I would advise you to do what I do: Always wear non-laced shoes you can slip on and off, and always (without waiting to be asked) just put them in the tray and walk through in your socks. That will minimize the hassles. The variations you've noticed are more the result of local interpretation than authorized variables, and TSA needs to tighten this up. The rule they should be following is to universally ask those wearing tennis shoes or athletic shoes of any sort to take them off, so the one in Houston was correct, and the ones who have not required that are actually incorrect.

Rosemarie in New Jersey asks: What is the airline's responsibility if the flight has been canceled due to mechanical problems and another flight is not available until the next day? This happened to me and I was told that they could not do anything for me. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Nance: Rosemarie, I hate to tell you, but thanks to Airline Deregulation and the financial disaster that airlines have become today, it's a bit of the Wild West out there with respect to this issue. There's no question that many years ago such an occurrence (mechanical and overnight stay) would bring forth a free hotel room and meals, and under new rules in Europe, that is now required once again. In our country, it has become more of a courtesy custom than a requirement (no federal agency requires a room be provided).

There is a very comprehensive discussion of this on a Web site called "Free Travel Tips," and I'm reproducing several paragraphs of theirs for you below: Ask to be protected under the airline's own written rules in the ticket's conditions or contract of carriage for dealing with missed connections, delayed and canceled flights so you are given all the consideration you are legally due. This section of the contract is often called "Rule 240," but no matter what it is called, they will have a section that specifically spells out what action they must take to help you continue your trip and what compensation you are due, if any. The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that a copy of this contract be available to passengers at the airline's ticket counter. Many airlines also provide this information on their Web sites so you might print it off and take it with you in case you need it. Some airline employees will try to tell you to that they no longer use "Rule 240," but no matter what they call this section of their contract they still have to honor their written guidelines in the contract of carriage. These guidelines are part of the legal contract that deals with you. Both you and the airline agreed upon these terms when they sold and you purchased their ticket. The airline cannot choose to disregard part of a legal contract and enforce a different policy.

If other airlines are still operating, see if your airline is willing to find you a seat on another airline. Although their contract may allow them some time to first find you a flight on their own airline, most state that when they fail to do so, they will try to find you a seat with another airline. Know that many airlines limit your potential choices to certain airlines that have existing agreements with your airline. Your option probably won't be to find any other flight at the airport that works. It will be to find another flight from a list of specific airlines. The airlines' "Rule 240" may state that, if you so choose, you are entitled to an involuntary refund for any unused portion of your ticket, even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket. "Rule 240" also specifies what, if any, other compensation you are due because of the flight's delay or cancellation. The compensation due will usually vary depending on the reason for the flights delay or cancellation.

You can find this at: http://www.freetraveltips.com/Airlines/air17.htm#67 run by FreeTravelTips.com.

Bottom line? The Rule 240 requirements vary rather dramatically from airline to airline, so, as they say above, being really nice and friendly in asking for help will probably net you what you need. Thanks to deregulation, the good old days of dedicated passenger service are simply over.

Blain in Oakland, Calif., asks: I don't know if this falls within your jurisdiction, but I'm flying to Hawaii toward the end of May or perhaps the beginning of June. At what date do the air fares take their big summer hike?

Nance: Blain, if you'll go into the airlines' consolidated site at Expedia.com and poke around with different dates, you'll find the prices for deep advance purchase, no-refund round trips remain pretty low until the end of May, and then begin to climb. The closer you get to those dates, the higher the price will be, with the exception that panicked airlines with too few bookings for any date may suddenly plunge their price to fill their seats below cost (see my column this week on ABCNews.com about this). The main thing is, spend some time shopping around, but book as early as you can. This is a highly competitive route, but also consider San Francisco International as the departure point as well as San Jose, because sometimes the prices will vary among the three.

Ruthanne in Toronto asks: What is the issue going on in Cancun, Mexico. Is it safe to travel there?

Nance: Ruthanne, there was a travel warning for Americans issued about a year ago regarding Cancun that has now been lifted, but for several years there have been accelerated worries about the relative lawlessness there, including open availability of drugs and liquor regardless of age, and, frankly, the wholesale misbehavior of American students who go there.

I am not aware that it is either better or worse at the moment, but I encourage you to do a Google search on "Cancun, Mexico travel warnings" and read up on what you find. There are more stable resort cities in Mexico, such as Cabo. Getting to the heart of your question about whether it's safe, keep in mind that Mexico is very much a foreign nation with its own laws, police, jails, courts and attitudes. Without reference to right or wrong, it is very easy for an American to be horribly surprised by the differences in the legal protections we take for granted and what may or may not be available in a foreign nation. As far as my feelings are concerned as a professional traveler and airline pilot? I prefer Hawaii to the Mexican resort towns, primarily because I feel more secure under our legal structure.

Rie in Seattle asks: I am looking to travel to a warm climate such as Mexico. I am looking for the most affordable location and dates to travel. Please send me any information you may have. Thank you.

Nance: Rie, I have to tell you I'm biased because it's my airline, but call Alaska Airlines reservations and ask about Mexico destination tours (800-426-0333). As an alternative, since you're in Seattle where I live (Tacoma to be exact), call Doug Fox travel and ask for the best package ideas. I personally think Cabo is safe, beautiful and relatively inexpensive, but there are numerous others. Also, don't forget Hawaii. It's our own paradise and it's under good old familiar U.S. laws.

Amanda in Charleston, W.Va., writes: I am currently on a round-the-world trip, and based in Australia. My next stop is Bangkok, and my flights in and out of Thailand are with separate air carriers, and I've booked for 3½ months. I realized later that I would only be issued a stay of 30 days, but that this could be bypassed with a border crossing to renew your permit. It was later that I was warned I might not be able to board the plane in Australia, because I didn't have a visa to stay 3½ months. I'm using Thailand as kind of a base for travel, shouldn't the airlines deal with this kind of thing on a semi-regular basis? I've got no real answers from the airline, and my travel agent says it 'shouldn't' be a problem. Can you provide a definitive answer? I did a similar thing in South America and it wasn't a problem.

Nance: Amanda, I can't give you a definitive answer because you're asking about some very complex immigration law questions involving Thailand and Australia. Call your nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate, then contact the Australian immigration authorities, and unless they are ironclad sure of what they're telling you, talk to the Thai immigration authorities as well, and then and only then call the airline. You could end up in violation of a criminal law if you're not very sure what you're doing, and nipping back and forth over a border to change the stay requirements is dangerous per se unless you know for certain it's acceptable. Don't guess!