FYI FRIDAYS: Travel Documents Checklist

You’ve been planning your trip for what seems like forever. You’ve already checked most of the things off your packing list, and the excitement is building! But wait, maybe you should double-check that you have everything you need to head out on your all inclusive vacation. Of course you have your passport, however, what about any other documentation you may need? Choose safe rather than sorry, and take a look at our Travel Documents Checklist below to make sure that you only get stopped at the gate when someone compliments you on your shoes, haircut, or smartphone.

Are you hoping that the customs agents won’t notice that your passport expires a day before your return date? Yikes! Now head over to your nearest Passport Office and get your passport renewed before your trip

Don’t you wish a passport and bathing suit were all you needed for your tropical vacation? Sigh. In the case of travel documents, we were all created equal. Have your valid passport, booking number, and e-ticket documents ready, as well as the passport, booking number, and e-ticket documents for all persons travelling in your party

Are you cruising along the Mediterranean with your sweetheart? Awww. It’s your responsibility to determine what documentation is required for any ports of call on your cruise holiday. So if you are stopping into Athens, Greece and they are asking you for a visa, make sure you’ve got it all covered, otherwise you’re staying on the boat while everyone snaps shots of the grand Acropolis and feasts on moussaka and ouzo

Were you born outside of Canada? Be sure to check with the relative Tourist Board or Consular Office of your destination(s) for visa and any other requirements

Are you a landed immigrant in Canada? In addition to your passport and any visas you may need, bring along your Permanent Residence Card for good measure

Did your passport get soggy from that time you were kayaking on thePanama Canal? Passengers with damaged passports may be denied boarding, and you just might have to say “adios” to your tropical vacation, for now, while you replace your tattered and torn I.D.

Are you wondering if your passport needs to be valid for a specified amount of time? Tourist Boards in the countries you are visiting are pros with these questions. Be warned, however, that several countries require your passport to be valid for 6 months  to welcome you into their country

Are you a super mom or dad braving the world of single parenthood?Exercising caution is a great way to properly prepare for the challenges that may come your way when travelling with kids. Lawyers will consult you on the necessary arrangements, and it is always good to get a consent letter from the other parent, if possible. Examples of consent letters can be found on the Government of Canada travel portal

Born in Cuba? Even if you have Canadian or U.S. citizenship, make sure to get a stamped “permission” letter from the Cuban authorities before you travel to your tropical destination

How many times will my documents be checked? Ideally, you should have your documents accessible at all times to airport and airline officials. You’re on their turf, so you’ll want to follow their rules

Are you looking to your airline to help you through your “I don’t have the proper documents” conundrum? Sorry. Airlines are not going to feel your pain, and they won’t take responsibility in these cases, no matter how adorable your pout

Are you a newlywed who is eager to start using your new name? Hold up! If you haven’t yet renewed your passport with your new name, then you will have to ensure that your e-ticket still reflects your maiden name

Are you travelling with kids? Hooray! All travellers, including infants, need a valid passport, even if their tongue is sticking out and they are drooling in their passport photo. Make sure to also bring along a birth certificate with mom and dad’s name on it. Each family is unique, so each travel experience will follow suit, make sure you have all the valid documentation when travelling with your tiny tots

Is Tommy or Tanya travelling alone to meet Grandma down south, or overseas? If your tween or teen is travelling across international borders alone, it would help to enroll him/her in the Unaccompanied Minor program

Are you flying to Florida or Las Vegas? Yeah, baby! If you hold a passport other than Canadian or U.S., there are a few changes to note, since it will require you to do a little bit of legwork before you travel

Do you have a medical condition? Discuss this with a representative who will ask you to fill out a form during the vacation booking process. If necessary, you might want to ask your physician to write a “fit to travel” letter detailing your condition, prescription information, and the type of assistance you may require

