FlyNNY Winter 2017

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fly nny

Winter Travel Plans

TRI-COUNTY AIRPORTS SEE SUCCESSES, MILESTONES p. 8

PLENTY ON TAP FOR NORTH COUNTRY WINTER MONTHS p. 10

IMPROVE YOUR AIR TRAVEL EXPERIENCES p. 13

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2017 VOLUME 1, NO. 3

fly nny CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD John B. Johnson Jr. EDITOR & PUBLISHER John B. Johnson VP, ADVERTISING & MARKETING Gary C. Valik

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GENERAL MANAGER Brenda L. LaBrake MAGAZINE EDITOR Brian Kelly ASSOCIATE MAGAZINE EDITOR Holly C. Boname CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Larry Robinson Brian Molongoski Jake Newman PHOTOGRAPHY Amanda Morrison & Mark Kunz ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Michelle Bowers

COVER STORY 8 TRI-COUNTY AIRPORTS SEE SUCCESSES, MILESTONES Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence County airports all started the new year by celebrating milestones, new equipment to maintain facilities and a new air service provider.

FEATURES 10 WINTER EVENTS ACROSS NORTHERN NEW YORK

From Clayton to Ogdensburg, Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, there’s plenty to do this winter when you plan a stay-and-fly departure from Northern New York airports.

12 BILL AIMS AT EXPEDITING CROSS-BORDER TRAVEL Fly NNY is a special publication of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2017.

ADVERTISING For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mbowers@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2456 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail blabrake@ogd.com, or call 315-661-2507 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility. www.vanguardprintingllc.com (607) 272-1212 Please recycle this magazine.

The Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016.

13 IMPROVING YOUR AIR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE Follow these easy tips and reduce air travel stress and anxiety.

14 LEARN THE BASICS OF HOW TO TRAVEL WITH PETS Traveling with your pet can be enjoyable if you follow these simple tips and tricks.

15 LIFT OFF WITH YOUR KIDS IN TOW

Don’t stress vacationing with your kids these simple tips can ensure safe and fun travel.

ON THE COVER

Saranac Lake photographer Mark Kurtz captures fireworks as they light up the sky over the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Castle in 2016. Each year, ice blocks are removed from the lake to construct the annual castle, which is illuminated and celebrated with opening fireworks.

To learn more about Winter Carnival visit: saranaclakewintercarnival.com.

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COVER STORY

PHOTO PROVIDED Dr. Tahar Abdallar - traveling with his family from Gatineau, Quebec - was honored as passenger No. 10,000 to fly out of the Ogdensburg International Airport.

Up, Up and Away!

Tri-county airports see successes, milestones THE OGDENSBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT has reached its goal of 10,000 passengers by the end of 2016.

Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority officials said a Dec. 31 flight from Ogdensburg to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., achieved the milestone.

Dr. Tahar Abdallar - traveling with his family from Gatineau, Quebec - was honored as passenger 10,000 to fly out of the airport.

“With the departure of Allegiant Flight 1711 to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the Ogdensburg International Airport achieved a historical milestone,” according to a press release from the OBPA. “For the first time in its history OGS achieved 10,000 enplanements in a calendar year.”

Mr. Abdallar and his family were honored in a brief ceremony at OGS on the day of the

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departure, according to OBPA officials.

“10,000 enplanements is the first step and a new number that we have not reached in our history,” said OBPA Board Chairman Samuel J. LaMacchia in a statement. “Our future is just beginning and we are so appreciative of the many people who have helped us to get to this level.”

Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Wade A. Davis concurred, saying he and other OBPA officials were “delighted” to see the airport achieve the historic milestone in usage. He credited airline officials, airport management, and community support for the success.

“This was made possible with Allegiant, Cape Air, community support, and the unwavering leadership of Airport Manager Patrick J.

Sharrow and the OGS team,” Mr. Davis said.

Mr. Davis also credited the OBPA’s board of directors for their role in helping the airport expand in recent years.

