A Perfect Merger for Trip Delay?

Submitted by Joe Cortez

Photo: Steve Heap / Shutterstock.com

The day is upon us. Sort of.

No, it’s not my birthday that I try so hard to ignore every year. It’s the day that US Airways and American might have settled on a merger. The Dallas Morning News, Slate, and Bloomberg are reporting that the merger is in the final stages of development and ultimate approval, with the official announcement expected around Valentine’s Day, due to a deadline set by the non-disclosure agreement (two airlines marrying on Valentine’s Day? How romantic!).

Personally, I welcome this news like I welcome a tetanus shot: it’s necessary for your health, but painful nonetheless. The truth is, this merger is probably the best method of survival for both airlines, and will open up many new ways to get places. But more than likely, the merger is going to hurt (in price hikes, trip delay, and trip cancellation, etc.), and it’s also going to be very irritating for the end traveler like you and me.

If the United-Continental agreement taught us anything, we’ve learned that merging is a very difficult process that takes a lot of focus to complete. It’s also taught us that the consumer ultimately pays more than the buying company, in the form of trip delays, trip cancellations, missed tickets, and mis-communicated ticketing policies.  Not to mention the fact that many frequent flyers and points collectors (like myself) will be left to figure out what to do with the points that will be transferred into one system or another. Or what to do when a decision to choose which alliance to become a member of is called into question.

At this point, it is prudent to stop and take a deep breath about the entire situation. Just because newspapers are reporting the deal is close doesn’t mean we’re looking at a merger until the official announcement is made. I’m not going to worry about what to do with all 30 of my Dividend Miles because of speculation. Besides, this is not the first time that US Airways has gone through a merger. Does anyone remember the last time this happened with America West Airlines?

But I am going to start preparing myself for more delays when riding with either of the two carriers. And I am going to start considering my options for status when it comes to airline alliances. Planning ahead now could save me a lot of headache in the future.

So what do we do now? Do we burn our miles today? Do we worry about getting places on time whily flying US Airways or American for the next 18-24 months? What will happen to my friend from my last mileage run, who has elite status on US Airways? The questions are endless! But today, I’m not going to worry about it. I will continue to plan my travel as it best suits my needs and mileage goals. I'll continue to be mindful of the increased chance of trip delay if this merger begins…but until an official announcement is made, I won’t let it govern my decisions. As that great American scholar Yogi Berra once said: “It ain’t over until it’s over.”

Will this potential merger change your travel habits? Will you reconsider who you will travel with? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the Marketing Specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying, and reconsidering his entire mileage strategy due to mergers and aquisitions. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

Avoiding Trip Delay at the Security Checkpoint

Time flies when you’re incredibly busy. I’ve learned that the hard way at the end of this year, while working with our team to increase the benefits of our products: Study USA-HealthCare, Visit USA-HealthCare, InterMedical Insurance, and WorldMed Insurance. It seems like just yesterday, I was writing about my own travel goals for 2013, and how avoiding trip delay was one of the major ones. One month later, I’ve made movement on each of those resolutions – except for the one about avoiding trip delay.

Granted, there are many times where trip delay is completely out of my hands. Due to mechanical failure, irregular operations, or general obstinance, I’m not always guaranteed to get to where I want to go on time. But the one place where it is in my hands is during the TSA Checkpoint at every airport in America.

To begin with, there are plenty of things that I do already in order to make sure that my pathway through is simple and efficient, and not have security be the cause of my trip delay.

1. Arrive at the airport with plenty of time.
2. Have my shoes off before I get to the conveyor belt.
3. Adhere to the 3-1-1 rule when taking liquids in my carry-on bags.
4. Empty all my pockets and place all loose items together in a small bin. 

One of the apps that stays on my smartphone is the My TSA Mobile App – which can help navigate what I can and can’t take, and give a general idea of how fast security is moving at any airport in America.  Even with the assistance of the application, I know that it’s going to be between a 10 to 45-minute process getting through the security lane.

So my speed and timing are good now. But there has to be a better way to get through and avoid the danger of trip delay, right? In fact, there are a couple of ways to do just that.

At many major airports in the United States and around the world, most air carriers have special lines dedicated to their status-holding frequent flyers. It’s a subtle way to say “Thank you” for flying their airlines. But what they don’t tell you is that many of those are also open to their partner’s frequent flyers as well. For instance: at the US Airways terminal in Cleveland, a dedicated line is setup for Dividend Miles Preferred flyers, as well as Star Alliance Gold members. Once I have that status, I plan on making that my exclusive security line.

