Latest Posts

Traveling by airplane is quicker and more efficient than traveling by car, but that does not mean that you will not run into problems. Probably the most common problem, as well as the biggest headache, is a missed flight. A missed flight causes a variety of problems. If it was a connecting flight, you will likely miss all of your connections as well. The airplane has to fly with an empty seat, which they do not like, and, often, your bags will not miss their flight, and will arrive at your destination without you.

What should you do if you miss your flight? The very first thing that you should do is head to the reservation desk. Tell the clerk that you have missed your flight, and do not leave until you have a plan, in writing, for how you will continue your trip. If missing your flight was your own fault, you may expect to pay, if not the full ticket price, then a penalty on a reissued ticket. If you miss your flight because your connecting flight arrived late, the airline will work with you to get you in the air as soon as possible.

In most cases, the airline will put you on the next available flight, with their airline. In some cases, particularly if there is a chance that you can catch a further connection, or the next available flight is not until the next day, the airline may put you on the next available flight with a different airline. Either way, do not leave the area until you know what flight you will be on, and when it departs.

Why Miss a Plane?

One may miss their flight because of a variety of reasons; some cannot be helped while others are just a mistake. It is rare that you miss a plane because of traffic or oversleeping. Most missed flights occur in connecting flights. Often, the layover time between connecting flights is not sufficient to allow the passenger to disembark and find the terminal for his departing flight. Many airports are large, and for someone who does not travel a great deal, can be confusing to navigate. Once they arrive at the correct terminal, they must still go through security.

Another reason for missing connecting flights is if the plane experiences mechanical difficulties. It is common for a plane to sit on the tarmac, passengers on board, while mechanics work to repair a problem on the plane. In this case, the passengers who have a limited amount of layover time may not make their connecting flights. Sometimes, if many of the passengers on board are in danger of missing their connecting flight, the connecting flight may be held, but, as you can imagine, this creates another set of problems on the arrival at the next airport.

Weather is another cause of missed flights. Sometimes a plane is held and not allowed to take off because of lightning or heavy winds. Other times a plane may be held while it is deiced. Even if a plane makes it into the air, strong winds or turbulence can slow the plane down in flight, causing is to arrive behind schedule.

Mechanical problems are clearly the responsibility of the airline, but weather conditions and tight layover scheduling are not, and the airline may be less accommodating of problems relating to weather or scheduling than they are in problems related to mechanical issues.

Where are Your Bags?

While you may have missed your flight, it is unlikely that your bags did. They are probably tucked safely away on your original flight. If your arriving flight was delayed long enough that the connecting flight left before your plane arrived, you may be able to collect your bags, but this is not typically how it happens. People are often in the airport when their flight leaves. If you have departed from your plane, but do not make it through security before your connection leaves, there is a good chance that your bags were transferred and are on your original flight. This is one of the reasons that you should always carry any medication as well as a change of clothes with you in your carry on. While the chances are good that you will be reunited with your bags in the future, that will not make you feel any better when you are sitting in the airport lobby, waiting for dawn and the next flight out.

Minimize Your Chances of Missing Your Flight

The best way to minimize your chance of a missed flight is to allow plenty of time between connecting flights. While no one wants to spend all day in an airport lobby, you should ask the ticket agent for enough time to disembark, visit the restroom and make it to the next terminal. The larger the airport you are flying into, the more time you should allow, as moving from terminal to terminal can take a considerable amount of time. While you cannot control the weather or the mechanics of the plane, you can make sure you have amble time to make your connection.

It may sound daunting, but travelling with baby does not have to be a nightmare! A little preparation and forward planning is all you need for a successful trip with your tiny traveller.

There are certain supplies that are essential for any trip with your baby. The most important, of course, is enough food and milk for the journey. Always pack more than you think you’ll will need and contain a lot of finger foods if your baby is old sufficient — these are wonderful for helping to maintain him occupied! If you’re breastfeeding and will need to express milk, it is possible to store it in a cooler, with ice, for up to 24 hours. It is possible to also store bottles of pre-made formula inside the exact same way — alternatively, it is possible to add pre-measured powdered formula to the bottles, then top it up with cooled, boiled water as needed.