Is your family throwing a big reunion in Nanaimo, B.C. this year? Passports are good to have with you, and other I.D. like a Citizenship Card, Permanent Resident Card, Driver’s Licence, Provincial Health Card, provincial or territorial Government I.D. cards (GICs), birth certificates, Canadian military I.D., a Work Permit, a Study Permit, Indian Status Card, and others can be requested for additional screening purposes

Did you lose or have your documents stolen? Stay calm. Start the replacement process immediately, and try to get temporary government-issued identification. Birth certificates can be faxed over to the air carrier. If you were unlucky enough to get your docs stolen, you’ll need to file a police report with a friendly officer

Always keep in mind that as you travel and leave your footprint in the sand of silky smooth, turquoise beaches, you learn more about other cultures, places and your place in the world. When you look back fondly at your memories and experiences in the sun, and sometimes even laugh at the mishaps, you’ll realize that all that priming and prepping was a small price to pay.

 http://blog.sunwing.ca/trip-tips/fyi-fridays-travel-documents-checklist/

Boeing Dreamliner cleared to fix battery, start flying again

The Federal Aviation Administration cleared Boeing to make fixes to the battery system of the 787 Dreamliner. That paves the way for the aircraft to start flying again.

Nearly 50 Dreamliners have been grounded for the last four months, after two fires on Japanese jets prompted the FAA to order the planes grounded on Jan. 16.

Since then, Boeing (BA, Fortune 500) has redesigned the battery system. Next week, all airlines that have the 787 aircraft will start to install the new systems with the help of special teams deployed by Boeing, said spokesman Marc Birtel. He couldn't say when the 787 Dreamliners would begin flying again.

Boeing basically revamped the internal battery components to minimize the chances of a short circuit. It also improved the insulation of the battery cells, and created a new "containment and venting" system that is supposed to prevent overheating from affecting the plane.

"Safety of the traveling public is our number one priority. These changes to the 787 battery will ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The move to approve the planes for flight has been expected. FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta predicted at a Senate hearing on Tuesday that it would happen soon.

Boeing has already completed 20 tests with the new battery technology, Huerta said during that hearing.

United Airlines (UAL, Fortune 500), which has six of the jets, is the only U.S. airline to take delivery of the Dreamliners so far. Boeing's customers are eager to get them into service, since they use lightweight composite materials that greatly improve fuel economy.

The Dreamliner has sold well in Asia and the Middle East, where airlines depend on long-range flights for much of their business, and can benefit most from the improvements in fuel economy.

The problems with the new battery technology have already prompted Boeing's European rival Airbus to revert to standard nickel-cadmium batteries in its A350 plane. The A350 had been designed to compete with the Dreamliner, and is due to make its first test flight in the middle of this year.

The approval for the battery fix comes just a few days before the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates traffic and aircraft incidents, will convene for a two-day investigation into the fires.

Boeing's shares were up 2% Friday afternoon.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/19/news/economy/boeing-dreamliner/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

U.S. to keep restriction on small knives on planes for now

The U.S. government will temporarily delay a controversial rule that would again permit passengers to carry small knives on commercial flights three days before it was due to take effect.

The Transportation Security Administration said in a statement on Monday it would consider additional input from a federal advisory committee that includes aviation-related interests, passenger advocates, and law enforcement experts before activating the new regulation.

Airline passengers had been cleared to carry knives with small blades, including some pocket knives, beginning on Thursday. The TSA did not give a new date for the policy to take effect.

Small knives were banned along with a host of other undersized sharp objects, like nail clippers, screwdrivers and cosmetic scissors, after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

Opinion: Letting knives on planes would be insane

TSA chief: Explosives are bigger threat

Critics up in arms over TSA knife policy

Al Qaeda hijackers were believed to have used box cutters to gain control of four jetliners.

TSA rules on knives, sports equipment

What a pocket knife could do on a plane

There has been a gradual easing of those prohibitions in recent years as planes hardened onboard security and the potential threats shifted from hijackings to attempts by terrorists to bring down planes with bombs.

