Guaranteed on Board program gives pet owners peace of mind

by Katie Hammel on

Passengers flying with their pets have always had a rough time navigating the tricky rules surrounding pet carriers. And many have been frustrated to find that carriers that they thought were approved for travel in the plane’s cabin were deemed unsuitable by gate agents. When that happens, many pet owners find themselves out of luck – unable to board the plane, but not eligible for a refund on the flight.

To help, the Sherpa pet carrier company has teamed up with eight pet-friendly airlines to offer the “Guaranteed on Board” program, a sort of insurance policy for those traveling with their pets. The GOB website details the sizes and types of carriers allowed on each airline. Passengers who purchase an approved carrier can go online to register it (after making arrangements to bring the pet on board directly with the airline they are flying) print out the Guaranteed on Board certificate and bring it with them to the airport. If they are then refused boarding by an airline official due to the carrier, the program will reimburse them for the cost of the missed flight.

Airlines participating in the program include American, Midwest AirTran, Continental, Northwest, Delta, Southwest, and Alaska. American and Delta have even designed their own bags, which they sell on the Sherpa website. If your pet can’t fly on its own airline, at least you can have some assurance that your carrier will be up to spec, or you’ll get your money back for being bumped off a flight.

The adoption travel experience

by Brenda Yun on

Several of my close friends and family members were adopted, adopted a child, or are in the process of adopting a child from Asia. In fact, my sister is months away from traveling to China to pick up her daughter, and our very own Gadling writer, Jamie Rhein has a daughter adopted from Vietnam. While China, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India are just a few of the popular adoption locales these days, there are several others popping up all over the globe.

The adoption travel trip is like no other you will ever experience in your life. It’s is the first step in documenting your adoptive child’s journey with you. It’s something s/he will not likely remember, so taking photos, and recording the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of his/her birthplace is a most important step in the process.
Certainly, a lot of preparation has to take place before you even step foot on foreign soil. (Sometimes the adoption application process can take up to two years!). However, so much goes on during and after the trip, that it’s important to consider your adoption travel experience in three distinctive parts:

BEFORE

  • Consider your health: Just as you would prepare for an ordinary trip abroad, you will need to understand the health risks involved in traveling abroad. Odds are you are traveling to a third world country where diseases like malaria and dengue fever can be contracted. Be sure to take the necessary precautions (i.e. take those preventative shots) and stock up on the necessary medications.
  • Get travel insurance: This is an important trip, and you don’t want it to be bogged down by lost baggage or flight cancellations. Nowadays, travel insurance can cost as little as $100 a month, so it’s worth the peace of mind.
  • Pack light: Don’t burden yourself with excess baggage. Necessities like diapers and clothes are attainable and often cheaper upon arrival in your destination.

DURING

  • Document and record every moment: Take photos, keep a journal, and pay attention to even the smallest details of your experience. This is really the symbolic birthplace of your new child, so capturing as many memories as you can is crucial.
  • Allow time for adaptation: You will not be jetting over to this country just to jet back. It’s important to take the time that is necessary to allow your new child to adapt to his/her parents and surroundings. Sightseeing is a great experience for both you and the child, as well as simple human interaction.

AFTER

  • Take your time: Patience is a virtue most necessary for adoptive parents. Your new child will need even more time to get used to his/her new national soil and the different faces that make up his/her new family. Go slow in immersing him/her into the new pace and style of life.
  • Visit the pediatrician: This is a necessary step in identifying just how healthy your new child is. Measures may need to be taken to ensure his/her stability and health upon arrival home, so make sure this initial trip to the doctor is thorough and extensive, yet comfortable and informative.
  • Return to the birth country when the time is right: At some point, your fully adapted child will need to understand where s/he came from. If possible, make the trip with your child when s/he is able to document the experience for him/herself.

Adoption regulations change depending upon diplomatic relationships between countries. Be sure to find out the newest regulations before you embark on this journey, and be prepared that things might change. Sometimes adoptions are halted between the U.S. and another country.

Also, be advised that some countries suggest or require multiple trips before the real adoption takes place. If this is the case, the initial trip is a unique opportunity to explore the country, document, and record before you become a parent. Enjoy this special journey!

The following are some helpful sites with useful adoption travel tips and stories:

Taking your gadgets on a trip? Document everything!

by Scott Carmichael on

If you plan to take any of your valuables with you on a trip, it might be a good idea to create a file with of all the serial numbers, dates of purchase and prices of the items you are carrying.

Once you finish packing, it’s not unlikely that you are carrying over $2000 worth of equipment. Even the lowest tech traveler can easily reach $1000 with just a mobile phone, digital camera and iPod.

In my case, I simply made an Excel sheet and documented the item name, place of purchase, date of purchase, method of payment and the purchase price. I then add a photo of the item including a photo of the receipt and serial number.