Additionally, many airports now have dedicated lines for TSA Pre-Check trusted travelers. Last year, I wrote about the Pre-Check system, and how I was hesitant about it until it was more widely adopted. This year, I’m planning on getting my NEXUS Card which will allow me easier border passage from the United States to Canada. Both NEXUS and Global Entry (the trusted traveler program for international travelers) provide you with a trusted traveler number that gives you access to the TSA Pre-Check program. Using Pre-Check seems to be much less trouble than going through the standard security line since you get to keep your shoes, belt, and jacket on, thus potentially preventing a trip delay. But, that’s not an easy process either. Both NEXUS and Global Entry require travelers to have an in-person interview for approval, which involves additional drive and appointment time.

That being said, it is possible to get Pre-Check status through your airline. The only downside through that route is that the Pre-Check status is seemingly assigned on a random basis, unlike the trusted traveler program.

If the drive is out of the question for you and you want a consistent security experience, another option would be CLEAR. For a nominal fee you can enroll in CLEAR, which requires nothing more than your passport and several questions. CLEAR lanes are available in several different major airports across the United States. The only difficulty is that, once again, you have to enroll in-person and wait 7-10 business days before you can get your CLEAR card and use the lanes. This is great if you live near a supporting airport, and can enroll and receive your next card before your next trip, and a great way to skip trip delay.

By some combination of those three strategies, I’m hoping to eliminate trip delays at TSA Checkpoints this year. What are your strategies to make the security checkpoint a lesser obstacle this year? I’d love to hear in the comments below and, perhaps, adopt a few!

(Ed. Note: No incentive was given to mention any product or service in this blog. Travel Insurance Services and its affiliated companies do not endorse nor guarantee any product or service mentioned in this or any blog. However, we sure would love to hear about your experiences with them!)

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the Marketing Specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying, and finding the best way to get through security with the least amount of friction possible. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

2012: The Year of Trip Cancellation?

Submitted by Joe Cortez

Greetings from my first mileage run of 2013! Yes, at a low cent-per-mile cost (which I probably still overpaid for), I was able to travel from Columbus to Cleveland to meet with my boss and executive editor...routed through Denver, and then Charlotte. 2,632 miles credited and one stay later, I'm that much closer to free lounge access and gold hotel status. I could get used to that way of life.

But I digress. On the flight from Denver to Charlotte, I ran into (you guessed it) a trip delay! A loose bolt caused the flight to be delayed. Ultimately, as I predicted in the terminal, I missed my scheduled flight to Cleveland. I was just incredibly grateful that they were able to borrow the bolt from another airline, as that one little maintenance issue could have turned into a trip cancellation. No matter. I was able to get on the airplane, where I shared travel stories and newspapers with the nice Scotsman beside me in row 24.

Armed with his copy of The Wall Street Journal, I immediately turned to one of my favorite annual reports: the 2012 Middle Seat Annual Airline Scorecard. I was most excited to read this, based on all of my persional experiences this year. With all the airline troubles, financial insolvency, weather operations, and mergers that took place last year, I couldn't help but wonder: did 2012 go down as the year of the trip cancellation?

Much to my surprise, the domestic airlines, as a group, actually did better in the categories of trip cancellation and trip delay this year! In fact, 79% of all flights arrived with 15 minutes of their scheduled time - this is a three percent improvement from last year. I must have been on the other 21% of flights that were not on time, but that's just my luck.

What about trip cancellation? Surely Hurricane Sandy and other airline disruptions must have caused more canceled flights? Also to my surprise, this was not the case. Only 1.4% of domestic flights were cancelled in 2012. This is down 0.7%, which is actually a great sign that things are going the right way.

But every silver lining comes with a cloud. The frequency of passengers getting bumped from flights went up, as well as the total amount of FAA complaints. In conclusion, domestic aviation is getting better. Travelers (who weren't me) had less trip delays, trip cancellations, and a better experience when flying. This is despite a long process of mergers and a volatile market that caused carriers to go bankrupt.

But what does this mean for 2013? The trend appears that companies are listening to the consumers, and understanding that in order to keep a happy and loyal customer, operations need to be as streamlined and simple as possible. However, your chances of having a trip delay while taking to the air is still about one-in-five (much higher if you're flying with me). But if you have travel insurance, suffering under a major trip delay or trip cancelation may be able to be alleviated  that much easier.

