Bumped from a Flight? Make the Most of Your Time
By Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel
 
Sometimes all the planning in the world can be done and yet it’s not going as you planned. Did you get bumped from a flight? You can try to make the most of it, call us for ideas on how you can plan for those unplanned occasions.

What Happened?
Easy, those pesky airlines overbooked your flight. What does this mean to you, you won’t get on the plane. They do this to avoid empty seats. They are gambling that roughly 10-20% of those booked travelers won’t show up, have a connecting plane delay, etc. Or, someone who’s been bumped or is on stand-by for the exact flight is waiting at the desk to board, their only goal is to jump into your seat and leave you (stranded) at the airport.

What’ a voluntary bumping?
When the airline offers you money, hotel room, cash incentive or future flight credits, to get you to not fly and give up your seat. This is their way of negotiating with those whose schedules may be flexible.

What’s involuntary bumping or denied bumping?
​This happens when the airline cannot get any volunteers to take another flight. Now the Department of Transportation has been recently promoting changes to the compensation prices. If you stand your ground and they can’t get volunteers the extreme bartering takes place. They won’t hold the plane for you, they’re counting on you missing that flight.

This past spring my son and I found ourselves in this EXACT situation with Southwest Airlines!!! Grrr! We ran like hell, rounded the corner from TSA and sped to our gate, only to see our plane backing up and the doors closing for good. We had missed the flight by 1 minute! JUST 1 MINUTE! Immediately my Travel Consultant skills kicked into action as I tried to negotiate the plane being turned around (Yeah…I actually thought it was possible for me to accomplish this HUGE Feat). So…when this failed…we were reluctantly placed on stand by. Stand-by after stand-by meant an Entire Full Day spent at the Fort Lauderdale Airport…waiting on a plane! Well, after the last plane departed for Raleigh at 8 p.m. and we weren’t on board…this exhausted and stressed mom broke down in tears at the terminal (yeah….I really did!). The Southwest airlines representatives gave us the name of the nearest hotel and promptly booked us on the next early a.m. flight for 6 a.m. Dang! Wish they could have done so earlier in the day.

So who’s fault was it? As I battled (firmly) that we had arrived to the airport 90 days prior (slightly give or take), waiting to get our bags checked in and then waited forever at TSA- Southwest would not budge. Surely they saw we had checked-in and were on the way…couldn’t they have waited 1 minute for us?!? When I gently informed the TSA rep that our flight was leaving in about 10 minutes and could we please, pretty please jump ahead…he assured us we’d make our flight and to wait right where we were, in line. Well, we didn’t make it! This was the incredibly frustrating part, my not being able to control the outcome-much as I tried to do so.
 
So how do you make the most of your time:
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We did so a bit creatively. We spent the larger portion of the entire day together (which, if you have a teenager, is a true blessing in disguise). We ate a super high priced “gourmet burger” and fries with a coke for about $40 at the airport at one of those “to go” restaurants. We ate dinner together at the local Denny’s (his first Denny’s experience and I bet NOT his last). We stayed in a noisy airport hotel and then got up early, early, early to board a plan…finally headed home- paying for an Uber ride at 4 a.m. to the airport!
 
Life as a travel consultant, never fails to be an interesting journey (even for a fairly seasoned traveler, such as myself). But what I’m most interested in, is helping you plan Your Next Amazing Vacation. Why? Because You deserve it!

There’s an App for That!
By Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel
 
So, I have been wondering, how many apps do you have on your phone? Just yesterday I deleted 3 apps I wasn’t using, because the storage was getting full on it. I counted and right now I have exactly 32 apps on my phone. Say What? WOWSA- that’s a lot for me. Some I hardly use…so every so often, I decide to delete some to save the storage.

Some of my favorites include Facebook (what better way to keep up with friends and family), LinkedIn and Instagram…just to name a few.
One of the cool apps for travel would be Lounge Buddy- which tells you which airports have the best lounges. If you don’t have the frequent flyer numbers to get in, some will allow you to pay a small fee to use their service while at the airport.

So, here we have a few strange ones that I needed to blog about, why? Cause they’re hilarious!

Sit or Squat- Are you kidding me? Where’s the closest Bathroom! Sit or Squat lists thousands of restrooms all over the world! Wow!! It’s no wonder that Charmin has developed the app. But, don’t post reviews like some other users did…as most involved “Number 2” and apparently they’ve grown tired of the poop jokes! Lol!!

Lobby Friend- This one allows you to meet up with others staying in your hotel. Woah! To me, this one is just super weird. Guess cause I’m a female and couldn’t imagine meeting a complete stranger at the bar downstairs in the lobby area! But hey, you might like that!

