Airlines

Airline contacts and reconfirming
Baggage
Check in
Security
Meals
Frequent Flier Programs
Charter Airlines

Airline Contacts & Reconfirming

Aerlingus 1800-223-6537 www.aerlingus.com
Aeroflot 1800-340-6400 www.aeroflot.com
Aero Mexico 1800-237-6639 www.aeromexico.com
Air Canada 1888-247-2262 www.aircanada.com
Air China 1800-882-8122 www.airchina.com
Air France 1800-237-2747 www.airfrance.com
Air New Zealand 1800-262-1234 www.airnz.com
Air Pacific 1800-227-4446 www.airpacific.com
Air Tran 1800-air-tran www.airtran.com
Alaska Airlines 1800-252-7522 www.alaskaair.com
Aloha Airlines 1800-367-5250 www.alohaair.com
America West 1800-235-9292 www.americawest.com
American Airlines 800-433-7300 www.aa.com
ATA or American Trans Air 1800-225-2995 www.ata.com
British Airlines 1800-247-9297 www.britishairways.com
Cathay Pacific 1800-223-2742 www.cathaypacific.com
China Air 1800-227-5118 www.chinaair.us
China Southern 1888-338-8988 www.chinasouthernair.com
Continental 1800-525-0280 www.continentalair.com
Delta 1800-221-1212 www.delta.com
Emirates 1800-777-3999 www.emirates.com
Frontier Airlines 1800-243-6297 www.frontierairlines.com
Hawaiian Air 1800-367-5320 www.hawaiianair.com
Iceland Air 1800-227-6446 www.icelandair.com
Jet blue 1800-538-2583 www.jetblue.com
KLM 1800-225-2525 www.klm.com
Luftansa 1800-645-3880 www.luftansa-usa.com
Mexicanna 1800-531-7921 www.mexicanna.com.mx
Northwest 1800-225-2525 www.nwa.com
Qantas 1800-227-4500 www.qantas.com.au
SAS 1800-221-2350 www.sas.fi
Singapore Airlines 1800-792-3333 www.singaporeair.com
Southwest Airlines 1800-435-9792 www.southwest.com
Sun Country Airlines 1800 fly-n-sun www.suncountry.com
Swiss Air 1877-359-7947 www.swissairlines.com
Taca Airlines 1800-535-8780 www.taca.com
United Airlines 1800-241-6522 www.united.com
US Airways 1800-428-4322 www.usairways.com
Virgin Atlantic 1800-862-8621 www.virgin-atlantic.com

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Baggage

Each airline has different policies on how much baggage and the weight of bags that they will accept from each traveler. You should check individual airline websites to get the exact information on baggage allowances.

Generally most airlines allow 50 pounds per bag and 2 checked bags per person. Charter airlines are usually at 44 pounds per bag. Length, height and width (girth) of the checked bags can not exceed 62 inches. You are allowed one carry on bag or back pack that must be able to fit into the overhead bin or under the seat. Carry on can not exceed 9x14x22 girth. You will also be able to have either a purse or lap top.

You may lock bags that are traveling within the USA if you are using a TSA approved lock. These now can be purchased at most retailers. If your bags are traveling internationally from another country to USA, do not lock bags since locks will most likely be cut off.

Mark checked bags with something that is easy to identify the bag with, something bright colored works well.

Mark all bags inside and outside with name, address, phone and email.

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Check In

International Flights-Check in 3 hours prior
Domestic flights-Check in 1-2 hours prior
Charter Flights Check in 2-3 hours prior

There are many ways to check in for your flights:

1. Most major air carriers allow for checking in on line 24 hours prior to departure. Check with Bear Tracks Travel or the airline to see if this is possible. You can usually change seat assignments and print your boarding passes at home ahead of time. All you will have to do at the airport is let the sky caps take your bags and you can go right to security. Please note that for international flights, bags will have to be checked in at the counter or an eticket kiosk with a person, since sky caps can not take international bags.

2. You can also check yourself and your bags in with the sky caps, curbside at most airports. This is convenient and fast. Don't forget the tip. Recommended is $2-$3 per bag. Once you check in curbside, you can proceed to security.

3. You can use eticket check in for many airlines now at many airports. Just proceed to an eticket kiosk and follow the simple instructions for checking in.

4. If you prefer, you can check in at the airline counter at the airport with a person.

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Security

Allow plenty of time for security at airports. For holidays and Mondays and Fridays, allow extra time. These are the busiest times to travel.