What does 2013 look like for you? What changes are you seeing in your travels? Are things really getting better, or are these metrics out of touch? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the Marketing Specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying, and not earning the nickname "Mr. Trip Delay" among his co-workers. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

My 2013 Travel Resolutions

Submitted by Joe Cortez

As it happens this time every year since we started acknowledging these occasions with the Gregorian Calendar, the closing of another year is upon us. Yesterday, we bid adieu to the 2012, and look forward to another trip around the sun.

At this time, we usually set standard goals for ourselves in the form of resolutions. You know the lot: lose weight, stop smoking, take up a new hobby, etc. But as I look at 2013, and what I want to get achieved, I have a completely different set of goals ahead of me. This year, instead of making the traditional resolutions, I'm setting a new personal course and making travel resolutions.

Yes, you read that right : travel resolutions. Over the long holiday weekend, I've gone to my favorite restaurant (where I ususally go to make important and potentially life-altering decisions) and decided on all of the travel goals I wanted to hit this year. My rules are the same as those for any other resolution: they have to be reasonable, be feasible, and not send me into bankruptcy by the end of 2013. And I think I've made a list of goals that I can make without much trouble. So here are my travel resoultions to hit:

1. Star Alliance Gold status through Aegean Airlines
   This year, I flew for 5,000 credited miles to Aegean Airlines by flying Star Alliance carriers. And while I suffered a couple of trip delays as a result, I have no regrets. I now have Star Alliance Silver Status, which allows me to board faster and get priority waitlisting on other flights when I do travel. This year, I want to credit an additional 16,000 miles to Aegean. Why would I do this instead of try for United MileagePlus Gold? As outlined by one of my favorite blogs, View from the Wing, Aegean Airlines status is good for three years - and extends every time you credit miles to the account. Plus, I get free Star Alliance lounge access while traveling in the United States or abroad, extra checked baggage, priority handling (as to not suffer baggage loss), and super priority boarding. Once I have this, I'll have all the privliges of being a gold member, short of getting free upgrades.
2. Enhanced status with at least one hotel chain
   Thanks to a weeklong stay in San Francisco this year, I was able to get Hilton HHonors silver status - which means I get to accrue HHonors points faster. In 2013, while I plan on having HHonors gold status through a credit card (which gives me free WiFi at all Hilton Hotels), I also want to earn status the old fashioned way. And with one trip to the Falls in February, as well as trips to the West Coast in March, April, and November, I think I can get enhanced status with at least one property chain. And if I have at least one trip delay requiring an overnight stay, it could work to my advantage. Now, to decide which one...
3. Make it back to Europe at least once this year
   The last time I was in Europe was the summer of 2001 - I was an exchange student in Germany. Its high time that I go back. So sometime this year, I want to make it back to the European continent. It would be ideal if I could make it on miles - but even if I don't the experience of returning to Europe would be well worth it. I think this time, I'll go to London. Or maybe Edinburgh.
4. At least two mileage runs for fun
   This year, I made a run to San Francisco just to get on an airplane. And because the price was right, and I needed to make the run for my status above. This year, regardless of trip delay, trip interruption, or baggage loss, I want to make at least two mileage runs - for fun - because I can. I'll be scanning the ITA Matrix and Google Flights to see where the best prices are per mile - and seeing where my adventures take me this year.

It's an ambitious list that I have above - but I have a feeling that I can make it all work this year. I'll keep you updated this year on how I end up.

What are your travel resolutions in 2013? Let me know in the comments below!

(Ed. Note: No incentive was given to mention any product or service in this blog. Travel Insurance Services and its affiliated companies do not endorse nor guarantee any product or service mentioned in this or any blog. Your experiences and results may vary. However, we sure would love to hear about your experiences with them!)

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the marketing specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying, seeing how cheap he can run from one corner of the continent to another. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

Know Your Rights Under a Trip Delay

Submitted by Joe Cortez

In our year-end editorial meeting, my boss/executive editor commented about the amount of writing I've done about the various trip delays I've had this year. "People are going to start to think you're the unluckiest traveler in the world," she told me. And looking back at all my travels in 2012, I'm starting to agree with her. Out of all the flights I took, I was forced into a trip delay on at least four of them - and outright missed my connections twice. Based on those numbers, I might be pretty unlucky this year. But in the same stroke, I've also been pretty lucky in the fact that I've turned a lot of those delays into bonus points and credits. 

