I fly a lot and am considered a master beyond my years by industry experts in corporate travel. I have flown so much that I have received Christmas gifts from the major airlines. One time when I was taking a couple of months off and trying to stay home more I actually received calls from the airlines asking where I was and if everything was alright. That is too much. That is too much because of the wear and tear it places on your body and family life but also because of the dent it places in your wallet. I have found a method of correcting those issues, at least the expense part anyway.

I received a phone call from a man asking if he could have the honor of booking my next set of travel arrangements for me. During a short interview he asked me where I typically went, how often I traveled, where I liked to sit on airplanes, which airlines I preferred, how much I was typically spending per flight to different locations, what hotel accommodations I liked to have I stayed in needed to have for me to be happy, what size and type of rental cars I preferred, all about my frequent traveler programs and away he went. I tucked it in the back of my mind and forgot about it.

Within a few days I had a need to book a trip. I sent a quick e-mail to him letting him know the specifics about the trip and gave him a few hours to go to work. In the meantime I also began to look to see what I would be able to book on my own. After spending about 45 minutes of my time I had a held itinerary for a flight, rental car and hotel room. The reservations were made all with my regular frequent flier and member numbers and all discounts were applied. The entire 3 day travel itinerary was budgeted at $1,620.00 for air fare, rental car and a hotel stay.

I received an e-mail a couple of hours later telling me that I could save $200 off of my flight if I would be willing to make one-stop (I wasn’t), $30 a day off my rental car if I would use a different company (I would gladly for a $90 savings) and that a nice upgrade over my original lodging plans would cost me $69 per night and not $199 per night (a savings of $130 per night and $420 for the trip). I fell in love with salesperson who had taken the time to get in touch with me a week ago. He had just saved me $510.

Our department participates in a margin sharing plan that rewards our team of sales people for the margin that we bring in. Travel has been a sore spot for the corporation and the department as the expenses have gone up for travel and we have struggled with ways to cut back. We sell a product that is almost impossible to sell over the phone, typically requiring a couple of multiple day visits on-site to get a new project started. The next call I made was to our CFO to let her know about how we can all save money on our corporate travel. I sent the person who contacted me originally a personal thank you note.

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Every year, several thousand people die or get injured in airline accidents. Traveling on a commercial airline is not as safe as you would like to believe. On average 1,000 to 2,000 people die, and roughly 2,000 to 5,000 are injured every year since the 1930’s, as regular as clockwork.

Airline accidents are now so common that they usually don’t make headline news, and many ‘minor’ incidents involving just one or two fatalities and injuries usually go unreported in the press. Unless you have personal experience of an airline accident, you can easily go through life thinking that they virtually never occur.

One astonishing fact is that ninety four percent of plane accidents happen on take off and landing, accounting for about 88 percent of fatalities (figures for injuries are generally not recorded). The other four percent of plane accidents happen while the plane is cruising, accounting for about 12 percent of fatalities. The source for this is the ‘Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents, Boeing’.

But another even more astonishing fact is that pilot and flight crew error account for over 60% of all airline calamities. And remember that here we are talking about regular commercial airlines, without including private planes, military aircraft, etc. Source: information compiled by the website Air Crash Info.

Air crash statistics first started to be collected in the 1930’s. Since then the rate of airline accidents and fatalities has been surprisingly steady. That is, the percentage of accidents and deaths is on average about the same, year on year. So in spite of great aviation advances, the rate of accidents and fatalities per hundred flights continues unabated.

What then are the chances of an airline passenger becoming involved in a serious plane crash? Figures going back to 1988 (OAG Back Aviation Solutions & Plane Crash Info accident database, 1988 – 2007) show the following:

The odds of being on an airline flight which results in at least one fatality is about 1 in 3.3 million. This assumes that you travel on a mix of different airlines (not just the airlines with the safest records). Worse still is that many of these plane accidents (about 1 in 4) produces a mix of people who die and people who survive, albeit injured. Such injuries are often life-long (and life destroying).

Comparison with car crashes is difficult because statistics vary wildly from country to country. In the USA, for example, there are 6 million car accidents every year which produce about 40,000 deaths a year.

