Looking back this past month at our daily Facebook and Twitter updates, we see a recurring theme: bad weather.
As we all know, Irene landed a real blow to the East Coast. But travelers also had to deal with Tropical Storm Maria in the Caribbean, Typhoon Talus impacting Japan and Hong Kong, Tropical Storm Lee in the Gulf Coast, Tropical Storm Nanmadol hitting Taiwan, and so on.
We often note in our updates that airlines have issued “travel waivers.” What this means is that airlines have relaxed their rules for cancelling or changing tickets if you are flying to or through cities affected by severe weather. We’ve noticed that since the storm-related travel fiascos of last year, airlines seem to be a little quicker to issue those waivers–which makes sense since they don’t want to deal with thousands of stranded passengers.
Note, however, that every airline’s “waiver” is different. Some will only allow you to postpone your flight for a couple days, some will let you fly early ahead of the storm, while others will let you cancel altogether without penalty. So always check the website of the particular airline that you are flying for their specific waiver details. And of course, keep watching our social media feeds for updates.
One article that we mentioned in our feeds this month was from the U.S. State Department on preparing for hurricane and typhoon season. They gave an 11 point “checklist” for travelers that bears mention here:
- Enroll your trip with the State Dept., (travelregistration.state.gov)
- Check with the airlines about travel services (the “waivers” that we mentioned earlier)
- Carry an international cell phone that can be used to stay in touch with family in the States
- Research the region so that you are familiar with local emergency procedures
- Pack an emergency supply kit
- Secure extra bottled water and non-perishable food
- Know local emergency phone numbers as well as the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
- Have a water-proof container for your passport and other travel documents
- Get travel insurance prior to your trip
- Leave with family back in the States your detailed itinerary with local contact numbers
- Keep with you a photocopy of your passport, driver’s license and any credit cards that you take, and leave a photocopy with someone in the States
At Ministry Travel, we not only care about saving you money on airfare for your missions and humanitarian trips, but we also want you to have a safe trip and effective ministry. So continue to watch our blog and social media sites for all the latest information and tools to help you as you help others.
Tags: avoid travel emergencies, missionary airfares, travel insurance, travel tips missions