One more alternative would be to bring “ready to drink” cartons of formula. Whilst ideal for the journey itself, be conscious that you may well not be allowed to take these cartons with you into specific countries. Sealed containers of formula don’t typically present a difficulty.

Solid foods might be packed into a cooler, even though a greater idea is to bring foods with you that you can easily prepare during the journey. Avocado pears and bananas are good examples, as they can be simply peeled, mashed and served to your baby at room temperature.

Always bring your own feeding bowls and utensils when travelling with baby – many eating establishments do not have cutlery appropriate for an infant’s use. A travel high chair is incredibly useful, too — and means that you can comfortably feed your baby wherever you go. Disposable bibs, or a wipe-clean plastic bib, can be very convenient when travelling and they certainly cut down on the laundry!

If you ask for food or milk to be warmed for you, be Very careful to check the temperature on its return. Busy waiters or cabin crew may overheat the food and you will need to wait for it to cool down. With this in mind, ask for any food or milk to be warmed well before you’re actually going to need it!

Many parents worry about how to sterilise feeding equipment when travelling with baby. There are many products available to assist with this, from microwave steriliser bags to disposable bottle liners. Most stores dealing with infant feeding equipment will offer a range of travelling accessories such as these.

Other essential items for your trip will include nappies/diapers and scented diaper bags. If you’re heading to a warm destination, adequate sun protection is a must! Also, consider bringing a small nightlight – if you’re breastfeeding, it can be very useful in a dark, unfamiliar hotel room.

To help your baby cope with the trip and to reassure him in new surroundings, be sure to bring his favourite blanket. This can also serve as a handy “curtain” to shield an aeroplane sky cot/bassinet from the light, or for naps in his stroller when out and about.

Dress your baby in light layers when travelling, not only does this make it easier to cope with fluctuating temperatures, but if your baby spills his food, for example, you can easily remove the top layer of clothing. Bring a change of clothes for yourself, too baby’s mess tends to have a habit of transferring itself to his parents!

There are many great places to experience when in Rome, but one especially cultural place is located in the Testaccio area, where open air markets are all the rage. The Testaccio Market is preferred by locals, because of the great restaurants and cafes available there. A visit here means an avoidance of tourist traps. If you want to immerse yourself in local shopping and dining, the Testaccio Market is the place to be. Testaccio’s restaurants are famous for some very interesting dishes, such as oxtails and tripe. Though perhaps not to everyone’s tastes, the food is fondly enjoyed by the local residents.

Of course, there is much more to the Testaccio dining experience than oxtail and tripe. Once you start walking down Via Marmorata, your nostrils will be tantalized by a wide and strange array of enticing smells. Italians are very generous with their cuisine. Fresh fruits and vegetables line the street and lead you to the restaurants offering local Italian cuisine. Locals shop this street for the freshest ingredients to put in their daily dishes.

Looking for a palatable, yet affordable meal? Testaccio Market is the place to go. The variety of foods and dishes are not only delicious, they are also inexpensive. Try a salami and cheese combination at one of the open vendors, or enjoy your choice of a wide variety of fresh vegetables, such as broccoli, chicory, artichokes and leafy, green lettuce. The fruits are just as fresh and delicious at Testassio market.

The Mastroianni Brothers offer a fantastic selection of fish. The Mastroianni Brothers enjoy claiming the famous Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni as their kin(and they have the pictures to prove it). The fish offerings include the commonly known fish, shellfish, mollusks, and more exotic species. If you enjoy fish, you just might end up spending hours by their stall, checking out the merchandise.

A few hours of shopping can leave you hungry and the nearby Monte Testaccio is a great place to enjoy a lunch of cooked meats, cheese and produce. This unique and “false” mound is composed of broken amphorae that dates back to the ancient times.