It has been estimated that when you compare numbers of journeys (rather than mileage) you are 12 times more likely to be involved in a fatal plane incident compared to a fatal car incident. In other words, air travel is much less safer than car travel (source: ‘Air Travel Safety Secrets’).

You might well ask: is there anything one can do to avoid or minimize the risk of injury and death when you fly? Fortunately, the answer is a firm yes. There are some simple things that an airline passenger can do to greatly increase the chances of surviving an airline calamity without injury. Please see below for more information.

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The processes of all animals and plants follow a 24-hour rhythm called body clock. This is our personal synchronization with the daylight-darkness cycle. When you travel in an airplane crossing time zones, say from New York to Houston, your body clock cannot adjust itself quickly enough. Your will lose sync with the new daylight-darkness cycle of where you left (NY) and does not recover quickly for the place that you are going (Houston). This causes a condition of disorientation called jet lag.

A person experiencing jet lag can feel cranky, mildly depressed, as well as forgetful. The person may find it difficult to concentrate, may suffer a loss of appetite and may suffer from disturbed sleep pattern. The may become dehydrated and get swollen feet.

Jet lag is not caused by the actual time in the air spent but crossing time zones. A journey from Frankfurt to New York is likely to cause jet lag but a journey from Frankfurt to Johannesburg will not. These two cities, Frankfurt and Johannesburg, lie within the same time zone. The length of time in an airplane is sure to cause discomfiture mostly because you are sitting in a little seat in the same cramped position for a long time but not necessarily jet lag.

Of course not everyone gets jet lagged to the same extent. Generally older persons are found to suffer less from jet lag as compared to younger ones. Moreover, it is found that women in the reproductive age group are more susceptible to suffer from jet lag. It depends to a large extent on the personal physiological adjustability of each individual person. People who know they normally get jet lagged can take some precautions to avoid severity of discomfort from jet lag.

Prior to your flight get a good night’s sleep. Avoid embarking on the journey under strain; try to spend some relaxed time prior to the flight. Drink alcohol in moderation on the aircraft and, as always, DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. (Aren’t you tired of hearing that?) Get some light exercise such as walking up and down the aisle and a little stretching will help. Remove your shoes and try to stretch your feet, wiggle your toes some.

Some people suggest taking sleeping pills to get over jet lag; but be advised that it may cause rather unpleasant consequences. There are many “anti jet lag” preparations on market but you should observe caution before using them. Anti jet lag diets are available; but apart from their doubtful efficacy, following such a diet for a few days before and after journey strictly could be quite cumbersome. There is an OTC (over the counter) homeopathic drug available which is said to be effective; being homeopathic medicine it may be free of side effects.

Melatonin is an anti jet lag drug available OTC except in places such as UK where it has been completely banned. You have to start taking it at specific times for a number of days starting with a few days prior to the journey. Its anti jet lag claims, however, are not really supported by research and on the contrary it may lead to worsening of the jet lag symptoms. In UK it has been banned.

Some people may feel a jet lag condition for many days after their flight. It is suggested by medical experts that a reasonable rate of recovery from jet lag at the rate of “one day per time zone. To get a quick recovery from jet lag after you arrive at your destination rest well, relax, eat sensibly and exercise in moderation. This does not sound like the recipe for a fun vacation but try to have fun anyway. Bon voyage!

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With more and more economy flights becoming available incredibly often increasing numbers of us are taking up the bargains. However a great many of us are either cat lovers or dog lovers but not so many of us consider taking our pets on such flights but it looks like the demand for pet air travel is increasing .

Pet Air Travel and the Rules and Regulations

Years ago it used to be the case that a few airlines would permit people to travel with their pet held on the knee . Sadly this is now rarely allowed due to more security regulations being imposed by governments and airlines . Another deciding factor for the alterations pet air travel was the fact that small animals and pets are dangerously unpredictable and problematic to control and, sometimes the actions of a pet caused problems during flights. Today pets and small animals are carried in the cargo hold of the plane .

Although restricted to the cargo hold it is occasionally allowed that passengers can monitor the moving of the small animal or pet on and off the plane . If you want this then it is immensely important that this is arranged at the time of booking your flight just to ensure that the airline agrees with the arrangement.