Knives are probably the most common items surrendered by passengers at screening points, aside from liquids. About 35 knives are seen at Baltimore-Washington International Airport on an average day and about 47 per day at Los Angeles International Airport, officials said recently.

Under the plan, knives with blades that are 2.36 inches or shorter and less than a half-inch wide will be allowed in airline cabins so long as the blade is not fixed or does not lock into place.

TSA Administrator John Pistole had previously told a House Homeland Security subcommittee that his decision on permitting small knives would stand. He said it would improve screening efficiency and allow security to focus on items that pose more serious threats to aviation.

Knives on a plane? Really?

But Pistole has been under pressure from congressional lawmakers, flight crews and others concerned the change dangerously relaxed aviation security and sent the wrong message to a flying public eager for more simplicity and efficiency in passenger and bag screening.

Some of the nation's biggest carriers have also opposed the policy.

The TSA statement on Monday said the delay would enable security planners to weigh new feedback and continue workforce training.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said the temporary move is a "solid, commonsense step" toward maintaining safe skies.

"This delay acknowledges that permitting knives on planes is a bad idea; now the TSA should go the rest of the way and end this flawed policy all together," the New York Democrat said in a statement.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, also approved of the delay.

"Now TSA can go through the established process, seek input from stakeholders and consult with the (Transportation Security Officer) workforce -- so we can have a sensible security policy with stakeholder buy-in," the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee said in a statement.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/22/travel/tsa-knives-planes/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

Taxi from the airport? That'll be $300, please

 Arriving at an airport and jumping into a taxi is the preferred option for most, and a necessary expense for time-pressed business travelers. But try passing off a $300 airport to city center fare and your accounts department may like to have a chat with you when you return to the office.

That's how much the average cab ride from Tokyo's Narita airport into the city center costs, making it the world's most expensive, according to a new survey by British foreign exchange company, Moneycorp.

By comparison a single ticket on the Narita Express train to the heart of Tokyo costs $28.

Tokyo's main international airport is 66 kilometers (41 miles) from the city, explaining a large part of the expense. Despite a weakening currency, making the journey almost 10% cheaper than at the same time last year, Japan remains an expensive destination for many visitors.

Click on the map to learn how much each airport to city center taxi fare costs.

Per kilometer the taxi journey from Narita costs $4.42, but is not the priciest by distance. That dubious honor goes to Copenhagen. Despite being only 8 kilometers from the city center of the Danish capital, an average taxi fare from the airport cost $50 ($6.50 per kilometer). Geneva in Switzerland is the next most expensive fare per kilometer.

Visitors to Oslo's Gardermoen airport and Milan's Malpensa will also have to budget in high transfer costs; the Norwegian capital and Italian city costing visitors $112 and $106 respectively to reach the city center. Both cities are over 40 kilometers from the airports.

"It's interesting that some of the biggest variations in taxi costs are in mainland Europe," said Tracey Tivnan of Moneycorp in a press statement.

"For example, the taxi fare from Milan Malpensa airport to the city center will cost you more than £70 ($106). This compares to just £2.17 ($3.30) from Sofia airport to the center of Sofia."

Elsewhere, of the popular destinations surveyed, the cheapest airport taxi fares can be found in Asia. The traffic-choked ride into Delhi costing on average $4.10, and Bangkok, $8.58.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/24/travel/taxi-airport-costs/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

Stonehenge Is Looking for a General Manager

Wanted: senior management candidate for high-profile job in Wiltshire countryside. Must love rocks. Druids OK.

If you’re the sort of person who’d circle that classified ad in your newspaper, there’s a $99,000-a-year-job available with English Heritage, the conservation organization that oversees English historic buildings and monuments. They’re looking for a general manager to take charge of one of England’s most famed landmarks: Stonehenge.