When you are entering your belongings into the file, don’t forget to include anything else of value, including your luggage, any expensive toiletries, jewelry and even clothes.

Once you are done creating the list, print it out and save it in a safe place. When I travel, I carry the file on a small USB memory key, as well as a printed version in my carry-on. If all else fails, I even have a version stored online.

If disaster strikes, and you need to make a claim for lost items, you’ll be able to access your nifty spreadsheet and won’t have to worry about forgetting anything. Keeping track of your payment method could also help file a claim if you made the purchase using a credit card with damage/loss protection (like some American Express cards).

Another, often overlooked advantage is that you’ll be able to provide evidence if you get stopped at the customs line when you arrive back home. Customs officials are often on the lookout for people bringing high priced items back into the country. Of course, with the current US exchange rate, buying expensive electronics overseas is no longer very appealing.

10 Things Travel Insurance Won’t Cover

by Martha Edwards on

I’m a bit of a spaz when it comes to travel insurance. Which means, basically, that I’m always covered. Though I don’t do crazy things like bungee jump or swim in the ocean further than my feet can touch, I’m always worried that this is going to be the trip where I randomly fall out of a cab onto a busy street and wind up with a broken clavicle and it’s all down to a suspiciously missing metal piece in the door the size of a hairpin. Call it my mother’s influence. Call it getting older. Call it what it is: Paranoia. But whatever you call it, I aim to be covered, one way or another.

There are lots of people out there, like me, who depend on travel insurance for peace of mind. And it’s great to have that sense of assurance, but don’t be fooled into thinking that travel insurance covers every mishap you might have. Here’s a list of the top 10 things it doesn’t cover:

  1. Your tour cancels on you: Sure, you’re covered in case you have to cancel, but what if they cancel and leave you high and dry? Sorry — you might be out of luck
  2. Acts of War or Protests: A good reason to stick to a destination that’s not too tumultuous.
  3. Pre-existing medical conditions: If you had a medical condition before you left, whether you knew about it or not, and it acts up on the trip, you might not be covered. Get checked out and be upfront about your illnesses.
  4. Baggage Delays of less than 24 hours: Bring your toiletries and a change of clothes in your carry-on because you’ll only get money if your bag’s missing for more than 24 hours.
  5. Death of Pet: You can cancel your trip if Granny dies, but you’re outta luck if Rover heads to doggy heaven
  6. Loss/Damage to keys, documents, etc: Read the fine print to find out what is NOT included in the baggage or personal property claims
  7. Sports Injuries: If you break your leg mountain climbing, you might be footing the bill yourself
  8. Pregnancy and Childbirth: Check the fine print — some aspects of childbearing complications might not be covered.
  9. Psychological Illness: Paying out of your pocket for your trip after you have to cancel because of a nervous breakdown will only make things worse. If you have a history of mental illness, get the facts before you book.
  10. Divorce: If you divorce or separate before your trip, you might end up travelling together anyway — most insurance companies won’t let you cancel without a penalty.

Via Airfare Watchdog

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of November 12

by Adrienne Wilson on

Settle down and settle in as I take you on a spin of our five favorite’s from the week that was… You’ll love it – I promise!

5. MTV Launches Travel Guidebook Series:
My MTV days are just about over and done, but the memories will last forever. (Not that I did any of the crazy stuff you see on the network these days.) If you’re off to Ireland and looking for some place hip, spunky, spanky, no, no, spunky and cool with more pubs than humanly possible to crawl you may want to check out this blurb from Neil.

4. Travel Insurance for the Over-65:
There are two peak times in one’s life when the opportunity to travel should be seized; in youth and old-age. During each time frame there are many things to consider before taking off into the wilderness. One of the most important is travel insurance and while you may only need it in your young age to cover really silly and naive mishaps, it’s a little different in your golden years. See what Iva found about the situation for the over 65 and start planning ahead if you don’t think they’ll be giving you a break to take a break.

3. Procreation Vacations:
We’ve talked about ‘Babymooning’ and heading out on vaca to go half on a new baby boy or baby girl, but surely it is time to think about it again. Why? Because it’s getting colder. Because the holidays are coming. Because babies are just too darn cute not to have! You decide and if you think your clock is ticking maybe it’s time for a moonlit stroll on the sandy shores of Tonga.

2. Craig Duff Blogs from Egypt:
Gadling is a travel blog and we point to other travel blogs that we like from time to time. Erik points us to his pal who blogs from Egypt. Craig is his pal and all, I’m sure, but as an outsider and unbiased set of eyes reading I’d say it’s swell. Go check it out if you need info or fuel to get your own travels to Egypt going.

1. Surfing Alaska:
Can’t say that I’ve been to Alaska or that I’ve been surfing and I can’t say that I wouldn’t try it out, but this isn’t about me. This is about an article found in Outside mag on surfers who do brave the icy waters and their experiences. If you can’t take the cold get off the board. Yuk,yuk, yuk….