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Airlines Charging Fees for Extra Bags
PLEASE BE AWARE: If you or your family or friends are traveling by air, you need to be aware that "ALL" airlines are now charging fees if you check more than one bag. You are allowed to check one bag and to carry on one bag and one personal item. That isn't much luggage if you are going on a 10-14 day cruise, or if you are taking a world cruise that will last a long time.
Check with your airline before you leave about their fees. All are now charging for the second bag, so be sure you know before you go.
If you just have a general question, feel free to contact the main office at 662-560-6085 and we will be glad to answer any questions that we can from what to pack for your trip to issues about your health insurance and whether they will cover you if you are out of the country or are ziplining or rock climbing in the Grand Canyon. We are here to help you all we can and help to make your vacation as pleasurable as possible.
Patricia Bannister, owner of Bannister Travel
American Airlines to Charge for 1st checked bag.
5/22/200811:35:16 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
It was reported yesterday that American Airlines is going to start charging for the 1st bag checked at the airport. This is going to force everyone to take as much carry on luggage as possible to keep from checking any luggage.
This doesn't make much sense as we are now going to carry on two bags instead of the one that we might have carried on in the past. What are we going to do with this extra luggage? Where are we going to put it? There certainly isn't any room for additional luggage in the overhead compartments, and the space under the seat in front of you isn't large enough to hold much. It won't even hold my laptop case.
When I travel on a teaching assignment, I have to carry paperwork, laptop, gadgets, camera, camcorder, etc., so my laptop case is too large to fit. Therefore, it is considered my carry on bag. Now, I will have to leave the purse at home, carry a small purse that will fit into one of my bags, and carry the laptop case, and a small piece of luggage with me.
I will not fly American as I have to have something to put my clothes in. I am leaving on NW airlines on the 23rd, and I have the 1 bag allowed, all of my teaching materials in a laptop bag, and a small bag that contains medicines, a change of clothes, medicines, jewelry, etc, as well as what is going to serve as a purse while I am away. I am going on a teaching gig onboard a 7 day roundtrip cruise to Alaska. What is the temp. you might ask. Who knows? I have short sleeves, long sleeves, a jacket, and 2 formal outfits as well as teaching clothes, gad about clothes, and shoes, makeup, curling iron, hair spray, and the list just goes on. How did I get it all in one bag and a small carry on? I have no idea, but I do know that it is done.
American Airlines can keep their seats. It is difficult enough to pack for a 7 day trip. Bless your heart if you want to go on that wonderful 14 day Mediterranian Cruise that Royal Caribbean offers.
By the way. You might be interested to know that it is cheaper for your bag to be overweight than it is to pay for an extra bag on those airlines that allow you to check just one bag.
Hit the Waves with Larry and Patricia Bannister of Bannister Travel
5/19/20089:21:02 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Go to Sea With Bannister Travel
Bannister Travel Takes to the Waves
Larry and Patricia Bannister are taking a group to the Caribbean on a 5 day cruise on the Carnival Fantasy out of New Orleans on February 2, 2009. The Carnival Fantasy is being dry docked for refirbishments in August, so they are going to be some of the first to sail on her when she is put back into service.
The cold air will be here in February, and it will be nice to get away to somewhere warm at that time of year.
The prices are fantastic, and they just cannot be beat. See below:
Oceanview Stateroom - $432 ppdo
Oceanview staterooms are all that is left. The interior and the balcony staterooms are already taken.
$100 is due now with $150 being due in September and final payment being in November.
If you are interested, contact Patricia at 662-288-9052 or one of the agents listed under "About Us" on the home page of the website, and go with Larry and Patricia Bannister for great fun in the sun.
Patricia Bannister, owner of Bannister Travel
Memphis International Airport Information
5/14/20081:41:03 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
The fall of 2008 is bringing big changes to Memphis International Airport, and the biggest change is going to be in their long term parking. For several months this fall, there will be no long term parking at the airport as they tear down the existing structure and replace it with a newer, larger structure.
They will still have the side lots open if you just have to park at the airport.
I have a suggestion for you though. There is a parking area called Park It Here that is near the airport with around the clock shuttle service, oil changes, car washes, laundry services, meeting facilities, and internet accessibility for airport checkin all available to be done while you are away on your trip. Just imagine coming home to clean clothes, a clean car with it's oil changed, where you can sit down when you get back and have a cup of coffee and relax.
If you contact me, I will mail you a coupon to use so that you can park for less at Park It Here. They have some of the nicest and most service oriented personell that you will find anywhere. Why not call me today at 662-288-9052, get your coupon, and give them a try. You really have nothing to lose.