But the gig involves more than just an affinity for rocks, supervising visiting druids and maintaining the Wiltshire stones’ ancient mystique.  English Heritage predicts an increase of 1.25 million visitors to Stonehenge by 2016-2017 and is looking for a senior manager who will oversee renovations of the site’s vistor’s center and exhibition galleries,  expected to be finished in December 2013, as well as the 80 staff members and more than 100 volunteers who work there, the Atlantic reports.

Stonehenge, which dates back to as early as 2,500 B.C., has never employed a general manager before — at least not in recorded history. According to the job description the organization is looking for someone ”to lead Stonehenge into a new era.” historic properties director Tim Reeve told the BBC that newfangled role is important to ensure that  ”solstice celebrations aren’t in some way compromising the mystery and integrity of the stones.”

“You could be up at the stones one minute, in outdoor garb trying to help visitors, then you can be back in a state-of-the-art visitors’ centre,” Reeve said. ”The next time you could be in a suit, representing our site.”

English Heritage is accepting applications through May 5, with preliminary interviews beginning May 15 and 16.

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/04/24/stonehenge-is-looking-for-a-general-manager/#ixzz2RQSrFp3N

5 Unfinished Landmarks Worth A Visit

Many travelers associate cities, and even countries, with their iconic landmarks, like New York City with the Statue of Liberty, Paris with the Eiffel Tower and Pisa with its famous Leaning Tower. But what about those famous landmarks that never quite made it to completion?

We've rounded up five great places around the world where you'll find "nearly famous" monuments worth visiting.

Barcelona, Spain: La Sagrada Familia

Still under construction after more than a century, The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia, which translates to Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family (see image above), is one of the most visited monuments in the country, with nearly 3 million visitors each year. Scheduled for completion sometime between 2026 and 2028 (as a best guess, anyway), the tower and cathedral was visited by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.


Edinburgh, Scotland: National Monument of Scotland

Construction began in 1826 on this memorial to honor Scottish soldiers who died during the Napoleonic Wars. Located on the top of Calton Hill, the monument was modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, but, due to lack of funding, was left unfinished. Today, the monument is nicknamed everything from "Scotland's Disgrace," to "Edinburgh's Folly."

Chiapas, Mexico: Tonina Maya Ruins
Between the fourth century and 900 A.D., this area was a bustling mecca of construction and today still serves as a major tourist attraction; however, construction stopped suddenly in the year 909. Visitors today can tour a museum and see many gruesome depictions of how the Mayans dealt with their enemies. (Ed. Note, 4/24: Please note that the ruins pictured above are in Palenque, another Mayan site.)

Bavaria, Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle
The model for Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria for Richard Wagner, but the king died in 1886 before the castle was completed. It was opened to the public afterwards and has become a major tourist attraction for the region, with more than 1.3 million people visiting annually.

South Dakota, USA: Crazy Horse 
Built in response to Mt. Rushmore, this memorial to Lakota leader Crazy Horse is the world's largest mountain sculpture. Carving began in 1948 and has been continually delayed due to lack of funds and refusal to accept government backing. Yet, it's surrounded by a museum and welcomes bus tours and more than one million visitors per year.

http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/19/five-unfinished-landmarks-worth-a-visit/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fgadling+%28Gadling%29

10 best free bar snacks in the U.S.

Stale, contaminated nuts and pretzels served in a culture dish are standard fare in most bars.

But some establishments across the country aren't only taking their countertop cuisine to new levels -- bomboloni, gougères, croque monsieur! -- they've decided to give it to patrons on the house.

Gratis bar food may be a dying tradition in some quarters, but we found a number of joints that don't care about cost or mess, opting to dry your whistle before they wet it. Here are ten of the finest, for starters. Serve us up your own favorites.

1. Crunch-fried hominy

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, Miami

While fried chicken is the star at this James Beard-recognized Southern indulgery, the crunch-fried hominy is the snack that keeps drinkers sated, free of charge.