 Non-frequent travelers may not know that there are several laws out there to protect you and help get you to your destination - all depending on where you're going to or from, or how you're getting there. As a result of all of my travels, delays, and cancellations this year, I've made myself learn about what rights are available to me. It also helps that, as a result of all the hurricanes and winter storms this year, the media has done a better job of bringing attention to flyer's rights.

So what can you do if you're behind a trip delay or a trip cancellation? Traveler advocate FlyersRights.org offers the following tips: 

• Know when you can and can't get off the airplane
  Once the doors to the airplane are closed, you're stuck on the plane, right? Yes and no. Once the doors are closed, you are under the control of the airline and are obligated to follow the directions of the pilot and flight crew. But if the flight is delayed for three hours or more, the airplane must return to the gate and allow passengers to deplane - unless doing so would disrupt regular airport operations, or create a security problem.
• Know when you can and can't get information
  If your going to have a trip delay on your flight, your airline is obligated to give information about the delay every 30 minutes after the scheduled take off, and continue to do so until your flight is departed. This allows you to be in control and understand the situation at hand, and allow you to make reasonable accomodations to get where you're going. If you're not getting this information on a regular basis, its okay to ask - just be polite when you do so, and understand that the gate agents are possibly just as stressed as you are. 
• Know when you can ask to take another flight
  Before airline deregulation in 1978, all airlines operating in the United States had to comply with FAA Rule 240. What was Rule 240?  If a flight went under a trip delay or trip cancellation, the airline you flew was obligated to transfer passengers to another carrier if that other carrier could get you to your destination faster. Since airline deregulation, this rule has become obsolete - however, under the conditions of carriage that every airline files with the FAA, many airlines still have a variation of this rule. If you're worried that you may be under a trip delay, check with your airline to see their version of this rule, and under what options you can elect to exercise that right. 

As I've written before, considering travel insurance is not a bad investment in this situation. To learn more about what travel insurance may cover during a winter storm, click here. 

By knowing your rights when flying, you can better prepare yourself to ride out a trip delay or trip cancellation. Preparation is always the best thing to pack when taking a major trip - and knowing these tips could be just as important as packing your lucky sweater.

Has knowing your rights helped you in the midst of a trip delay? I'd like to know about it - leave me a comment below with how you negotiate your way through a trip delay. 

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the marketing specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying, and knowing all the ways he can get to where he's going. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

Who says you can't go home for the holidays?

Submitted by Joe Cortez

Photo by: Ed Bierman/Flickr

The title says it all - this year, I won't be heading to my home of California for the holidays. It's a rather common occurance, I'm embarrased to admit. And after everything that we've seen this year, I'm very regretful that I won't get to spend this quality time with my family. I suppose that's part of the agreement that I made to live this life that I wanted: can't stay for long; just turn around, and I'm gone again.

Not that I hold any regrets. I've gotten to see a lot more of the United States this year than I ever anticipated. Nor does this damper my spirit to hold to my New Years Travel Resolutions (which I'll share next week). But I do wish I could spend more time taking pictures with my mom. Or sitting beside the barbecue telling stories with my dad. Or discovering new dungeons on Skyrim with my brother. Though my cousin and I are close to finishing our multiplayer of Portal 2...

This post is not directly about travel. There are no miles or points to be had for this one. Not even a story on how I kept sane in the midst of a trip delay. But it is about how I keep in touch with those who are close to me while I'm on the road. Because no matter where you go, you'll always have an anchor holding you home - be it Austin, Boston, or Bulgaria.