The authority’s board of directors includes Samuel J. LaMacchia, chairman, Douglas W. Loffler, Gavin M. Regan, Vernon “Sam” D. Burns, Megan J.M. Whitton, and James T. Farrell.

The authority’s mission is to manage regional infrastructure while working with the private sector to create jobs and investment, according to the OBPA. In October, OBPA officials held an official grand opening to showcase the airport’s $26 million expansion. The project was completed in three years, instead of the 10 years usually required, according to the OBPA.

COVER STORY

MASSENA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Massena Town Board members voted unanimously in December to recommend Boutique Air as the town’s new Essential Air Service provider.

“We like Boutique Air best, so now we have a deadline (upcoming) to get our comments to the Department of Transportation and they will make a decision,” said Town Supervisor Joseph D. Gray said. “The Department of Transportation makes the final determination on these. There are five factors they look at. One of those factors is community support. They look at what their recommendation is and who they endorse and they take as one of the five factors they look at.”

Mr. Gray said the quality of Boutique Air’s planes was a major factor in the town’s decision to part with Cape Air, who had provided air services out of Massena since 2008.

“Cape Air has been great. Their service has been great, they have been very reliable for the most part and personnel are great. The company is a great company,” Mr. Gray said of the former EAS provider.

Mr. Gray said Cape Air flies a Cessna 302, which has not been manufactured since the 1980s. “It is propeller plane, it is not pressurized, it is a nine seat plane, the lavatory is too small. Because it is not pressurized, you cannot go above 10,000 feet,” he explained. “The weather impacts its ability to fly, more so than a plane that can fly at higher altitudes.”

Boutique Air offers two planes - the Pilatus PC12 and King Air 350 - which are both better quality aircraft.

“They are pressurized cabins. They are still only nine passenger, they are kind configured almost like a corporate plane. They are leather arm chairs, they are plush, you can kind of recline in them, they swivel and they have a lavatory. And they are much newer,” he said.

Mr. Gray said when Boutique Air bid on Massena’s EAS contract two years ago, there was a relatively small amount of feedback the town could gather on the company. He said this time around, much more information about the airline was available, and everything the town heard was positive.

“We did a lot of research on Boutique Air and how they are servicing 12 or 15 EAS communities and when we called around and did some due dili-

gence on them, nothing but rave reviews for their service,” Mr. Gray said. “We weren’t nervous like we were two years ago when they had no track record.”

Another factor leading the town to side with Boutique Air was the locations the airline could fly to.

“We kind of felt that Cape Air’s service connecting to Boston is already available whether it be out of Ogdensburg or out of Saranac Lake,” Mr. Gray said.

Boutique Air offers flights that are too long for Cape Air due to the comfort factor, which Mr. Gray said involves their lack of on board lavatories. He said Boutique Air can offer flights to places like Baltimore, Buffalo, Detroit, and Cleveland. The contract the town will seek to secure with Boutique Air will include three daily flights, one of which will go to Baltimore. The other two daily flights will land in Albany.

WATERTOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT The airport has a new tool to conquer heavy snowfall during the winter.

In December, the airport just outside Watertown acquired a new MB3 Front Mount Broom and Plow truck to help with snow, ice and debris removal from the its runways and taxiways.

Airport Manager Grant W. Sussey said the vehicle will lessen the impact of contaminants on the runways, therein improving aircraft safety and performance.

Rigged to the front of the truck is a large, cylindrical broom designed to clear pavement more thoroughly than a normal plow.

Mr. Sussey noted that regular plows can occasionally leave behind a thin layer of snow, which

the broom is able to pick up.

The broom can clear up to 8 inches of snow, but any amount beyond that requires a normal plow.

The truck has the ability to swap its broom for a plow at any time.

The truck can be used year round as well. In warmer months with no snow, the broom can clear the runways of other debris, such as rocks and other small contaminants.

The truck, which cost $540,000, was 95 percent paid for by the federal government, while the remaining 5 percent was evenly split between state and Jefferson County funding.

