Keeping in Contact While You're Away

New web technology has made it much easier to keep everyone back home up to date with your travels and any changes in your travel plans. In addition to an email message addressed to all your friends and family back home, you can keep in contact by:

• Creating a blog -- you can create a blog (on blogspot, of course) and periodically enter updates on where you've been, what you're doing and anything else you like. 
• Uploading pictures to the web -- you can use a blog to post pictures from your travels or create a shared photo album on picassa or an equivalent website
• Update your status on Facebook and/or other social media sites. 

Not only will you keep everyone up to date, but, you may find that someone has a suggestion for you that will save time and/or money or just make your travels more fun.

What to Do When Your Flight has been Canceled Due to Weather

During one of my business stops at our office in Denver, Colorado, I found out that one of my flights headed to Tulsa Oklahoma was canceled due to bad weather. While trying to rebook my flight for the following day, I discovered that most major airlines are able to defray some unexpected expenses.

When bad weather causes a flight cancellation or a delay stretches overnight, yu may be able to get a "distressed-passenger rate" voucher from your airline. The voucher, good for a discounted rate at an approved local hotel, may be available through customer service agents to help you with overnight accommodations. The discounted room charge and incidental charges (such as meals, telephone calls, transportation, etc) are not covered by the airline and are at the traveler's expense.

Many travelers find trip insurance to be an affordable way to offset expenses associated with delayed or canceled flights. If you have purchased such coverage for a canceled flight, contact your insurance provider as soon as you realize that you are going to incur additional expenses.

Reduce the Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis

What is DVT?
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that develops in a deep vein, usually in a leg. This is a serious condition. Sometimes these clots can break away and travel through the blood stream to vital organs and can cause severe injury or death.

Possible Ways to Reduce the Risk of DVT
American encourages all passengers to consult with their doctors about DVT and other personal health issues before flying. Because the cause of a DVT is often not known, the best methods of preventing DVTs are still uncertain.
to try to reduce the risk of DVT, many passengers may be advised by their doctors to take the following measures in flight:
Regularly change leg position, and periodically move and stretch your legs and feet while seated. Your doctor may suggest leg exercises such as those described in the box below at regular intervals (at least every hour or so)

If conditions allow and the aisles are clear, you may want to occasionally get up and walk around. But remember that you must remain seated when the seat belt light is on and should remain in your seat with your seat belt fastened whenever possible, because of the possibility of turbulence. And all passengers are required to comply with crew member and/or FAA instructions, especially those relating to remaining seated.

Avoid crossing the legs at the ankles or knees

Stay hydrated; drink adequate nondiuretic fluids such as water, juice and milk and minimize alcohol and caffeine intake

Wear loose fitting clothing

Wear graduated compression stockings

It is possible that no measure intended to prevent DVT will be effective. It is also possible that some of the measures listed above may not be recommended for some passengers, depending on their health situations as assessed by their doctors.