Tamperseal Travel Blog

Feature Friday: POM ID for luggage

Even as travel retailers begin to sell more pieces of luggage in bold colors and patterns, the bulk of suitcases on the baggage claim carousel are basic black.

Help end the cycle of cookie-cutter bags at the luggage claim by adding a pop of color that's easy to spot.  Mix and match POM ID vibrant luggage identifiers to express yourself or to represent your favorite sports team, alma mater and more.

• Easy Identification
• Color Code Family Luggage
• Use to identify children's activity bags - cheerleading, soccer, swimming, gymnastics

What to do if you get bumped from a flight

It happens to the best of us. We arrive extra early at the airport and make a smooth move through security only to find out that we've been bumped.

With airlines overselling seats and operating fewer flights, getting bumped is more likely than ever. Here are some great tips to help you realize your rights as a traveler.

• Airlines must ask for volunteers first, before bumping passengers against their will

• Passengers who are bumped against their will must be compensated

• Bumped from a domestic flight? The airline must pay the price of a one-way ticket up to $400 cash if you are rescheduled to reach your destination between one and two hours of the original arrival time. (maximum become $800 if it takes longer)

• Volunteers who have some time to spare should haggle on flights that are late afternoon/evening --the most popular with business travelers. It's smarter to start haggling closer to departure time because there is more pressure.

• Do realize that the airline is under no obligation to put bumped passengers up in a hotel, if the stay is overnight. If you are going to request a hotel stay, it's better to ask nicely and privately than start screaming at the ticket agents.

Is flying the friendly skies just a dream?

We hope not because we love to travel, and we know you do too. That's why we loved the article How Air Travel Can Be Made Less Annoying. The New York Times asks aviation experts what they would do to make traveling less of a hassle for the average Joe.

Here's what the experts have to say:

• Patrick Smith, commercial airline pilot and author of Salon.com's weekly Ask the Pilot Column:
  • Big Idea: Overhaul Security and Consolidate Flights

• Benet J. Wilson, online managing editor of McGraw-Hill's Aviation Week business aviation channel  
  • Big Idea: Your traveling experience is largely up to you    

• Brett Snyder, author of consumer air travel blog, The Cranky Flier
  • Big Idea: Don't expect too much

• Holly Hegeman, founder of planebusiness.com
  • Big Idea: Things really aren't as miserable as they seem

Travel Health Alert: Britain grappling with H1N1 virus

In light of recent reports from the ECDC announcing Britain has been the hardest hit European country by the H1N1 flu, we know that people are still traveling for business and pleasure.

The question is, what can you do to help protect yourself?

Britain, as a hub of international travel, sees visitors from all over the world and as a result has seen 11,000 confirmed cases of the flu in the country and reports of 100,000 new cases of the flu in the past week alone. There have even been 31 deaths there as a result of the pandemic.

So, what can you do to stay healthy? Here are some guidelines from the CDC:

• Cover your nose with a  mouth or tissue when you sneeze
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
  *Tip* Tamperseal recommends using travel soap sheets. They're super portable and can be used to wash your hands just about anywhere there's a few drops of water. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Stay home if you get sick

Travel Deal: Steal away to Washington, D.C.

If you're visiting the Northeast or happen to live in the Boston area, Amtrak has a deal for you.

The train service is offering 25 percent off of its Northeast regional service, which runs from Boston to Washington, D.C. The best part? You don't have to book right now. The offer is valid until Sept. 3--but tickets must be booked 14 days in advance.

The promotion comes on the heels of 100 free (and almost free) things to do list on the nation's capital's official tourism site.

Some of the highlights?

• Free live music at the National Gallery of Art
• Visit the National Zoo and its new baby panda
• For $5 get in touch with nature at Great Falls Park

Don't forget your travel essentials:

• PacSafe Adventure Day Pack
• Plenty of water, especially if your touring during the afternoon heat
• Tiny travel hand soap sheets, perfect for the little ones. Just add a splash of bottled water and you can wash your hands anywhere.

Feature Friday: PacSafe TourSafe Petite Handbag

Finally a travel security purse that doesn't look like one. It's black, petite and chic. Perfect for toting the essentials wherever you travel.

No more clunky bags. Just a sleek security purse with slim silhouette that doesn't skimp on the anti-theft features you've grown to love.

Product Details:

• eXomesh® Slashguard in lower front, lower side and bottom panels
• Slashproof adjustable shoulder strap
• Snatchproof shoulder strap allows the bag to anchor to a secure fixture
• Tamperproof zipper
• Converts from shoulder purse to an across-the-body handbag.
• 2 inner zippered pockets
• Padded electronic gadget pocket
• External rear slip pocket
• Card slots / pen holders / key clip

What you need to know about TSA's Secure Flight Program

Airline passengers might have noticed they were prompted with some more personal questions when booking flights this summer. Questions regarding gender and date of birth will  become the norm as the TSA fully integrates its Secure Flight Program.

The Secure Flight Program is a partnership program between the TSA and airlines to help enhance and create uniform terrorist watch lists.

According to the TSA: "The mission of the Secure Flight program is to enhance the security of domestic and international commercial air travel through the use of improved watch list matching."

The TSA also said in a press release that the Secure Flight Program should help reduce misidentification of passengers who might have similar names to individuals on the terrorist watch list.

The program might also impact travelers who have workers visas or have government IDs--airlines might request your name as it appears on your ID. 

Pet Airways. An airline for your pet. Seriously.

Apparently Pet Airways, the new airline for cats and dogs, is so popular that their Web site was temporarily unavailable this afternoon because of high volumes of traffic.

The airline had inaugural flights Tuesday--all I can say is with the way people love their pets, this idea sounds like a goldmine.

If you think about it, many frequent travelers would rather have a root canal than have their pet fly in the cargo bay of a jumbo jet. That's what makes this idea so genius. People treat their pets like members of their family (sometimes better than members of their family.) So, if they're willing to pay $200 to fly to New York, they'll gladly fork over $299 for Fifi to fly the Pet Airways way.

The idea for the company was born after founders Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder had to put their pet pooch Zoe in airline cargo after moving from California to Florida.

Pet Airways 101

• There are no human passengers, only "Pawsengers"
• You drop off your pet at the "Pet Lounge" located at the airport where your pooch will fly from
• They say your pets will have regular potty breaks
• Pets board the plane and a Pet attendant checks on the animals every 15 minutes
• You pick up your pet at the Pet Lounge located at its final destination

Right now, the Airline is flying to and from LA, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver and New York.

How much would you pay for Wi-Fi on a plane?

Since Boeing's failed attempt to entice frequent flyers with Wi-Fi capabilities on jets in 2006, people have been discussing whether having the service is a good idea. But forget about whether it's a good idea. Will you pay for it?

Back in 2006, travelers were asked to fork over $20 to $30 to use Wi-Fi for a few hours. Guess what? They dropped the program shortly there after. But now, improvements and lower costs of installing systems in jets have allowed airlines to charge passengers less. More like $10 for the flight.

On Delta's Blog, they announced that they hope to have more than 300 planes outfitted by the end of the summer. Of course, there was no word on how much it will cost.

Featured Product: GoToob squeezable travel tube

This week's featured product is a super smart travel size tube that can be filled with your favorite soap, sunscreen and more.

Product Details:

• Window identifies popular contents "soap, "sun" etc. tighten cap to lock
• Large opening for easy filling
• Suction cup mounts on smooth surface such as shower wall for hands free access
• TSA compliant for carry on luggage
• Holds 2 fluid oz