Other Important Considerations

1. The Pet Box

Just like us our pets needs to travel in both safety and comfort and most of this is effected by the choice of pet container used or hired. The most important things to decide upon are the weight, type and size of the pet carrier which will, obviously depend upon the size, type and weight of the pet. There should be plenty surplus space to permit your pet to move freely throughout the flight.

2. Security Issues of Pet Air Travel

To ensure the safety of your pet while in the care of the airline is is of vital importance that you make certain that the pet box carries full contact details. On the exterior they should be clearly visible and contain both the destination and home address as well as emergency telephone numbers (and maybe another persons contact details). As a further safety measure you should also attach these details to somewhere inside the pet box but also remember to make sure that your animals collar is close and the identification tag is intact and completed. There is minimal risk of such an item being misplaced during a flight, especially during non-stop flights, but all flights carry some risk so every precaution possible should be taken.

If you can afford it also worth considering having your creature fitted with an electronic tag which is injected beneath the skin by a vet. As soon as you know when and where you will be flying to book an appointment with your vet (or at least call ) as he will be able to give important advice on what the requirements are when staying in another area or country. Your pet may require injections and there may be other precautions or restrictions to think about .

Forward planning is always the most intelligent option and the simple fact that you are reading this article is a clever decision . By making sure you consider the pet air travel tips in this article and by seeking further information online and from your vet, you can make certain that you pet flies securely and safely with the minimal amount of upset.

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When it comes to traveling to Spain or traveling to any foreign country, you will notice that it is just more convenient if you use a rental car. You?ll be able to find a lot of great deals when you look online and talk to your travel agent. You?ll find that when you shell out some extra money for cabs and the public transports, you?ll only be wasting your money. You could save so much when you just look into renting a car.

You will find plenty of reasons why you should use a rental car, but how do you go about renting a car? The cost of renting a car is very affordable. You will want to think about all the money you will save by not using the trains or public transportation. You will also find that there are tons of things that you are going to want to go and see. How can you see any of it unless you rent a car? To save yourself a lot of money and heartache, you may want to consider looking for the discounts.

Of course, that means you will need to do some pre-planning and tons of research. You?ll find that the internet will provide you with all the answers; however, you?ll also be able to take your time and look at what it is that the companies are offering you. When you go online, you?ll be able to take your time and read the fine print.

There are a lot of great deals online, but you will also want to talk to your agent and see what discounts they can get you through some packages. A lot of the time if you make all of your arrangements at once you?ll be able to get tips or coupons on things like rental cars you can pick up at the Murcia airport.

When it comes to picking your car out you?ll need to consider the budget. The budget may only be big enough for a small size car, but if you go with the luxury car, you?ll be wasting a lot of money that isn?t needed. You?ll always want to go with the economical sized car, however, if you want it, it?s your choice to go with the luxury cars. Keep in mind that gas is very expensive in Spain. You will need to not only thing about what the rentals cost, but all the hidden fees, and fuel.

When renting a car, you will need to consider it to be something that you will enhance your trip. You will need to have a car that is comfortable and reliable. It?s very important that you look at the fine print so that you can see what it is that you are agreeing to.

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Here are some top notch tips on finding an ideal job in the aviation industry. What follows is a mix of tips and information about finding a well paid job in aviation, wherever you live in the world.

The aviation industry offers a wide spectrum of job opportunities ranging from lawyers, mechanics, technicians and engineers to pilots, cabin crew, ground clerical, medical and catering staff. Just about any occupation you can think of is required by the aviation industry.

Pay varies from $20,000 to $200,000 (or the equivalent in your currency), depending on the type of work. Also, you need to distinguish between military and civil aviation, and decide which option to go for.

All kinds of scientists, engineers and technicians can find well paid jobs in aviation, offering good career progression. The best first step to finding a job in aviation is to do an internet search using phrases such as “aviation jobs”, ‘civil aviation jobs’ and ‘military aviation jobs’. For example, “onlineaviationjobs.com” is a prominent website in this regard.

