This lending option has been known to be superior to credit cards, as it has less documentation, faster disbursement time, and flexible repayment plans.

While borrowing money might not be the best of the choices, it’s usually a choice many people move to when they can’t afford certain travel privileges on their own. However, this isn’t a bad thing in itself. To do this without future regret, it’s pertinent to set some ground rules and research loan options available. This is why many people consult platforms like https://laanius.dk/ before choosing a lender.

Things to Know Before Getting a Travel Loan

Below are five things to remember and know as you search for the best travel loan.

Only Take the Amount You Need

After carefully reading the review of one of the most popular loan companies — https://laanius.dk/sms-laan — we note that the higher your loan amount, the higher the interest rate. Taking what you do not need will only lead to a higher interest repayment rate, and it’s not a radical thing to do.

One of the best ways to do this is to decide early on the destination you’d be going to and stick your budget to that. You can start with your hotels and logistics and figure out the cost of each. You can also research your dream destination’s average meal and activity spots. For example, if you would like to make a music tour, you need to take into account not only the cost of food, hotel, transport, but also concert tickets, and this article about taking a loan from DER will be useful for you.

To make things seamless, you can visit hotel aggregators. These websites can provide you with packages, discounts, and economical combos. By knowing this, you can secure the exact money you need and don’t have to ask for more than necessary.

Choose Your Repayment Term with Care

Most loan repayment plans span between six months to a year after the loans have been availed. It’s a fact that failure to repay your loans may mess up your credit ratings and prevent you from getting future loans — you’d definitely not want this.

To begin with, many people have reported that the interest rate for each length of time varies. The lender can also decide based on your profession, income stability, current salary, age, work experience, company category, credit score, EMIs, and existing loans.

Though you might consider a repayment term with a longer span and lower interest rate, the truth is you will pay more if you choose a repayment plan with a short term and a relatively higher interest rate. 

After the repayment terms have been checked, you should also check the lender’s terms and conditions about whether or not there’s a prepayment option.

Read The Loan Agreement Carefully

Always read the loan agreement properly before signing. You should know the fees, charges, and penalties you can incur and be subjected to.

You should also know if there’s a deferment process. Many unfortunate events can lead to a cash crunch, such as an accident, loss of jobs, and other financial emergencies. By reading the agreement carefully, you know if they have a deferment process, and you can know how to handle things in the case they have a deferment process.

Check Your Secured and Unsecured Credit Exposure

An array of the right mix of secured and unsecured credit exposure is enough to amp your credit score and maintain a good credit history. A high number of unsecured loans can impact your credit score negatively and reduce your chances of getting loans in the future.

With a high number of unsecured loans, that is, loans without collateral, it’s not advisable to add a travel loan to the mix. Avoid falling into the debt trap by ensuring that your total EMI equals only about 30% of your income.

Compare Personal Travel Loans and Credit Cards

The two most popular funding methods for travel are usually personal travel loans and credit cards. While the interest, repayment schedule, and payment for a travel loan are fixed, a credit card charges you as you go on the trip.

You also get other incentives such as baggage delay insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. However, this is not recommended as credit cards have a higher interest rate than personal travel loans, which can sporadically increase travel costs.

Final Thoughts

Lacking finances for your intended trip should not prevent you from achieving wanderlust and your getaway. While there are demerits to getting a loan for a travel trip, the merits or benefits sure supersede the demerits, making it worth the risk of a travel loan debt. 

However, despite all this, sound planning is essential before getting a travel advance. You do not want to incur more loans than is necessary.

The post Travel Loans — 5 Things You Should Know Before Getting One appeared first on My&AIR.

Are you familiar with this situation? Most of us have experienced some level of discomfort on an airplane, and if you’re unlucky enough to be in economy class on a transatlantic flight from Europe to New York, or even farther afield, it’s hardly a pleasure to fly in such conditions.

Of course, this is no accident. Contrary to popular belief, the atmospheric pressure in the cabin of modern airplanes is different from that at sea level – it corresponds to the pressure at the height of a small mountain, usually from 1,828 to 2,438 meters, at which the air contains less oxygen and the gases in the body cavities expand.

