Lengthy check-ins – what to advise your clients
THE crowds of travellers at
US airports are greater
than ever this North
American summer, a situation
that is compounded by the
increasingly strict security
precautions.
“TSA’s primary focus is the
current threat environment, as
the American transportation
system remains a highvalue
target for terrorists,”
says Michael England,
national spokesperson for
US Transportation Security
Administration.
Michael says the rise in
checkpoint wait times is
fuelled in part by a 7% hike in
travellers, many of them with
carry-on bags packed to or
exceeding the bag’s capacity.
“Our strong economy means
air carriers are enjoying record
travel volumes, which is
resulting in larger than normal
volumes of travellers at our
nation’s airports – some with
double-digit increases over last
summer.”
Authorities aware of the
growing discomfort of
transiting airports have
introduced measures to help.
One is the TSA Pre✓, an
expedited security screening
programme for which travellers
can pre-register. However, while
there are allied programmes
for UK, German, Dutch,
Mexican (Global Entry) and
Canadian passport holders
(Nexus), South Africans are not
included.
The TSA has accelerated
the hiring and training of
relevant staff, and boosted
overtime resources and
canine usage to manage the
high summer travel volume.
While the security body has
requested additional screening
equipment, Michael points out
that this is not necessarily an
answer, as at many airports,
terminals have already
reached capacity in terms of
screening equipment.
All round, there is a call for
travellers to arrive earlier at
airports, factoring in at least
two hours to clear security for
domestic flights. TSA advises
that an uncluttered carry-on
bag is helpful.
Similar measures have been
taken by airlines like Delta,
which codeshares with SAA
to Atlanta. “With the peak
summer travel season upon
us, Delta has implemented
a number of changes at its
US hubs to ease the journey
through the airport,” says
Jimmy Eichelgruen, sales
director for Africa, India and
the Middle East.
“We have hired additional
agents at 32 airports,
including Atlanta, to help
customers clear security more
quickly, thus reducing wait
times. Atlanta is also one
of the airports at which we
have invested in automated
passport control kiosks, which
allow eligible international
customers [US, Canadian and
eligible visa waiver programme
travellers] to submit their own
customs declaration forms
and biographical information,
helping them clear customs
more quickly,” he says.
Stay calm, be prepared!
So, what advice can the travel
consultant offer the traveller?
At the very least, there’s
the question of attitude.
“Passengers should see
this as a positive attempt to
ensure that they enjoy a safe
journey. Fortunately, the USA
visa procedures are smooth
and speedy,” says John Ridler,
PR and media manager for
Thompsons Holidays.
Trafalgar md, Theresa
Szejwallo, agrees: “There is
no point in getting angry or
upset. Rather just be well
prepared. Don’t have anything
metallic on you, take your
shoes off before you get to the
check point and don’t keep
any liquids, gels or aerosols,
besides those in approved
quantities, in your hand
luggage.”
Most basic is ensuring
documents are in order.
“Security precautions are
standard and strict at all
US Customs and make no
exceptions according to
foreign nationality,” cautions
Annemarie Lexow, sales and
marketing manager at Travel
Vision.
Durban-based Travel
Counsellor, Nicole Barrett, is
a US travel veteran, having
visited many times. “Online
check-in is so helpful for
clients. That way they don’t
have to worry about what
seats they are going to get
and are able to drop their bags
off in the bag drop queue, as
opposed to standing in the
long check-in lines,” she says.
How to beat the queues
Nicole Barrett offers her
top tips:
I usually get to the
airport about two hours
before my flight, and in
the bigger international
airports I would
recommend three hours.
Definitely have at least
three hours in between
connecting flights within
the US.
If you are travelling to
JFK in New York and
are connecting on a
Jet Blue flight, you can
use a special queue at
customs. Immediately
before you enter the
customs hall, an airport
employee hands out
orange passes and once
you’re in the customs
hall, you go directly into
the Jet Blue Airways
queue.
Many airlines flying
internally in the US don’t
include checked bags in
their fares, and can
charge as much as
US$25-$35 (R364-R510)
per checked bag.
Southwest Airlines’
baggage allowance is
two free checked bags.
Its fares are reasonable
but must be booked on
the airline’s website. Jet
Blue also has reasonably
priced fares (not standard
fares) that include
baggage. If these can’t be
found on Galileo, they’re
just as easy to book on
the Jet Blue website.