To increase your chances of finding the job you want, it is important to register your CV with specialist job recruitment agencies. You can best do this online and then receive automatic email notifications of work opportunities as and when they arise. Check aviation recruitment agencies such as Matchtech, Resource Group and Morson Group.

Check that as far as possible your CV is geared towards the aviation industry by using appropriate terminology. If you have no qualifications or work experience in aviation, then try at least to express your interest in aviation somewhere in your CV.

Read magazines on avionics – they are full of all sorts of information that will give you ideas for finding work and developing your career in avionics. To find magazines and publications on avionics, do an internet search for ‘avionics magazine’.

You should also check the magazines at a public library or a large magazine retailer such as a major bookstore. Spend a little money buying a few relevant magazines as they will surely provide a good insight into the airline industry in general.

Look for “aviation blogs” on internet. Visit the blogs regularly to stay informed. Also, search “airport jobs” on internet – you may be surprised at how many job opportunities exist.

Some job opportunities are not offered through agencies. So it’s a good idea to make a short list of about five large companies in aviation that you might want to work for. Then make direct contact with their human resource departments and enquire about jobs. For example, a shortlist of large aviation companies could include Airbus, Boeing, Atkins, and Altran.

If you are mainly interested in the military side of avionics see the website for ‘Avionics and Missile Solutions’. This well regarded company, based in Alabama, USA, provides ‘high quality technical engineering solutions’ to the military.

If you want to find an aviation job in another specific country there is a special way of doing a google search. This is how it works:

For instance, let’s assume you live in the USA but you want to find a job in Australia. Go to Google and enter ‘google Australia’. This will bring up the google search engine for Australia where you can do searches for aviation jobs in Australia.

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Most travelers have bought inexpensive travel luggage that literally fell apart after only a few years of traveling and vacationing. Sometimes it seems that most times in life you really only get what you pay for. It makes a lot of sense to invest in a more expensive, durable set of luggage. Quality counts in the long run, and can save you a significant amount of money by not constantly purchasing cheaply made luggage.

It makes sense to always buy wheel-equipped luggage, including your carry-on. You should make sure that the telescopic handles will lock in both low and high positions. The reason for this is that if you are a tall person, you don’t want to have to stoop just to pull your luggage along.

A few of the top-of-the-line, nineteen inch roller board, wheeled carry-ons is TravelPro’s FlightPro4. Another top brand name luggage is Tumi.

Always take luggage bungee cords with you so you can tie down and piggyback your luggage if needed.

What features should you look for when purchasing larger-sized luggage?

Soft-sided luggage is superior to hard-sided suitcases because the locks on the latter can easily break open when your luggage is unceremoniously thrown around. Luggage handlers have a well-deserved reputation when it comes to not being gentle when it comes to transferring luggage to and from airplanes to airport terminals. The luggage should be sewn with strong and durable, 1,000 denier cordura nylon or polyester. It should also have double or triple stitching as well as extra reinforcing at all stress points. Each piece of luggage should have a padded, expandable handle that will lock into both short and long handle positions. All luggage that you buy should be light-weight, expandable, and have outside pockets. Look for brightly colored luggage because it is easier to pick out as it circles endlessly around the carousel. Your luggage should have large zippers and wide, rubber, recessed wheels.

There are a number of luggage reviews that can be researched on the web at LuggageOnLine.com.

Please note that if you purchase luggage that has detachable handles or straps, it is advisable to take them off as they can easily get hung up on airport conveyer belts.

What are the features that you should you look for when buying a backpack?

Backpacks should be lightweight and feel comfortable while being worn when they are full. Gender-specific designs and built-in lumbar supports will greatly increase a person’s comfort. As well, backpacks should have a weather resistant polyurethane coating, a zip-off day pack, outside and inside pockets as well as a hip belt with pockets, and last but not least, adjustable, padded, wide straps. Their carrying capacity should be about 4,000 to 5,000 cubic inches.

A great feature of some backpacks is a light-weight steel mesh sewn inside to prevent valuable personal items from falling out if it is slashed by a robber while it is being worn.

A few of the top-of-the-line backpack brand names are ArcTeryx, REI, and GoLite.

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