BBB Tip: Fly safely on your vacation

  Are you thinking about traveling by air for a few days? Before clicking the button to buy tickets, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends the following:

• Check current requirements for domestic and international travel. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States for domestic and international travel. In Canada, look for Canadian travel advisories.
• Make sure everyone who is traveling has the appropriate ID. The new deadline for REAL ID enforcement is May 3, 2023; however, make certain parties traveling together have a current compliant ID as required by each state.
• Read all cancellation policies carefully. Not all situations require a full refund of the ticket value and fees if your flight is canceled. Each online travel agency, airline and broker is different.
• Book tickets only after reviewing travel restrictions. Save time and stress by reading the updated status of restrictions on the CDC website.
• Consider trip insurance. Have a complete understanding of what the policy does and does not cover.
• Be an informed traveler. Refer to the Department of Transportation website for details on consumer issues, filing complaints and other aviation information.
• Avoid hidden fees. Read the fine print!

  Flying isn’t the only aspect of your trip to consider. Here are some other travel-related resources from BBB:

• Rental cars: Make your next car rental experience a little easier.
• Hotel rooms: Learn what to keep in mind when booking a hotel room.
• Travel agents: Know what to look for in a travel agent and find one near you.

  During the holiday or any time of year, find ways to travel safely (https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/14079-bbb-tip-planning-your-next-vacation-or-trip) and avoid scams. If you plan to travel to or from Canada, check for travel advisories (https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories). Remember to report any suspicious activities to BBB Scam Tracker (https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker) and sign up for Scam Alerts.