Go through your database
and note which clients
have passports under the
visa waiver programme.
Advise them in advance
– even if they have no
imminent plans to travel
to the US – to update
their passports in case of
future travel.
News Flash
Thompsons Holidays is
hosting Disney workshops
for agents. “This is the
perfect opportunity to learn
more about Disney and to
gain skills in selling the
product,” says John Ridler.
Interested agents should
diarise these dates:
Cape Town: September 13
Durban: September 14
Johannesburg: September
15 (two sessions)
East Coast vs West Coast
IT’S important for
agents sending
travellers to the US to
recognise whether their
client would be better
suited to East or West
Coast travel.
According to Travel
Vision’s Annemarie
Lexow, the East
Coast is all about big
cosmopolitan cities,
history and culture,
appealing to singles,
business travellers
and families. From
New York, the sunny
climes of Florida are a
short flight away. The
East Coast is also the
point of departure for
Caribbean cruising, with
most ships travelling
from Fort Lauderdale or
Miami.
The West Coast is about scenic
road trips, national parks and an
amazing coastline. It’s great terrain
for the nature lover and secondtime
travellers keen on self-drive,
Annemarie says.
“However we often find that clients
combine East and West Coast
destinations with Orlando – for
example, New York-WashingtonOrlando-Los
Angeles-Las Vegas,” she
comments.
For Trafalgar’s Theresa Szejwallo,
the difference between
the two coasts is
about old and new
America. “The East
Coast was colonised
by the British and the
Dutch long before the
West Coast even had
a whisper of settlers
and those in search
of their fortunes, and
it still has strong ties
to the United Kingdom
and Europe. But both
are quintessentially
American. Their foods,
traditions and identity
are strongly American.”
While the West Coast
is further away, it
affords travellers the
perfect opportunity
to visit Disneyland
and Universal Studios
and then travel in fabulous, sunny
California, says John Ridler of
Thompsons.
“Those that choose the East Coast
have the larger Walt Disney World
theme park and Universal Studios
to explore and they can then extend
their holiday in Florida.”
Travel Counsellor Nicole Barrett
points out the big difference
in the weather, with winters on
the East Coast experiencing a
lot of snow while the West is
relatively mild.
West Coast must-dos
Travellers can rent a car and travel
up Highway 1, the old coastal road,
to San Francisco via Hearst Castle,
Carmel, Monterey and Salinas,
suggests John. “Or travel south to
San Diego and even to Tijuana in
Mexico.”
In San Francisco Nicole
recommends taking a bike ride or
walking over the Golden Gate Bridge
in San Francisco. “On the other end
is Sausalito – it's very much an
Italian town. Catch the ferry back,
which costs about $10 (R146) per
person.”
Theresa says there are tours to
Alcatraz Island off San Francisco
day and night. “The night tours are
the creepiest. The tours need to be
booked weeks, sometimes months in
advance.”
Trafalgar’s San Francisco & Wine
Country Delights guided holiday is
priced from R32 300pp twin share.
A local specialist takes guests
through the Farmer’s Market and
Fisherman’s Wharf before the group
joins a second local specialist who
hosts a real Insider’s Experience of
Haight-Ashbury, letting guests walk in
the footsteps of Jimi Hendrix, Janice
Joplin and The Grateful Dead.
There are many attractions to
choose from on the Las Vegas strip,
says Nicole. She says the Mirage
Hotel has the Dolphin and Lion
Habitat where you can swim with the
dolphins.
“New York New York has a fantastic
piano bar and a rollercoaster that
goes around the whole hotel.
Stratosphere Hotel has a few thrill
rides at the top of the hotel, and one
can also bungee jump off the top as
well. Paris Hotel has the Eiffel Tower
experience and the best views of
the city.”
San Diego’s Old Town, just south
of Mission Valley is known as the
birthplace of California and teems
with a lively, authentic atmosphere,
boasting 17 museums and historic
sites, including the Whaley House,
which tops Travel Channel's
‘America’s Most Haunted’ list,”
says Annemarie. “Quaint boutiques,
colourful art galleries and festive
theatres populate Old Town. Mexican
cuisine is the speciality served in the
many cantinas.”
Annemarie also recommends
taking a trip to Yosemite National
Park in the Yosemite Valley and
explore the Mammoth Lakes. “Or
head for Santa Cruz County and look
out for elephant seals, sea otters
and grey whales. Or just watch the
people along the Santa Cruz Beach
Boardwalk.”