I'll not be home for the holidays this year. But regardless of the fact that I'm 2,000 miles and one left turn away, I plan on bridging the gap using technology to see those who I care about the most this season. Using the three W's:

1. Webcams and Wirless
   No, I won't be home to see my family this year. But I will be "seeing" them when we use Skype and Facetime to connect with each other. Thanks to the blistering-fast internet that I have at home, and all of my various connecting apparatuses, I'll be able to wish Grandma a Merry Christmas face-to-face, and even open a couple of gifts on the webcam. I'll be able to show dad the Tri-Tip I plan on grilling for dinner. And everyone will get to watch the cat play fetch with his favorite toy. Its not the same as being there with them, but it's as close as I can get.
2. Well wishes to everyone
   I've always argued that the written word is much more real than anything scribed in an e-mail or text message. So for those who I can't see as regualrly - like my friends in Richmond, Chicago, Hollywood, and everywhere in between, holiday cards are getting sent out with my well wishes for everyone. And the occasional gift - because what are the holidays without a little festivity?
3. Warm outlooks for 2013
   So I can't be everywhere with everyone. But at least I can start the planning for an awesome year of travel ahead. Already this year I've got a travel plan of star touring in Temecula, racing in Rockingham, wine tours in Niagara and Napa, and a bunch of side trips inbetween. And in the time off I have coming up in the next couple of weeks, I plan on sitting down and making it all come together. If nothing else, I can start dreaming. That's part of the holiday magic, right?

Keeping in touch while you're on the road can be difficult. But every once in a while, technology can bridge that gap and keep you focused, regardless of where you wander. How do you keep in touch with your loved ones on the road? I'd like to hear your tips on keeping in touch!

And no matter what you celebrate or how you do so...have a fun, joyous, and safe holiday season.

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the marketing specialist for Travel Insurance Services. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

An Homage to Travel

Submitted by Joe Cortez

Earlier this week, my friend Linda in Customer Service and I had a debate on Facebook about the great airports of the world. I defended my love of Chicago O'Hare, despite the fact that it can be notorious for trip delays. She held the position that there are better airports to be stuck at with more power outlets - like Port Columbus and Las Vegas McCarran, among others.

I appreciated our back-and-forth, because it made me really wonder why I had such a love of Chicago's busiest airport - and the fourth busiest airport in the world. Despite all of my travel delays here, the baggage loss, and even trip cancellations...what made me hold on to this airport so dearly?

I credit my appreciation of the windy city to my second flight ever - when I was visiting colleges in Ohio for the first time. I was filled with a sense of wonder and amazement as I first laid eyes on this modern monolith. Coming from meager roots from a little farm town in California, this was the closest to a midwest major city that I had ever been (save for Los Angeles...which was a different experience in my mind entirely). The architecture was unlike anything I had ever seen in my life, and a far cry from the single gate that served my hometown airport in Santa Maria. There were people of all cultures there - all either waiting to get to where they were going, or waiting to get home.

The airport was a modern labrynth, with the occasional minotaur of a tired or cranky traveler. It would be the place that I would spend a lot of time either waiting to get home for the holidays or summer, or dread going back to school. It would be the place where I would spend hours reading, waiting for a flight - or playing a game while trying to kill a trip delay. It was the place that I would have a coffee while pondering the mysteries of the earth - like where my bags ended up when I had a baggage loss. And especially around Christmas, when the entire airport would be decorated to the season, it held a particularly magical feeling to it. At least until the plane would be de-iced.

Now as an adult, I can appreciate the fact that Chicago inspired into me the love of travel that I have today. Having that experience there, flying back and forth from coast-to-coast for the better part of four years, really made me appreciate seeing the world - and gave me a wanderlust for places to see. Take a walk in any terminal, and you'll see flights departing to all continents of the world. Seeing the names of the places and the people boarding each flight made me wonder what went on at each of those places. What people lived there? What did they do? What made them want to go to their final destinations? What brought them home each time?

Linda may be right - I do run the higher risk of a trip delay or baggage loss every time I go through Chicago's airports (the only place in the world with both airports named after World War II people or events). But the memories that I have there of my youth will always make it a special place to be, that I will always look forward to traveling through.

What makes a place or airport special for you? Where do you enjoy traveling through most? Let me know by leaving a comment below! 

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the marketing specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying, and finding his way back home. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

Trip Delay Blues

Contributed by Joe Cortez

One of the pains of living in the spoke of a spoke-and-hub travel world is that trip delays aren't an inconvenience - they are a way of life. I was reminded of that lesson the hard way this weekend, when taking my end-of-year mileage run from Columbus to San Francisco. Once again, I did everything right: I left work on time, plotted out a fast way to the airport, and arrived to check my bag 90 minutes ahead of schedule. My planning was so good, in fact, that I was able to swing through the TSA checkpoint without any trouble, and I was sitting in my gate with a good hour to spend doing whatever I wished to do.