You will have to show your boarding pass and your government issued photo ID to pass thru security. Names on both must match.

For a list of security procedures at US airports see www.tsa.gov (Below is some information from The Security Administration).

A MUST read for anyone traveling by air...

Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.

Before the Airport
- Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport. Read the Permitted and Prohibited Items list.
- Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.
- Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.
- Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.
- Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.
- Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.
- If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock.
- Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.
- Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

At the Airport
Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once.

- Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint:

o Mobile phones
o Keys
o Loose change
o Money clips
o PDA's (personal data assistants)
o Large amounts of jewelry
o Metal hair decorations
o Large belt buckles

- Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint.
- Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

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Meals

Many airlines within the US no longer offer meals or food on domestic flights. Some airlines have meals for purchase on board. Please have smaller bills to purchase meals, since flight attendants do not carry much change. Plan ahead…..Bring food with you or plan to purchase on board. Sometimes flights to Hawaii do not even offer free meals. Plan ahead...

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Frequent Flier Programs

Most airlines offer frequent flier programs where you can earn points for the miles you fly. These points can accumulate over time to earn you free travel. You can go to the airline web site to sign up. It’s free. Many airlines have other ways to earn points such as using their credit cards, using preferred partners such as car rental companies and hotels. Many airlines now are in alliances with each other so you can fly on one carrier and earn miles on another. Check with Bear Tracks Travel for additional information.

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Charter Flights

Ryan Air

*Reconfirm at 1-888-443-7936
*Check in 2-3 hours prior to flight. Seating is first come, first serve.
*Flights depart out of the HHH charter terminal in the Twin Cities.
*Baggage- 44 pounds each piece. Two checked bags allowed per person. First bag can not exceed 62 inches girth which is length, height and width added together. Second bag cannot exceed 55 inches girth.
*You are allowed one carry on bag or back pack that must be able to fit into the overhead bin or under the seat. Carry on can not exceed 9x14x22 girth. You will also be able to have either a purse or lap top.

Champion Airlines
*Reconfirm flights at 1-800-387-6951
*Check in 2-3 hours prior. Seating is first come, first serve.
*Flights depart out of the HHH charter terminal in the Twin Cities.
*Baggage - 44 pounds each piece. Two checked bags allowed per person. First bag can not exceed 62 inches girth which is length, height and width added together. Second bag cannot exceed 55 inches girth.
*You are allowed one carry on bag or back pack that must be able to fit into the overhead bin or under the seat. Carry on can not exceed 9x14x22 girth. You will also be able to have either a purse or lap top.

Omni Air
*Reconfirm flights at 1-877-718-8901
*Check in 2-3 hours prior. Seating is first come, first serve.
*Flights depart out of the HHH charter terminal in the Twin Cities.
*Baggage - 44 pounds each piece. Two checked bags allowed per person. First bag can not exceed 62 inches girth which is length, height and width added together. Second bag cannot exceed 55 inches girth.
*You are allowed one carry on bag or back pack that must be able to fit into the overhead bin or under the seat. Carry on can not exceed 9x14x22 girth. You will also be able to have either a purse or lap top.

Northwest Airlines charter flights
*Reconfirm flights at 1-800-441-1818
*Check in 2-3 hours prior. Northwest will pre assign seats.
*Flights depart out of the main terminal in the Twin Cities.
*Baggage - 50 pounds each piece. Two checked bags allowed per person. First and second bags can not exceed 62 inches girth which is length, height and width added together.
*You are allowed one carry on bag or back pack that must be able to fit into the overhead bin or under the seat. Carry on can not exceed 9x14x22. You will also be able to have either a purse or lap top.

Sun Country
*Reconfirm flights at 1-800-359-Fly-n-sun or 1800-359-6786
*Check in 2-3 hours prior. Seating can be pre arranged when you make your reservations with Bear Tracks Travel or on line with your booking number.
*You can check in on line 24-6 hours prior to departure by going to www.suncountry.com and putting in your confirmation number.
*Flights depart out of the HHH charter terminal in the Twin Cities.
*Baggage - 44 pounds each piece. Two checked bags allowed per person. First bag can not exceed 62 inches girth which is length, height and width added together. Second bag cannot exceed 55 inches girth.
*You are allowed one carry on bag or back pack that must be able to fit into the overhead bin or under the seat. Carry on can not exceed 9x14x22 girth. You will also be able to have either a purse or lap top.

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