This condition is exacerbated by other stressors: flight delays, having to go through airport security, noise and vibration on board, tasteless food, sudden temperature changes, low humidity, cramped seats, time zone differences and many other irritants.

Arriving at the airport early can help avoid panic – and excessive physical exertion

However, there are ways to make travel much more bearable.

Reduce your own pre-flight stress
One such way, according to Rob Bohr, a clinical psychologist at the Royal Free Trust of London’s National Health Service, is to prepare in time for your flight – to reduce stress levels.

“It’s amazing how many people don’t prepare for a flight in advance: they don’t check the correct documents, the availability of their passport, and the time and airport of departure,” Bohr marvels.

They only catch up on the day of departure, which, according to Bohr, is too late.

“Scan your passport and keep it in your email just in case,” he advises.

When calculating your travel time to the airport, factor in the possibility of delays due to transportation worker strikes, traffic congestion and bad weather.

Choose your seat
Choose your location wisely. Websites like SeatGuru, owned by TripAdvisor, a U.S. travel software company, can help you.

There are seating charts in each model of plane for each airline, with color coding indicating which seats are best to avoid because they are near the toilet, particularly cramped, the seats don’t recline, and so on.

Heavy luggage can also be a source of stress, adding to a passenger’s anxiety and fatigue

According to experts, the seats next to the wings feel less turbulence because they are close to the center of gravity of the plane.

If you forget to choose your seat in advance, ask the stewardess: On an uncrowded plane there is a chance to sit in an empty row.

Travel light.
It’s important to realize that flying a plane involves a lot of physical exertion.

According to Richard Davood, a general practitioner at Fleet Street Hospital in London who specializes in travel medicine, bulky suitcases add to the stress and discomfort of the trip.

Carrying heavy carry-on luggage “increases the risk of muscle strains and musculoskeletal problems, which will only be exacerbated by low mobility and cramped conditions on the plane,” the doctor adds.

Familiarize yourself with the time difference – it’s easier to get used to it.
Another recommendation: it is better to refrain from eating before a long flight, as it helps to survive the change of the time zone.

Scientists from Harvard University (USA) claim that a 16-hour fast before boarding a plane may help travelers activate a special brain clock, which facilitates getting used to the time difference.

This clock is different from the circadian rhythm-based biological clock, which responds to light levels and sends the body a signal to wake up, fall asleep and eat.

Don’t Eat Anything.
So, you arrived at the airport in advance, prepared for the change of time zone and even fast enough to pass the inspection.

But this does not mean that now you can eat properly: do not be fond of fatty or fried food and other fast food.

Also avoid vegetables that can cause gas: onions, broccoli, cauliflower and white cabbage and beans.

It’s best to avoid fatty foods before a flight.

To avoid ruining your trip with flatulence, it is advisable to refrain from drinking alcoholic and carbonated drinks.

There was a case in 2006 when an American Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing, because one passenger was farting and started burning matches to cover the unpleasant smell.

She had to confess when dogs, trained to detect explosives, smelled the burnt matches.

Drink!
Don’t limit your fluid intake, even if you’re sitting in the middle and don’t want to bother other passengers with your trips to the bathroom.

“This is completely the wrong approach, which often causes women to develop bladder infections or cystitis after a long flight,” warns Davood.

He advises drinking as much as possible – at least 0.5 liters of fluid for every three hours of the flight.

But drinking alcohol only exacerbates dehydration. The humidity on an airplane is already low – only 5-15% – because the air enters the cabin from high altitudes, where there is usually no moisture at all.

Alcohol doesn’t just make you want to drink more – because of the low humidity, “one glass of alcohol is equal to two on the ground,” says Bohr.

Try to take a nap on the plane
Sleeping on a plane can be very difficult, especially in economy class.

If you can afford tickets for luxury seats, don’t forego them: sleeping in business or first class, where the seats fold out into beds, is much more comfortable.

If that’s not possible, consider paying a little extra for a seat with more legroom.

David Gradwell, a professor of aerospace medicine at King’s College London, recommends wearing loose, layered clothing because temperature fluctuations are likely on long-haul flights.

“The temperature on board is usually set for the entire cabin or by zone, but some may find it too high and some too low,” he explains.