It was a shame that I ended up spending that hour scrambling between two gates and five gate agents as the result of a trip delay that originated out of Newark, trying to make a connection in Chicago that was never meant to be. What's worse, is that I wasn't alone - at least five other people were stuck trying to make a connection to San Francisco, and the delay from was affecting people going to Newark as well.

I've blogged about surviving trip delay in the past. And in this case, it helped a little bit. But it didn't take away the frustration that I was stuck between either going home for the night and getting 12 hours less time to play in San Francisco on Saturday, or potentially being stuck at Chicago O'Hare airport all night (even though I do love that airport). Ultimately, I ended up forging on and risking the awkward overnight stay at O'Hare - just to be pleasantly greeted at the gate by an agent who already had a hotel and meal voucher waiting for me, as well as my rebooked tickets for the next morning. It's the little things that can make everything better. 

This was a situation that I was grateful for travel insurance - as it may have helped if I didn't have the assistance of the airline. But even without an extra ace in the hole, there are ways  that I could have used to get through the trip delay:

• Know the cause of your trip delay
  As we learned from the Q & A with United President & CEO Jeff Smisek, irregular operations are just that - irregular. But there are different reasons why the irregular operations are happening. Sometimes, it's weather - and sometimes, its operational error. By using flight tracking websites (and in some cases, the cargo website of the carrier), you can find out why the flight is delayed - and make an attempt to get some recompense as a result.
• Be aware of your surroundings
  Gate agents are worked very hard - especially in the midst of a trip delay, when they have a line of angry passengers. And sometimes, that gate agent in the middle of the mix isn't the best one to deal with. It's ok to seek another gate agent that isn't busy with another group, or in the best case scenario, a customer service center. By stepping out of the storm, you've got a fresh set of eyes that might be more willing to help you in the event of a bad situation.
• Know all your options
  There's no way around it - the trip delay has left you stuck, and there's nothing left to do but figure out your next move. What's worse, you don't have a voucher from the airline to help you out. In many cases, you can ask your airline to help with a "distressed traveler rate" at a local hotel. The "distressed traveler" situation allows for a discount on a hotel room that you can use to at least get some sleep and freshen up before your next leg. And hopefully not get stuck again.

After all was said and done, my end-of-year mileage run was a fantastic success, despite the trip delay bringing it to a rough start. I got to see family, accidentally reconnected with old friends, and once again got bonus points for making it through the situation. All to get back on the plane 25 hours later, and come back to my life already in progress. Now I can't wait for my next one in January - crossing my fingers that there won't be another trip delay there as well.

Do you know of any better ways to get through a trip delay, or try and get some assistance as a result of one? I'd really like to hear them - let me know in the comments below!

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the marketing specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying, and eating well before his scheduled departure. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

Dollars and Sense of Travel

Contributed by Joe Cortez

In my last blog post yesterday, I talked about the lessons learned after a very fun road trip weekend to Canada. The one thing that I didn't talk about was how I was able to provide the funds behind the trip. Yes, the trip itself was a great time - and thanks to some well-timed specials, I was able to pay a fraction of the cost that I normally would. And I won't have to pay off the bills over the next decade.

So how was I able to make it all work? Allow me to outline the ways I made this trip easier on myself.

1. Groupon and Living Social Discounts
   Hotel planning was a breeze this time, as the majority of my hotel stays were paid for through Groupon and Living Social discounts. With these discounts, I was able to pay about a third of the price I normally would for the four-star hotels I stayed in, and had some extra bonuses added as well - such as restaurant discounts, wine tastings, and even free casino credits. However, the secret to making this a successful proposition was being able to stay flexible in my dates - as these deals are only good for a limited time frame. But that's a blog post for another day.
   Average hotel costs: $110/night
   Regular hotel costs: +/- $250/night
   Savings: $150/night
2. Rental Car of Delight
   Lets not pretend that the rental car that I road tripped with was not an expense - because in this case, it was. But as I outlined before, the last time I drove to Niagara Falls, I had to pay $300 to replace a flat tire. So in the grand scheme of things, the cost of the car was less than having to replace a tire on my own. Not to mention the 1,000 miles that I put on the rental prevented me from having to get a oil change that much sooner. And because of my elite status with the rental car company, I also earned a free rental car day as a result!
   Rental Car Cost: $77
   Avoided Potential Costs: $400
   Savings: $323
3. Creative Meal Planning
   The entire time I was on the road, I was able to make the most of my trip using creative meal planning. That is, instead of stopping for three squares a day, I instead opted for two. How did I make up lunch? By eating the nutritional equivalent throughout the day. To do this, I opted for snacks and smaller meals throughout the day that could be eaten on the road. While they were really only a slight step up from MRE rations, they did the trick - and kept me having fun on a budget!
   Total Lunch Costs: $50
   Average Meal Costs per Day: $25
   Savings: $25