The federal funding came out of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport & Airway Trust Fund, which invests funding in safety projects and upgrades for airports across the country.

The FAA puts money into the trust fund through ticket sales and fuel taxes.

Construction of the airport’s terminal expansion is also moving along.

As it currently stands, the terminal houses one of the only 90-degree security checkpoints in the country.

The expansion will add a new section to the terminal to straighten the checkpoint, while allowing for additional seating in the waiting area.

Two-thirds of the $700,000 project will be funded through a state Department of Transportation grant, and the rest will be paid for with money from the county’s Residential Community Initiative fund, meaning it won’t cost local taxpayers.

The terminal project is expected to be completed this month.

— Larry Robinson, Jake Newman, Brian Molongoski, Fly NNY

AMANDA MORRISON n FLY NNY Patrick Agaciewski navigates the MB3 Front Mount Broom and Plow down the runway at the Watertown International Airport. The vehicle is expected to keep runways cleared more effectively than a traditional plow.

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WINTER EVENTS Friday, March 10 through Sunday, March 12

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES FILE PHOTO Calli S. Guyett, Leah M. Wichmann and Laura S. Bryce, Prescott, Ontario. hold hands as they leap into the St. Lawrence River while participating in the 2016 Polar Bear Plunge at the Dobisky Visitor’s Center, Ogdensburg.

Winter

events guide Saturday, February 25

n Friends of River Hospital 27th Annual Polar Bear Dip, Bonnie Castle Resort and Marina, Alexandria Bay, NY. Funds raised will support the purchase of medical equipment for orthopedic services in River Hospital’s Ambulatory Surgery Unit. Registration takes place inside Bonnie Castle Resort at 9 a.m. and closes at noon. Dipping begins at 1 p.m. Must be 18 or older to take the plunge. Cost: free to attend. Info: River Hospital Development Department, (315) 482-4976.

Wednesday, March 1

n Barely Mathodical Troupe: Bromance, 7 p.m., Lake Placid Center for the Arts, 17 Algonquin Drive, Lake Placid, NY. Bromance is the debut show from Britain’s hottest young acrobats, winners of the 2013 Circus Maximus Award and 2014 Total Theatre and Jackson’s Lane Award for Circus at the Edinburgh Festival. Barely Methodical Troupe mix their exceptional skills in parkour, Bboying, tricking, hand-to-hand acrobatics, Cyr wheel and more. Cost: $10 at door; $15. Info: lakeplacid.com/events/ barely-methodical-troupe-bromance.

Friday, March 3

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Championships, all day event, Olympic Sports Complex Cross Country Center, 220 Boburn Lane, Lake Placid, NY. Future Olympic Medalists will showcase their skills and talents in Lake Placid for the 2017 XC Junior National Championships. Cost: free. Info: lakeplacid.com/node/281778.

Friday, March 3

n Polar Bear Golf Classic, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Best Western University Golf Course, 90 East Main St., Canton, NY. Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country will hold the19th Annual Polar Bear Golf Tournament. The event features 9 holes of golf in the snow, warm refreshments throughout the day, prize raffles, and other outdoor activities. There will be a casual dinner and a short trivia quiz at the end of the night.

All proceeds from this event go toward CP of the North Country’s Outdoor Recreation Program, which provides individuals with disabilities opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, and more. Cost: $25. Info: rbabowicz@cpnorthcountry.com.

Saturday, March 4, 11, 18, 25

n 3rd Annual Idol on the River, 6 p.m., Bonnie Castle Resort & Marina, 31 Holland St., Alexandria Bay, NY. The 3rd Annual “Idol On The River” Singing Competition In The Heart Of The 1000 Islands, with proceeds to go to the Jefferson County SPCA. Cost: admission by donation. Info: Bonnie Castle Resort, 1-800-955-4511.

n Great Outdoor Family Expo, 4 to 8 p.m.

Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, New York State Office Building, Washington St., Watertown, NY. Nearly 13,500 square feet of exhibition space, the Great Outdoor Family Expo will showcase Northern New York’s largest variety of exhibitors including hunting, fishing, scuba, paddlesports, atv’s, boating and more. Many activities including the opportunity to have your trophy buck scored by the Northeast Big Buck Exhibit, attend seminars on hunting and filming your hunts, try Laser Duck Hunting and much more. New this year stop by to watch the Adult Foosball Tournament Foosa-Palooza, the first human foosball tournament in Watertown. Cost: $5 adults and children over 12. Info: greatoutdoorexpo.com.

Saturday, March 11

n 11th Annual Polar Bear Plunge, 11:30 a.m., Dobisky visitor’s Center, Ogdensburg, NY. Hosted by the Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce and the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad. Registration opens at 11:30 a.m. with the plunge taking place at 1 p.m. Events throughout the day will take place, including: Badge Battle, Scaredy-Cat Blub, Vendor’s Corner, and food and raffles throughout the day for the whole family. Cost: free. Info: Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce, (315) 393-3620.

Saturday, March 18

n The Orchestra of Northern New York Presents The Planets: Our World and Beyond, 7:30 p.m., SUNY Potsdam’s Snell Theatre, Potsdam, NY. A multi-media presentation of Gustav Holst’s monumental work, The Planets, performed in conjunction with newly developed visual accompaniment by artist Adrian Wyard and projected onto a large screen above the Orchestra. This stellar program features NASA photography, original animations and imagery from telescopes, orbiting spacecraft and rovers on the planets’ surfaces, coordinated to the conductor’s direction of the work. Cost: $22 adults; $18 seniors; $5 students with ID. Info: Kathy Del Guidice, (315) 267-3251.

Friday, March 24

n Howl at the Moon, 6 to 9 p.m., Clayton Harbor Hotel, 200 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY. Performing on March 24th will be the nationally known Dueling Piano Show, Howl at the Moon. Howl at the Moon is the total entertainment experience. The high energy show is centered around all

WINTER EVENTS kinds of music from your dance hits, party anthems, country and even the oldies. You request it and they play it. All ticket sales will be donated to the Clayton, NY fireworks fund. Hors d’eoveres and cash bar available during event. Cost: $25. Info: 1000islandsharborhotel.com.

Saturday, March 25

4th Annual Tastes of Maple, 4 p.m., Conference Center at Lake Placid, 2608 Main St., Lake Placid, NY. Sample local maple-based cuisine, taste some beer and spirits, listen

to great local music and find the perfect restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Local maple producers will provide maple syrup for our tasting competition again this year. Taste this year’s batch from each producer for free, and vote for your favorite.

Winners will be announced at 5:50 pm.

2016 taster’s choice winner: South Meadow Farm Maple Sugar Works. Cost: free. Info: lakeplacid.com/events/4th-annual-tastes-ofmaple.

Dining & Lodging For visitors who work up an appetite and those who plan an overnight stay, there are many local choices.

Ogdensburg area dining Busy Corner Cafe 234 Ford St., offering breakfasts, sandwiches, soups and salads.

Gran-View Restaurant 6765 state Route 37, Captain Nick’s Lounge, live entertainment, exquisite menu and wine list.

The Freight House Restaurant 20 Market St. Features traditional lunch and dinner specials for nearly everyone.

Little Italy Pizzeria 900 State St. Popular Italian restaurant.

Phillips Diner A family-owned diner at 415 Ford St. in operation for more than 65 years.

The Place 1612 Ford St., a local favorite known for its wings and friendly atmosphere.

Sandwich Warehouse 601 Canton St. Sandwiches, soups and baked goods made from scratch. Delivers.

Clayton area dining Koffee Kove Restaurant 220 James St. Features handmade breads and signature dishes. Early morning breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Wood Boat Brewery 625 Mary St. A microbrewery open yearround a few blocks from the downtown business district. Features specialty beers and handmade brick-oven pizza.