Chef Jeff McInnis provides a menu packed with other cuisine beloved by ladies and gents who are more than picky when it comes to Southern food.

1600 Lenox Ave.; 305-538-5220; www.runchickenrun.com

2. Gougères

Gougeres at No. 9 Park in Boston

No. 9 Park, Boston

If you haven't tried a gougère, yet -- a baked savory choux pastry of dough and cheese -- it's time you started.

You can test your taste buds for free at No. 9 Park in Boston They're so good you'd gladly pay for them -- except you don't have to.

9 Park St.; 617-742-9991; www.no9park.com

3. Mussels

Cucina di Pesce, New York

Free nuts and popcorn tell you you're in a dive bar, but free mussels? That's classy.

Cucina di Pesce has been serving them up with the purchase of a beverage for more than 20 years, and with restaurants suspending their free-food deals left and right, those mussels taste all the sweeter. (Well, saltier. You know what we mean.)

87 E. Fourth St.; 212-260-6800; www.cucinadipesce.com

4. Truffle arancini

Dovetail, New York

Guests at Dovetail's bar are served a complimentary snack trio consisting of a truffle arancini, a whole wheat rosemary cracker and house-made white cheddar cornbread. Dainty and delicious, it's served on a wooden cheese board from chef John Fraser.

103 West 77th St.; 212-362-3800; www.dovetailnyc.com

5. Bomboloni with vanilla ice cream, pasta, mortadella focaccia

SD26, New York

The people at SD26 must love their customers, because each night they offer them homemade bomboloni with vanilla ice cream and pasta in the wine bar, beginning at 10 p.m. For the four hours before that, they offer tasty little squares of homemade focaccia with Italian Mortadella.

19 E. 26th St.; 212-265-5959; www.sd26ny.com

6. Peanut Bomb

AJ Bomber's, Milwaukee

Any bar can serve free peanuts, but only one has set up a "P-nut delivery system," which shoots legumes to various sections of the bar via overhead zip line. It's possible to situate your open mouth under the P-nut Bomb bay doors, though it's not recommended.

And the shells? Just throw 'em on the floor -- it's what everyone else does.

See the P-nut delivery system in action here.

1247 N. Water St.; 414-221-9999; www.ajbombers.com

7. Hot pretzels

OAK at Fourteenth, Boulder, Colorado

Copious amounts of butter and fried goodness are promised at this New American spot, where bursting flavors are the culinary norm.

Starting at 10:45 p.m., patrons can sample hot, fresh-baked pretzels made in its wood-fired oven. Chef Steve Redzikowski bakes only 12 each Thursday, Friday and Saturday, however, so you have to arrive early to be among the lucky ones.

1400 Pearl St.; 303-444-3622; www.oakatfourteenth.com

Rosemary popcorn from Hatfield's in Los Angeles

8. Rosemary popcorn

Hatfield's, Los Angeles

One of the top restaurants in L.A., according to Zagat, this super-romantic spot is known for its imaginative dishes, and its rosemary-hinted popcorn is no exception. It's an unexpected (free) treat for patrons at the bar.

6703 Melrose Ave.; 323-935-2977;www.hatfieldsrestaurant.com

9. Gourmet nut mixes

Lucy Restaurant & Bar, Yountville, Calif.

At Lucy's, chef Victor Scargle serves snacks you've never tasted before, like cayenne/chili flake and kaffir lime popcorn, sweet energy trail mix made with butter toffee nuts, peanuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, chocolate and raisins, and the Guadalajara trail mix made of rice crackers, peanuts, sesame sticks, almonds, sunflower seeds, toasted corn and spices.

6526 Yount St.; 707-204-6030; www.bardessono.com

10. Pasta e fagioli

Capo's, San Francisco

Most bar snacks are considered finger foods, but this delicacy from Capo's is served up with a spoon, in a stainless steel bowl. The traditional Italian soup is full of garlic, macaroni, beans, carrots, cabbage and flavorful chicken broth.