All of these savings added up through the weekend allowed me to have a great time, and really enjoy myself throughout the weekend without worrying about money. Of course, I only say that until I'm forced to pay for all of my fun next month. Oh Visa bill, why can't you come next year instead?

How do you save money on the road? I'd love to hear your secrets - and maybe even try them out on my next trip! Let me know how you make it all come together in the comments below!

(Ed. Note: No incentive was given to mention any product or service in this blog. Travel Insurance Services and its affiliated companies do not endorse nor guarantee any product or service mentioned in this or any blog. However, we sure would love to hear about your experiences with them!)

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the marketing specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying, and not losing his money to one-armed bandits. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.

Strange Things Afoot Traveling to Canada

Contributed by Joe Cortez

Holiday trip number one is in the books - the great road trip to Canada is complete. Though my trip came with a couple of trip delays and a set of unexpected events, my theory from my last blog is so far being proven correct. I'm feeling more invigorated and excited about my job and life as a result of having a nice long weekend away from home. I suppose I'll have to do this more often next year.

Strange things did happen on the drive to Canada - which is usually only five hours from Columbus. After crossing the border, I was greeted by holiday decorations in downtown Niagara Falls, as well as many closed streets. There were so many closed streets, in fact, that I ended up driving around in circles for an exta half hour before finding my way to the hotel. The reason for all the closed streets was for the first leg of the Red Bull Crashed Ice weekend.

So this caused a lot of things that I couldn't anticipate happening the entire weekend I was there - from trip delays due to all the people in the area, to other events (like winery tours) being cancelled (on my part) due to time constraints. In turn, this caused me to change things on the fly - and end up making a couple of side trips that I didn't anticipate making while I was there. For instance, instead of taking the winery tour that I cancelled, I ended up going to the quaint town of Niagara-On-The-Lake - where I had a great time visiting the Christmas shop in town, and stopping at a deli that specialized in cheese. And then there was the first stop at this winter's Red Bull Crashed Ice tour - which, simply put, was the fastest 500 meters on ice. Since there's going to be no professional ice hockey season this year, seeing this event live was enough to keep me interested for the rest of the winter.

Three days in Canada, and I have two cases of wine and an unforgettable experience that I'll be talking about for a while. All in all, the trip was successful, even despite the unforseen trip delay and event cancellations. Though that all being said, there's plenty that I can learn as a result of this road trip that started awry, and ended well!

1. Know the road before you go
   I made the rookie mistake of not checking out what was going on in town before I went. This was the main factor that caused my trip delay of driving in circles in the same town. If I were smart, I would have looked up events that weekend on the local visitors bureau or chamber of commerce website, and then could have avoided my delay in the first place. And not feel so silly that I was delayed by driving around in the same town.
2. Check all vital signs
   You read that right. Check the vital signs of your car before you go on an adventure. This includes tire pressure, oil and coolant level, windshield cleaning fluid (it's important to me!), and gas levels. When I left, all the vitals on my car were ok. It wasn't until I was done with the heavy road driving that one of my tires starting going down - giving me plenty of safe time to go to the gas station and put air in it for the only time this trip.
3. Weather or not
   Another rookie mistake: checking the weather forecast only once this entire trip. At the beginning of the week, the forecast was supposed to be cool and sunny. By the time I got there, it ended up being cool and rainy. The result was not being properly dressed to get through the entire weekend. I ended up getting through and making the most of it - but it would have been nicer had I brought warmer clothes.

So between the fun of the border cities, and the lessons learned as a result of this trip, it was a blast - and well needed. It makes me even more excited to travel to San Francisco this weekend! How do you make sure road trips are a success? Let me know in the comments below!

About the Author: Joe Cortez is the marketing specialist for Travel Insurance Services. In his spare time, he has a deep affinity for travel, points collecting & multiplying, and working hard to not become the Clark Griswold of his group of friends. He can be reached via e-mail at joe.cortez@usiaffinity.com.