Coyote Moon Wine and Dine Lounge 524 Riverside Drive. Wine sampling, a specialty menu infused with Coyote Moon wines, a shop and entertainment.

Ogdensburg area lodging Gran-View On the River 6765 State Highway 37, a 14-acre St. Lawrence River waterfront property.

The Sherman Inn Bed and Breakfast 615 Franklin St., located in a historic former elementary school.

Off the Hook Bed & Breakfast 7 Butternut Drive on the riverfront just a few minutes from the Ogdensburg– Prescott International Bridge.

The Stonefence Resort 7191 State Highway 37, named for its thousands of feet of stone fences and located on the waterfront.

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FEATURE

Bill Aims at Expediting Cross-Border Travel

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JACOB HANNAH n FLY NNY Cars travel across the Thousand Islands Bridge on their way to the U.S.-Canadian border crossing as a boat passes below on the St. Lawrence River.

he House of Representatives passed legislation to help expedite travel between the United States and Canada.

Introduced by U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, and U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-N.H., the Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016 expands pre-clearance facilities operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, allowing for smoother travel, via land, water, rail and air, into Canada and back. The bill passed the House without opposition.

The United States has pre-clearance facilities at 15 airports in six countries, including Canada. These facilities allow travelers to pass through CBP inspections prior to traveling.

Under this agreement, the United States will create additional pre-clear-

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ance opportunities in Canada. For the first time in history, these opportunities will be applied to train stations.

Additionally, the bill ensures U.S. legal authority to hold U.S. officials accountable if they engage in wrongdoing while stationed in Canada.

Ms. Stefanik spoke about the bill on the House floor in December.

“This significant, bipartisan legislation is great news for U.S.-Canadian relations,” she said. “It maintains a positive working relationship with border officials, especially in rural regions like ours in the north country, and it allows for facility sharing along the border.”

The Canadian version of the bill still needs to be passed, according to CBCNews, but approval is expected.

Garry F. Douglas, president of the North Country Chamber of Com-

merce, said the legislation will streamline operations on both sides of the border.

“When fully approved by Congress and the Canadian Parliament, it will set the stage for many practical arrangements at our northern border, allowing each country’s border agencies to undertake their functions on the other side when that is the best way to keep things moving,” he said in a statement. “This will include the preclearance of Amtrak passengers in Montreal, eliminating the need for long stoppages at the border, and it is expected to allow Canadian border officials to operate on the Massena side of the Seaway Bridge crossing, also allowing more efficient operations.”

~Brian Molongoski, Fly NNY

FEATURE

Improve Your Air Travel Experiences Air travel remains the quickest way to traverse long distances

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illions of people across the globe take to the skies each and every day.

Estimates suggest there are 87,000 flights each day in the United States alone. These flights include air taxi flights, commercial airline flights, private flights, and flights carrying military personnel.

Despite the relative quickness with which air travel can get passengers from point A to point B, many travelers still find reason to gripe about their experiences in the air. Service cutbacks, increased security measures and the high cost of flying can prove frustrating. But travelers can take several steps to ensure their next flight goes more smoothly. n Recognize the more affordable flight isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always the best option.

Numerous travel sites offer low-cost flights for budget-conscious travelers. But very often price comes at the cost of convenience. A lower-priced flight may be a red-eye, while other cheap flights require multiple stops along the way. Travelers who want their flights to be as quick and as convenient as possible might want to choose a nonstop flight even when there are less costly alternatives. n Know the rules before you board.

Increased security means tougher restrictions as to what passengers can carry on

out as you rush to the airport, leave your home early enough to compensate for traffic and lines at the airport. It is better to be early and waiting around than be late and miss your flight. n Assess your health needs. Some people simply are not good flyers. Air travel can induce anxiety, so if you are prone to extreme unease on a flight, talk with a doctor about getting a prescription to treat your anxiety. It is unadvisable to take sleeping pills on a flight because most medication requires you to get seven to eight hours of sleep. If you take a pill on a shorter flight, you may risk being unaware of your surroundings or too groggy to make solid decisions upon landing.

a flight. There also may be weight limitations on carry-on baggage or restrictions on how many pieces of luggage can be brought along before a charge is incurred. Check an airlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website or consult with a customer service representative to learn the rules of your flight so you are not held up at check-in. n Leave ample time to get to the airport. Checking in at the airport can take some time, as can clearing security, particularly for international travelers.