For an overview of the
Canyonlands, Trafalgar’s ‘Best of the
Canyonlands’ offers rugged natural
beauty, superb sunsets and the
always impressive Grand Canyon.
This eight-day guided holiday covers
Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Nevada
and includes Insider Experiences
such as the local specialist who
walks guests through the geological
life of the canyon and its formation.
East Coast must-dos
Enjoy a Broadway Show in New
York, suggests Annemarie.
“But then venture out to
the Hudson Valley and Long
Island, famous for its scenic
landscapes, golf courses and
one of the USA’s oldest wineproducing
regions. Or a bit
further north into Portland,
Maine, better known as a
foodies’ paradise with its farmto-table
dining concept.”
A recently returned client
of Nicole’s said New York’s
Chelsea market was one of
the best she had ever been to.
“You can grab some takeaway
and then do the walk over the
High Line, a public park built
on a historic freight rail line
elevated above the streets on
Manhattan’s West Side.”
When Visiting Chicago Nicole
recommends Untouchable
Tour, Chicago’s original
gangster tour where travellers
get to experience Chicago as
it was during the 1920s and
1930s.
In Boston, Nicole says The
Freedom Trail is a must-do.
“You walk the city and stop
at 16 historic sites. Going on
to Harvard campus is also a
must. At the statue of John
Harvard in Harvard Square,
take a photo holding his left
foot – it’s said to bring you
luck.”
Theresa says on Trafalgar’s
‘Great East Coast Cities’ tour
guests spend two nights in
Boston, three in the Big Apple
and two nights in Washington
DC in a discovery of the great
American cities. “Central
Park, Broadway, the Statue of
Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial
and Harvard University are on
offer, along with a huge helping
of East Coast culture.”
Travellers should not
underestimate the rich history
and scenic beauty of Georgia
and South Carolina, notes
Annemarie. “Savannah charms
visitors with its pedestrianfriendly
historic district and
the trees draped in Spanish
moss. A short drive from
Savannah is Charleston with
its meticulously preserved preCivil
War architecture.”
For Florida, John suggests
a visit to Cape Canaveral,
taking a Disney cruise or even
travelling by car to Miami and
the Florida Keys.
Top Disney experiences
NO TRIP to the US is
complete without a true
Disney experience.
TNW asked members
of the trade for their
top Disney rides and
activities. Here’s the list
of favourites:
The Haunted Mansion is
a spine-tingling journey
through a mansion with
all its ghosts and ghouls,
suited to all ages;
For thrills, Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad, an
indoor/outdoor train
roller coaster or Splash
Mountain, a water ride
with big drops, are
worth a try. The Haunted
Mansion, Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad and
Splash Mountain can all
be found at the Magic
Kingdom, Walt Disney
World Resort, Florida
and Disneyland,
California;
Project Tomorrow:
Inventing the Wonders
of the Future is a time
travel experience into
the future, with games
and interactive displays.
Located at Epcot Centre,
Walt Disney World
Resort, Florida;
The 44m-tall Tree of Life
is the iconic symbol of
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Park, with 300 animals
carved into its massive
trunk. At night it lights
up in a stunning visual
display. It is located
at Disney’s Animal
Kingdom, Florida;
At Shark Reef older kids
and adults can snorkel
over a man-made reef
among sharks and
stingrays and other
sea animals. Located
at Disney’s Typhoon
Lagoon, Walt Disney
World Resort, Florida.
Tips from the trade
Delta’s daily nonstop
flights from
Johannesburg to Atlanta
conveniently connect
to Orlando. The airline
offers 17 flights a day
from Atlanta to Orlando.
For visitors to Walt
Disney Resort in Florida,
recommend stays of five
days to a week, along
with the Park Hopper
ticket option, so that
they are not limited to
one park a day.
For clients staying longer
than a week, try to
upsell Magic Your Way
park tickets from base
tickets, to include the
addition of Water Park
entry.
At Walt Disney Resort,
the MagicBand wristband
can be used as a room
key, ticket pass and
credit card.
An advantage of staying
in the theme parks or at
affiliated Disney hotels
are shuttle transport
and the convenience
of having purchases
delivered to the client’s
hotel room.
Include a meal plan
to save your clients
money and high-season
queues.
