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Worst case scenerios when traveling overseas and how to handle them
Spring is around the corner and that means family travel plans are in full gear for many of you.
Have you ever stopped to think about what you would do if your luggage got lost in Paris, or if for some reason, you couldn’t get through customs.
Today’s article is a good resource to tackle those trivial questions that may arise when traveling across the pond. If you have any tips that have worked for you, please share them with us.
In the meantime, here’s what to do if you lose your passport, break a leg or even get arrested overseas.
By Eric Lucas | Bing Travel
The Bucharest baggage carousel stopped twirling. All of the other passengers had plucked their luggage from it. Even my suitcase, checked through three flights from Seattle, had arrived. My wife’s bag, however, was a no-show. Now what?
Civil liberty groups say stringent airline screening spurs racism
Full-body scans and intense pat downs are all part of TSA’s new airline screening procedures for passengers arriving from nations listed as “state sponsors of terrorism.”
The American Civil Liberties Union oppose this type of screening stating that there is no no realistic way to predict the national origin of a potential attacker. What do you think?
Reuters News Service
NEW YORK (Reuters) – More stringent screening launched on Monday for airline passengers from 14 nations, part of a crackdown after the botched Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit-bound flight, are ineffective and unconstitutional, civil liberty groups charged.
The tighter security measures, which range from passengers being patted down to advanced explosives detection and full-body scans, constitute racial profiling when there is no realistic way to predict the national origin of a potential attacker, the American Civil Liberties Union said.
The measures announced by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration affect passengers arriving from Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria — nations listed as “state sponsors of terrorism” — as well as Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen.
“Every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening,” the TSA said. (READ MORE)
Blogger puzzled by recent terrorist attack and the state of flight safety
And he’s not alone.
Last Friday’s attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight has left me scratching my head as well. I’ve flown with my family within the last six months and from what I remember, security was hectic. They checked every nook and cranny of my diaper bag, and they asked me and all of my children to step aside for a special screening. It took all that I had to take long, deep breaths and count to 10, in my head, to keep from losing it. With all that harassment from TSA, a terrorist still managed to board a plane, armed.
I digress. I realize that this flight was inbound from Amsterdam, which makes it clear that there was a slip up on the international security front. Looking back at my experience, I really don’t think the bomber would have made it past the American TSA.
I stand firm that we are not safe. I encourage family travelers not to rest their faith in airline security, there’s evidentally too much human error involved. I like to think that when me and my family make it to and from our destinations safely, it’s not because of heightened security, it’s simply by God’s grace that we made it, alive.
Radical Development
Last Friday’s terrorism attempt was just another horrible reminder that there are evil people in the world who have nothing better to do other than cause heart ache and destruction. Over the last few months I have done a lot of flying as well as my family has taken a handful of trips and I must admit that while terrorism is always in the back of my mind this recent event has raised the question just how secure are we in the air? I know airline security is much more complicated that one would like to think but how can something like this recent event happen? CNN has reported:
The father of a man suspected in a botched terror attack aboard a Northwest Airlines flight contacted the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria recently with concerns his son was planning something, a senior U.S. administration official said Saturday.
The father — identified by a family source as Umaru Abdul Mutallab — contacted the U.S. Embassy “a few weeks ago” saying his son, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, had “become radicalized,” the senior administration official, who is familiar with the case, told CNN.
If in fact the father of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had in fact contacted the U.S. Embassy, how was this individual allowed to board any aircraft much less one bound for the United States? It maker one doubt that our government has policies and guidelines in place that actually work. I for one am outraged and concerned over the holes in our security system that should prevents attacks such as this. Thanks to brave men and women on this flight the terrorist was not able to carry out his mad plan and was quickly arrested and charged. (READ MORE)
Families urged to ship gifts to prevent baggage theft
Associated Press
Many of you will be heading to the airport this weekend, but before you do, consider shipping your gifts for loved ones via UPS or Fed Ex. Baggage theft is on the rise. In today’s article carousal crooks are thinking up clever ways to swipe those gifts from your checked luggage. This post is not intended to inject fear, it is simply FYI.
The Wall Street Journal | Scott McCartney
As travelers get ready for holiday flights, they might want to skip tucking presents into their checked suitcases this year. That’s because baggage theft is on the rise.
This year, Delta Air Lines Inc. baggage handlers were caught rifling through suitcases in the belly of airplanes in Hartford, Conn., pocketing laptops, cameras, iPods, GPS units, jewelry, watches and earrings, according to Lt. J. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police.
Authorities also broke up a ring of airline thieves in St. Louis who, according to Lambert Airport Police Chief Paul Mason, were targeting soldier’s bags that were shipping off to war. Baggage handlers pulled soldiers’ duffels off a conveyor belt in a tunnel, stashed loot and then picked it up later, taking it home under their coats or in backpacks. Among the stolen items recovered: laptops, electronic game systems, cameras, cigarettes, battery chargers, sunglasses and firearms. (READ MORE)
Say Goodbye to Traveling Internationally with Birth Certificates and Social Security Cards to Prove Your Child’s Identity, Consider Applying for a Passport
I remember our first trip to Jamaica. My son was a mere three months old and my daughter was a little over one. I made sure that I had all the documents that I needed to get those kids on the plane, like their birth certificates 
(original copies) and even their social security cards. I remember being really nervous about not misplacing these very important pieces of paper.
Why put that burden on yourselves when you travel with your kids? Applying for a passport is the best and safest thing to do. The process takes a little while so be prepared.
Maury Mahoney from Examiner.com explains how to get passports for your kids.
Happy travels!
June 1 is the Official Start of Passport Requirements to Re-Enter the U.S.