Rather than beginning your trip stressed

n Find out if you can pick your seat. Some websites allow travelers to browse airline seating maps and learn about the features of certain planes, such as leg room and where emergency exits are located. Some sites indicate if there is in-flight entertainment and if there are any digital electronic hookups available in particular seats. This can make flights more comfortable for all travelers. n Investigate loyalty clubs. Airlines, credit cards and even some social clubs may have certain perks available to loyal customers or members. This may Please see AIR TRAVEL, page 15 FEBRUARY 2017

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FEATURE

Learn the basics of traveling with pets

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any pet owners now take their companion animals along with them when they visit family, travel for business or go on vacation. TripAdvisor, the premier travel community resource, annually polls travelers about traveling with pets.

Fifty-three percent of respondents travel with their animal companions.

Anyone who has traveled with pets understands the impact that dogs, cats, fish, birds, and other animals can have on travel plans. Accommodations for the animals must be made in order to travel with peace of mind, and some people even forgo vacations when they cannot find accommodations for their pets.

Many hotels have pet-friendly rooms on lower floors near walking areas. Even many restaurants - where pet hair and food may seem like an unlikely combination - are open to allowing travelers dine with their pets.

Animals may be allowed to sit in patio dining areas, and some restaurants even allow pets indoors.

Those who choose to travel with pets can heed some precautionary tips and plan ahead.

THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB recommends a veterinary visit prior to taking pets on extended trips. Make sure all vaccinations are current and ask for a copy of health certificates and or records.

INVEST IN A CARRIER OR CRATE large enough for your pet. The crate should be large enough for the pet to stand, turn and lie down. A crate or carrier can keep pets secure in the car and may be recommended in petfriendly hotels.

AIRLINES MAY ALLOW SMALL PETS to ride in the cabin in a carrier under your seat. Larger pets will have

to ride in the cargo hold. Try to book a direct flight, so that the pet will only have to board and disembark the plane once. Notify airline personnel when you are traveling with a pet.

Provide food and water for a long flight.

CONFIRM THE RULES AT HOTELS concerning pet stays. Recognize that you may have to pay fees when bringing pets into a hotel. Bring along your petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food and water, as unfamiliar foods or water from unfamiliar dishes may cause stomach problems. Try to keep your pet quiet and be considerate of others who may not be animal lovers.

KEEP IDENTIFICATION ON YOUR PET that includes your mobile phone number should the pet get lost.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL may require a different set of procedures depending on where you are traveling. Some countries do not allow pets to visit, while others may require pets to be quarantined for a predetermined period of time before theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re allowed to travel within the country.

You also may be able to apply for a pet passport to make international travel go smoothly.

Traveling with pets can be enjoyable, and more and more pet owners are bringing their companion animals along for the ride. ~M.S.

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Continued from page 15, AIR TRAVEL

include preboarding options or the ability to wait for flights in a members-only lounge with refreshments and comfortable seating. n Upgrade your seat if you can afford it. What coach passenger hasn’t wondered what lies beyond the curtain dividing coach from first class? Are they really offering plush slippers and ice cream sundaes as a classic episode of “Seinfeld” suggests? Sitting in first class will entitle those passengers to certain perks, including more seating room and a larger assortment of refreshments.

