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Tips on Rental Cars

Tips on Rental CarsBy Anna Lynn SibalIf you are planning to visit another city or another country, it may be more practical to rent a car rather than brave the public transportation system of the place you are going to. Just relying on the public transportation system can limit your mobility, especially when there are places where you want to go that are not covered by the public transport. Depending on the public transport so you can get around can also put undue time pressure on your gallivanting and eats away a little at the element of fun that you are supposed to have when exploring an unfamiliar place.Moreover, when you are traveling with a group and that group includes children, herding the group around through the public transport system can become a nightmare. It is possible to arrange for rental cars before you actually leave for your journey. You can do this through telephone or the Internet. But before you make your reservation with a rental car company, there may be a few things that you will need to consider before you actually reserve a car for your trip.Here are a tips for renting a car:Transmission. Do you go manual or automatic? In some countries, manual transmission is the norm, and if you are someone who relies on automatic transmission, you may need to make an early reservation.Fuel efficiency. While most rental car companies hire out fuel-efficient cars, it is best to make sure that the car you will be using is indeed fuel efficient. Otherwise, you may find your travel budget being sucked dry by fuel prices.Interior space. The interior space, the size of the seats and the legroom of some cars are not always what you think they are. In Europe, for instance, the inside of the car is often smaller than what Americans are probably used to. Therefore, always check out the size of the car you are thinking of renting before actually booking it.Storage space. What goes for interior space also goes for storage space. If you are going to bring stuff with you while you drive around the place you are visiting, choose a car with ample trunk space suitable to your needs.Extras. Never assume that the car you are renting automatically has air conditioning or stereo or GPS tracker, or whatever accessories and features you would expect from a car. Specify what features you would need if you have to.Smoking or non-smoking. Always ask for a non-smoking car. It is highly likely that the non-smoking car hired out by rental car companies are a lot newer and cleaner than smoking cars.If you travel frequently, you may want to become more loyal to one particular rental car company, although it is always best to patronize another company as backup. Just like with airlines and hotels, rental car companies always have something special to offer exclusively to their loyal customers, whether in the form of discounts or other perks.*For all your travel and rental car needs go to http://www.gottitravel.com
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Airline Baggage Policies & Pricing

Airline Baggage PoliciesThe following carriers have made changes to their checked baggage policies;

Air CanadaAirTran AirwaysAmerican AirlinesContinental AirlinesDeltaFrontierJetBlueNorthwest AirlinesUnitedUS AirwaysAir Canada:Air Canada has announced a new checked baggage policy for tickets issued on or after May 15 for travel on or after July 15, 2008. For those traveling before July 15, 2008or have booked before May 15, 2008, the baggage allowance of 2 bags per person would still apply.Under the new policy, customers who purchase tickets on Air Canada which carry a cancellation penalty, may check one bag at no charge and a second bag for a $25 service fee. The fees are assessed each way and may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.This policy applies for travel within Canada and between Canada and continental U.S. including Hawaii.Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on carrier's Web site.AirTran Airways:AirTran Airways has announced a new checked baggage policy effective May 15, 2008.Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $10 USD fee if paid through AirTran Airways' Online Check-in or $20 if paid at the airport, then $50 USD per bag thereafter. The fees are assessed each way and may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on carrier's Web site.Note: Military personnel may check one duffel/sea bag in place of a 61-inch bag.American Airlines:American Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy effective for tickets purchased on or after June 15.This policy applies for travel within the U.S. the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada.Customers may check one bag for a $15 USD fee ($30 USD round-trip) and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy, including exceptions, posted on the carrier's Web site.Back to TopContinental Airlines:Continental Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy for certain Economy fare tickets that were purchased on or after April 5 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.This policy applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on the carrier's Web site.Note: OnePass Elite members, SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members, Tickets issued on Y class of service, Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card holders, active military traveling on orders are not impacted by this policy change.Delta:Delta has announced a new checked baggage policy for domestic tickets traveling on or after May 1, 2008.This policy applies to domestic travel.Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.The fee will be charged to passengers if their itinerary includes segments after May 1 regardless of when the tickets were purchased.Note: SkyMiles Elite, and First/Business Class passengers are not impacted by this policy change.Frontier:Please be advised of the following baggage fee changes that Frontier has implemented effective Jun 10.Customers who purchase tickets for travel on or after June 10th will be charged a $25fee for a second checked bag.Customers who have already purchased tickets before that date will not be affected. Our EarlyReturns® Summit and Ascent members and active duty military personnel will be exempt from this fee.The policy for pets traveling in the aircraft cabin will be discontinued effective June 10, but all existing reservations will be honored.Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on the carrier's Web site.JetBlue:JetBlue has announced a new checked baggage policy that will take effect June 1, 2008.This new policy applies to customers traveling on/after June 1, 2008.Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $20 USD fee ($40 USD round-trip). Subsequent bags will be assessed at $50 USD per bag. The fees may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of each baggage.Northwest Airlines:Northwest Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy for those traveling within North America on or after May 5, 2008.This policy applies to tickets issued on/after March 29 for travel within North America on/after May 5.Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). For customers checking in three or more bags, the carrier will assess a fee of $100 per bag each-way. The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on Northwest Airlines' Web site.Note: Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerks® Elite customers, SkyTeam Elite customers, and those booked in first or full fare classes (Y or B) will not be impacted by this policy change.United:United has announced a new checked baggage policy for nonrefundable domestic economy tickets that were purchased on or after February 4 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.This policy applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on United's Web site.Note: Customers with Mileage Plus Premier status or greater, Star Alliance Silver status or greater, government fares, military fares, standard Award Tickets, first and business class award tickets, or first and business class upgrades granted prior to check-in are not impacted by this policy change.US Airways:US Airways has announced a new baggage policy for tickets purchased on or after February 26 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.The new policy applies to all flights within the United States, to/from Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.Click here for complete details regarding the baggage policy posted on US Airways' Web site.Note: Dividend Miles Preferred members (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Chairman’s Preferred), confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers (at time of check-in), Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members, active military personnel in uniform with ID, unaccompanied minors, or passengers checking personal assistive devices are not impacted by this change.
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