Patricia Bannister, owner of Bannister Travel
Information About New Orleans and Carnival Cruise Lines
5/14/20081:33:41 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
We have just learned that Carnival Cruise Lines is going to pull the Fantasy which is based out of New Orleans.
In August of this year, Carnival is going to put the Fantasy into dry dock for major renovations. In October, they will return the Fantasy to New Orleans where she will resume the 4 and 5 day schedule that she is running at this time. You need to book right away if you want to be the first to sail onboard the newly renovated Fantasy out of New Orleans going to Cozumel, MX and Playa del Carmen.
Although the Fantasy will not be in New Orleans for 3 months, you will still be able to take advantage of the Holiday which is sailing out of Mobile, AL with 4 and 5 day itineraries.
Bannister Travel's ideas about Travel Insurance
4/24/20085:41:00 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Vacation Protection
Does your travel consultant talk to you about vacation protection or travel insurance when you plan a trip with them? They should. It is an important part of any trip that you choose to take.
For travel within the borders of the United States, you will "probably" be ok as far as health insurance goes. If you fall, break a leg, or God forbid, worse, your insurance carrier will "probably" pay your medical bills. What if your plane is late and/or you miss a connection? What if you have a member of your family fall ill and you can't take your trip? What if your luggage is lost? What if your hotel lost your reservation? If any of these things happen, you could be out a lot of money for no reason.
What if you are out of the country? Will your health insurance company cover you then? Some do, but most insurance companies will not cover you if you are on vacation outside the "Continental" United States. In 95% of the cases, if you are hurt in a foreign country, your health insurance carrier will not cover your medical expenses.
What happens if you must cancel or interrupt your trip because a family memeber is sick or injured or dies? What if your travel supplier declares bankruptcy? What about terrorist acts? What if you lose your baggage and personal possessions while on your trip, or they are stolen or damaged? Do you really want to be stuck in a foreign country because you didn't want to pay less than $150 per person for insurance coverage?
Travel Protection Policies cover many things, including but not limited to cancel for any reason, medical, lost or damaged luggage, medical expenses including flights back to the USA, even in the case of death, lost, damaged, delayed or stolen luggage, and accidental death and dismemberment.
If you travel with Bannister Travel, we are sure to tell you all of the benefits of travel insurance because we know how important it is to you, our client. We have heard the horror stories of others, and we don't want our clients to have to suffer the horrors of the lack of medical attention if they need it.
Do you drive a car without insurance? Do you own a home without insurance? Do you have life insurance? Then please think about insuring your next trip. You are spending your hard earned cash on your trip, so insure that trip and yourself and be sure that you can go on your next trip secure in the knowledge that if anything does happen, you have a way to get up to 75% of your travel expenses back.
Larry and I never travel without trip insurance. We hope that you won't either. We have a choice of Insurance Companies to offer you. We use Travel Safe or Travel Insured. They are both great companies and have great coverage. Feel secure the next time you travel.
Call one of our travel consultants listed on the "About Us" section of our home page for more information about travel insurance.
Patricia Bannister, owner, Bannister Travel, 662-560-6085
The airline industry
4/12/20083:23:37 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
American Airlines cancelled over 3,000 flights last week
What do you think about the recent closings of 5 airlines last week, and the fact that American Air Lines has cancelled over 3,000 flights in all?
Were you caught in the mess? Did you miss a flight?
If you did, we would like to hear from you, and know what you went through. Let us hear from you.
Airlines are closing their doors
This is not a good week for the airline industry - Aloha airlines announced at the first of the week that they were going to shut their doors, and now ATA airlines has followed suit this morning after they filed for bankruptcy and discontinued all scheduled flights. Also in the news is United Airlines who on Wednesday abruptly grounded all of it's Boeing 777 jets and canceled dozens of flights after discovering that mechanics failed to test a fire-suppression device as required. Are you worried about what is going on with the airline industry? You should be. At least we can be assured that United is taking care of it's situation "before" it became a problem.
Frontier Airlines also has filed for bankruptcy, but is continuing to fly their planes. Their partner airline, AirTran is in the black and is in no danger of money issues.
Go to Sea With Bannister Travel
Bannister Travel Takes a group to the Caribbean and you can be a part of it.
Larry and Patricia are taking a group to the Caribbean on a 5 day cruise on the Carnival Fantasy out of New Orleans on February 2, 2009. The prices are fantastic, and they just cannot be beat. See below:
Interior stateroom - $382 ppdo Oceanview Stateroom - $432 ppdo Balcony Suite - $892 ppdo
$100 is due now with $150 being due in September and final payment being in November. If you are interested, contact Patricia at 662-288-9052 and go with Bannister Travel on a cruise and have a great time.
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