641 Vallejo St; 415-986-8998; www.sfcapos.com

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/travel/bar-snacks/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

Furloughs delay flights, again

On Wednesday morning, federal furloughs hit travelers headed to Chicago.

Airlines flying into Chicago's O'Hare International Airport faced delays of at least 30 minutes, after fewer air traffic controllers reported for duty on Wednesday morning.

The Department of Transportation said Wednesday staff furloughs are also causing delays to flights headed to Las Vegas and Tampa.

"Controllers will space planes farther apart so they can manage traffic with current staff, which will lead to delays at airports including Chicago O'Hare, Las Vegas and Tampa," the agency said in a statement.

Controllers are being forced to take unpaid time off by the Federal Aviation Administration, which has to cut $600 million of its spending by September. It's part of the forced spending cuts at federal agencies that went into effect on March 1 to save the government $85 billion.

With fewer staff members at the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Tower in Elgin, Illinois, flights into O'Hare were most affected on Wednesday. That office controls all air traffic in the Chicagoland area, said union officials.

As more controllers report to duty this afternoon, the delays are expected to ease.

"In the next three to four hours staffing should improve for the evening shift and we can land on a third runway," said Dan Carrico, a controller for O'Hare airport. By noon, some of the delays had been trimmed to about 15 minutes.

As a result of employee furloughs due to sequestration, the FAA is implementing traffic management initiatives at airports and facilities around the country. Travelers can expect to see a wide range of delays that will change throughout the day depending on staffing and weather related issues. For example, the FAA is experiencing staffing challenges at the Miami and Los Angeles En Route Centers, the Tampa TRACON, and Chicago O'Hare and Tampa Towers. Controllers will space planes farther apart so they can manage traffic with current staff, which will lead to delays at airports including Chicago O'Hare, Las Vegas and Tampa. The FAA also expects delays at a number of other airports because of weather and winds.

The FAA will continue to work with the airlines throughout the day to try and minimize delays for travelers. We encourage all travelers to check their flight status and also to visit fly.faa.gov for the latest airport delay information.

Yesterday more than 1,025 delays in the system were attributable to staffing reductions resulting from the furlough. There were more than 975 additional delays as a result of weather and other factors.

Airport delays started on Sunday, when furloughs kicked in for 47,000 Federal Aviation Administration workers, including 15,000 air traffic controllers. Each day, as many as 1,500 controllers or 10% of the workforce are being forced to take time unpaid off to save money.

The delays have mostly been centered around large airports in the New York area, Los Angeles and Dallas. There were 1,200 delays on Monday specifically tied to fewer air traffic controllers at work, according to the transportation agency. Weather and other factors caused another 1,400 delays. On Sunday, the agency reported 400 delays due to furloughs.

The log jam is expected to continue as each FAA employee has to take 11 furlough days through September.

Five things to know about FAA furloughs

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said he had no choice but to resort to furloughs at the FAA to save money. In a call with reporters on Tuesday, he dismissed accusations that FAA furloughs are politically motivated to make budget cuts feel worse than they are.

In the meantime, the FAA is considering temporarily shelving a rule that currently stops airlines from keeping passengers sitting in planes on tarmacs longer than three or four hours, to keep air traffic flowing.

The airline lobbying group Airlines for America is pushing for the option of keeping passengers on planes longer to help accommodate delays from furloughs.

Airlines want to "minimize and avoid worsening the disruption and inconvenience to our passengers," said Katie Connell, managing director for the group.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Wednesday grilled FAA director Michael Huerta, asking him why he didn't warn about flight delays and why the agency didn't detail delays for airlines until last week.

"We told them to expect significant delays at major hubs," Huerta said.

"Well. Lah-tee-dah. Everyone knew that. That's what sequester is all about," said Hal Rogers, a Republican from Kentucky, who runs the House Appropriations panel.