Make It An Independence Day To Remember By Remembering These Travel Tips From American Airlines

FORT WORTH, Texas – The July 4 holiday promises to be a very busy time for air travel, but by following a few “flying smart” tips, you can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for your travels this holiday on American Airlines, a founding member of the global oneworld ® Alliance:

* Know what to carry on. Customers may carry onboard one bag that will fit in the overhead bin and does not exceed 45 linear inches (length + height + width). They may also bring one personal item such as a purse, briefcase or laptop that fits under the seat in front of you. Items that don’t fit or that exceed the number must be checked curbside or with an agent at the ticket counter. With planes expected to be full, this policy helps ensure that onboard space is available for all passengers.

* Leave the fireworks at home. Although fireworks are popular during Fourth of July celebrations, the FAA strictly prohibits customers from carrying fireworks onboard aircraft – either in checked baggage or as carry-on items.

* Hold on to your valuables. Be sure to carry all cameras, jewelry, documents, prescription medicine and other valuables with you at all times.

* Place identification inside your luggage, too. A business card, an address, or a copy of a travel itinerary inside a bag can be very helpful in reuniting a bag with its owner should the lD tag become detached in transit.

* Check the temperature before you check your pet. American has temperature restrictions in place to ensure that pets are not exposed to extreme heat when they – and their owners – go on summer vacation together. In order to keep your pet safe, American cannot accept animals as checked baggage if the current or forecasted temperature is above 85 degrees at any location along your itinerary (origin, connecting point, or destination). For some pets, the limit is 75 degrees. To view American’s pet acceptance policies, visit www.aa.com/pets.

* Keep children safe and protected. Give your child a passcode that only you and he/she know so your child can’t be tricked by another adult claiming them if they get separated or lost at the airport. Make sure children know the full names of their parents and how to contact them. Keep items with children’s names on them out of sight. And it’s always a good idea to keep children’s footprints and fingerprints on file at home.

* Leaving the country? Don’t leave these behind. Be sure to have the proper documentation with you – passports, visas, tourist cards and the like – if you’re traveling internationally. Make copies and carry an extra set with you; let others back home have a copy, too. Know how to contact the U.S. Embassy in the country you’re visiting; carry the address with you and instructions on how to get there. If you’re a single parent traveling with a child to an international destination, make sure you bring authorization from the other parent to travel outside the country.

* Beat the crowds and arrive early. Get to the airport at least 60 minutes ahead of time for domestic flights (90 minutes if you have bags to check), and at least two hours ahead for international trips. Some cities have even earlier suggested check-in times because of lengthy TSA security checkpoint lines. Check the Travel Information section of AA.com (“About Checking In”) for cities where earlier check-in is recommended.

* Check in beforehand at AA.com. At www.aa.com/checkin, you can check in up to 24 hours prior to your flight, select or change seats, and print out your boarding pass. If you have bags to check, use American’s convenient Curbside Check-in option when you arrive at the airport (it’s just $2 per bag at most airports), and then head straight to Security and your gate.

* Use Self-Service Check-in Machines at the airport. Self-Service Machines are another automated check-in option that are quick and easy to access. You can check luggage at them, too. They can also be used to purchase upgrades ($50 per 500 miles) or confirm flight changes ($25) within three hours of the scheduled departure on the original flight.

* Move Through Security quickly by being prepared. Have your photo ID or passport available for Security, and wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off. Take your laptop out of its case and put cell phones and pagers in purses or other carry-on bags before getting in the security line.

For more travel tips, visit www.aa.com/traveltips. Then, get ready to have a great trip over the Fourth of July on American Airlines.


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