Booking Your Flight

• Planet Wise can advise you on which are the safest airlines
  
• The cheapest airfares can be found on the Internet although you will need a credit card and a lot of patience
  
• Think about what time your flight gets in. Do you want to arrive in the middle of the night?
  
• Have your accommodation and transport arranged before you leave
  
• Check different routes and find out how far your airport is from the city or destination you are visiting

Check in

• Now often 3 hours before your flight for international flights and 60-90mins for domestic. (With the amount of security now leave yourself enough time so the plane leaves with you on it!)
  
• Airlines may overbook flights assuming that not everyone will arrive. If all passengers arrive volunteers will be asked to give up their seats. If there are no volunteers the airline chooses who will be denied boarding. This is usually the last to board and those with budget tickets.
  
• You will need photo ID even for domestic flights.
  
• Regular flyers can get to choose where they sit

Safety

• Fly on Non-stop Routings, most accidents occur during take off, climb, descent and landing.
  
• Travel in larger aircraft. Aircraft that carry more than 30 passengers have the strictest regulations. Also, in the event of a serious accident, larger aircraft have better passenger survival rates.
  
• Do what the flight attendants request… ask questions later.
  
• Keep your seat belt fastened.

DVT

• DVT (deep vein thrombosis) occurs when the blood solidifies, producing a clot within a major vein, usually in the legs or pelvis.
  
• You are more at risk if you are over 40, smoke, on the pill, overweight or recently undergone major surgery.
  
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they dehydrate. (Dehydration causes the blood to thicken, which can increase the chance of it clotting.) Drink as much water as you can.
  
• Move as much as possible. You are most at risk when stationary or in cramped conditions for long periods of time. Walk around the plane, bend and stretch and when seated circle your ankles and rock your feet back and forth.