Each airline offers first class passengers different perks. n Bring snacks along. Many airlines have reduced meal services and may no longer offer snacks, particularly on shorter flights. When traveling on such airlines, pack easy-to-transport snacks to address any hunger that may arise during the flight. When choosing snacks, try to be mindful of fellow passengers’ potential food allergies, skipping anything laden with peanuts or tree nuts. n Pack earbuds or sound-reducing headphones. Airlines typically charge extra for headsets for in-flight movies or other entertainment features. Bring your own along and make sure you have the correct jack connection to fit in the seat console. Your own headphones will likely be more comfortable and even more soundproof than those provided by the airline. n Put extra clothes in a carry-on. No one wants to imagine their luggage will get lost or delayed, but luggage can be misplaced. Rather than finding yourself with a carry-on filled with only snacks and identification, be sure to bring at least one change of clothes so you will have an emergency outfit to use should your luggage be misplaced. n Take your time heading to the baggage carousel. Many passengers rush off of the plane and dash to the baggage carousel to await their luggage.

This creates a crowd of people and does not necessarily guarantee that luggage will be removed from the airplane in a timely manner. Wait for the crowd to disperse a little, and you may have an easier time spotting your luggage.

Travelers can make a flight and the process of flying more enjoyable and more convenient in a number of ways. ~M.S.

Tips of Travel: Liftoff with kids in tow

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any people enjoy traveling. The opportunity to spend free time experiencing other cultures or visiting faraway lands appeals to many people’s inquisitive and adventurous natures, and it’s no wonder retirees often devote so much time traveling the world.

Yet traveling as a carefree retiree and traveling as a parent to young children are two entirely different things; and parents’ love of travel is often put to the test when the kids are in tow. But traveling with kids doesn’t have to be a logistical nightmare. The following are a few travel tips for parents about to go on vacation with their little ones: CHECK YOUR FLIGHT STATUS. Flights are commonly rescheduled, which can be inconvenient for adult travelers who don’t have a couple of kids tagging along. For parents, though, extra time waiting at the airport with kids can be stressful and tough to handle. Before leaving the house, check your flight status to ensure you won’t be spending extra time sitting and waiting at the airport and looking for things to quell your child’s boredom.

When booking the flight, sign up for flight updates that are sent directly to your mobile phone. These will keep you posted and save you the hassle of going online and checking your flight status every few hours.

and bring on board in advance of their flight.

Sterilized water, for instance, might be acceptable to bring on board, but the airline might insist that it be stored in a baby bottle.

Contact the airline a few days before you plan to pack to learn the company’s guidelines. Different airlines might have slightly different guidelines.

EXPLORE THE AIRPORT. Depending on if you will be flying a domestic or international flight, you might be spending a considerable amount of time waiting to board or even dealing with a layover. These waiting periods and layovers are boring for adults and kids alike, so use the airport to your advantage and go exploring. Kids are often fascinated by airplanes, so take them to gates or terminals where flights are about to depart.

SEPARATE KIDS ON THE PLANE. If you have two or more children in tow, avoid seating them next to one another on the plane.

This can lead to spats that will almost certainly upset your fellow passengers. Let Mom sit with one child and Dad with another, and give kids the window seat so they can entertain themselves by looking out the window when the plane is in flight.

CHECK IN AHEAD OF TIME. Many airlines allow passengers to check in ahead of time, typically within 24 to 36 hours of the flight’s scheduled departure. When kids are coming along, the less time you spend in line at the airport the better, and checking in ahead of time can save you from waiting in long check-in lines at the airport.

BRING YOUR OWN ENTERTAINMENT. Kids are going to get bored on the flight, so be sure they have plenty to do while in the air. Bring along a tablet with video capability to keep kids occupied with a movie or television show. This will help reduce the restlessness and boredom they’re likely to feel in the air. Or buy kids a new book or magazine at the airport so they have something new to occupy their time until the plane lands.

CONFIRM WHAT YOU’RE ALLOWED TO BRING ON BOARD. Parents of very young children, be it infants or toddlers, should confirm what they’re allowed to pack

Traveling with children is seldom easy. But a few tricks of the trade can make the trip go more smoothly.

~M.S. FEBRUARY 2017

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