Sunscreen- For only $1.29, this UVI app will detect your current location, it will set a countdown timer to alert you when it’s time to slather yourself up for more sunblock. That way you can sit back, relax and soak up the rays without and worries.
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To bad there’s not an app for when you take a long overnight flight, so you can sleep like a baby, have an actual shower and a nice, hot breakfast in the morning before you land….oh wait…there is such a thing…it’s called Emirates First Class!

Life Changing Travels- Part II
By Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel

Life Changing or "Transformational Travel” is not merely a break from the day-to-day routine, it is a truly life changing experience.
 
It’s that unique, inspiring vacation/trip that will impact You for the rest of your life! One that changes your own perceptions, perspectives, attitudes, and perhaps even your behaviors. Your time will be spent learning first-hand about the people and land. Most your times might involve an intimate, personal settings. Visiting (even staying) with the locals and understanding what it’s like to live there is a large part of the journey. You may see and learn more than anything that’s been found on the pages of a history book or in a classroom setting. Your life may just change during the process! Your opinion about yourself and the world we live in, may alter you in positive ways (we hope). Wherever you go and whoever you meet, helps you make better decisions. You truly feel the country and begin to truly become a real part of it. Many of these transformative traveling experiences could look like activities you want to see or sights you want to visit. However, its important to immerse yourself completely amongst the local culture to become fully educated about their lifestyle and land.
 
When I spent a year as an Exchange Student to Germany (while in high school) I was exposed daily to the lifestyle of Germans. I learned the study habits of students around me (hyper focused, sports and extracurricular activities took last place in their lives), school and grades were the TOP Priority. The food was amazing and daily meals were enjoyed together. The main meal was at lunchtime, and when (if) there was dinner, it was a simple meal, such as a ham and cheese sandwich, light snack, or no meal at all. And then there were the locations I visited…imagine being one of few people who had the honor of tearing down the Berlin Wall when it fell in 1989 (yes that was me- I was there)!! And I learned the impeccable work habits of Germans (always striving for perfection) always working hard until the task is thoroughly completed- and completed well. This has helped me form positive working habits that I’ll keep for a lifetime.
 
When I left Germany after that year abroad, I was very fluent in German, dressed German, and Yes- I even acted German! Going “home” was hard to adjust the first few weeks. Since then, I have been back about half a dozen times, and to this day…it still feels like going HOME to me! One day, one of my dreams, is to again live and work in Germany for at least 2-3 years. I truly hope I can one day (soon) make this a reality for me.

Yes! You can say that travel changed me for the better. These experiences made me a better person and I am so thankful and feel super blessed to have had this opportunity.
 
What life changing vacations, or transformative travel have you experienced?

5 Travel Tips to Save You Money While Traveling!
Written by Jen Campbell of Escape Destinations Travel

It’s so very fun to splurge from time to time, especially when you’re on vacation. However, the following “extras” are actually huge rip-offs that may not be worth it in the end.
 
1. Save Your Money- Don’t get Charged for Excess Baggage-
Most of the time, you won’t wear everything that you pack anyway. When you’re preparing to leave for sweet vacation, you may think that you need 4 outfits for every day. In truth, though, most of your clothing will go un-worn and you’ll pay high fees for extra luggage. If you can wash your clothing at your hotel, this will help you pack less.

2. Never Enter Unmarked Cabs-
Never, ever get into an unmarked cab. On top of being a rip-off, they’re also not safe. Unmarked cabs are infamous for charging extra high rates, taking longer-than-necessary routes, and giving you the wrong change back. Try to travel in pairs, avoid going alone in a cab ride, if possible.
 
3. Avoid “Tourist Traps” when Dining-
When traveling, eat like a local instead of like a tourist. Tourist-heavy areas come with high prices. Talk to the locals to find out where the best restaurants and eateries are that offer a bit of a local flair. Ask your hotel representative or concierge when checking into your hotel.
 
4. High Taxes on Alcohol-
Some countries carry extremely high tax on alcohol, which is a good reason to skip over those super cocktails when dining out. One drink can cost more than $15 (watch out on the cruise ships too- for these pricy drinks are there as well)! To keep costs down, try to stick with water (if it’s safe depending upon which country you are in) or order a virgin drink. I personally suggest a smoothie or fruit juice which will keep you healthy and full of energy while you are traveling and seeing the world!
 
5. Avoid Pricy Hotel Rooms in Major Cities-
By staying smack in the center of an exciting, thriving bigger city, you’ll likely pay big bucks for a tiny room. Instead, consider staying just a few short blocks away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds or on the outskirt of the city. Lodging rates will likely go down and room space will possibly expand.
 
Save your money for those “must see” places while you’re traveling. And Always remember that sometimes a travel “detour” or delay can be a fun memory in the making! HAVE FUN OUT THERE!!

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