Bring cozy, warm socks to wear during the flight, and a scarf or large stole – it can also be used as a blanket.

Move
Another problem for airline passengers – especially on long-haul flights – is the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (the formation of blood clots in the deep veins).

This occurs due to prolonged sitting and causes swelling of the feet and ankles as well as leg pain.

Blood clots in the legs are not very dangerous, but sometimes they can get into your lungs with the blood flow and cause chest pain and difficulty breathing-and sometimes lead to much more serious consequences.

Right after you leave the plane, it’s not out of the question that your joints will be crunchy and even sore

If you think you’re at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, visit your doctor before your trip and consider wearing compression stockings, which create slight pressure on your ankles to improve circulation.

It’s just important to get the right size and wear them correctly, says Michael Bagshaw, a professor of aviation medicine at King’s College London.

He adds that taking aspirin is pointless, but it’s good to move around so the blood doesn’t stagnate in your legs.

Don’t place your luggage under the seat in the front seat to leave more room for your legs.

In addition, Gradwell believes it is important to find out if you are at risk – this is possible if you have thrombophilia (increased tendency to thrombosis), if you have recently had major surgery or trauma to the lower extremities, if you or your loved ones have a history of deep vein thrombosis, if you are over forty, if you have cancer, if you are pregnant and finally if you are taking oral contraceptives.

All this advice may seem redundant, but do not underestimate the consequences of traveling thousands of kilometers in a tight and hermetically sealed container, which is essentially an airplane.

The post How to make a multi-hour air journey less tiring appeared first on My&AIR.

Most attention should be paid to the choice of bags for air travel. What to pay attention to when looking for suitcases to be checked into the airplane luggage compartment and backpacks for carry-on luggage – below.

How to choose a bag to carry your main luggage

Choosing a bag in which to carry the main part of the luggage, you should be guided by the following criteria:

• Airline requirements. If the tickets are already in hand, it is easy to find out what size suitcases are allowed to use by the chosen air carrier.
  Important: If you buy a suitcase for the future it is worth to analyze the basic requirements of the most popular carriers and to follow them during the search of a good suitcase. It is advisable to buy several bags of different sizes.
• Useful volume. Even small suitcases and backpacks can be quite capacious. Their volume depends on the number of compartments, wall thickness and manufacturing materials.
  Manufacturer. The optimal solution – the development of well-known companies that have experience in the production of bags for carrying and transporting items. For example, for a long flight will suit perfectly a Wenger bag or suitcase 2E.
  Material of manufacture. It is best to choose models made of impact-resistant plastic or nylon of great thickness. They are sure to “survive” even after a long flight and numerous movements on the luggage belt.
  Security. To protect personal belongings from strangers, it is worth choosing suitcases and bags with additional security mechanisms – such as code locks, locks with keys and hidden clasps.

Choosing a carry-on bag

A bag to take on an airplane must meet these requirements:

• Small size. It should easily fit in a special measuring case installed in almost every airport.
• Weight. The lighter the bag or suitcase, the more things you can put in it. Accordingly, to travel lightweight (with only hand luggage), it is worth choosing models of textile or lightweight plastic.
• Mobility and maneuverability. It is important that the suitcase or carry-on bag was easy to carry in hands during transfers or transitions from one airport terminal to another.
• Availability of an extra handle. The main handles of travel bags often cannot withstand high loads, so having extra saves users in unforeseen situations.

Thanks to the above tips and recommendations, the process of choosing a travel bag or suitcase will take a minimum of time.

The post Criteria for selecting a bag for luggage and hand luggage appeared first on My&AIR.

So there are special recommendations so that annoying little things do not interfere with a long-awaited vacation. They are especially relevant for those who is flying for the first time.

Necessary procedures before landing are as follows:

• customs control (at the international airport)
• check-in and baggage drop-off
• passport control
• security check

Here you will find a collection of 20 tips for traveling at the airport.

20 AIRPORT TIPS FOR TRAVELERS

How far away is the airport?
It is best to start your travel planning by knowing the location of the airport. You need to find answers to questions such as:

• How far away from home is the airport
• How can you get there?
• What are the conditions for boarding the plane
• how to check in
• where to put your luggage
• whether there is a parking space if you have a car, and much more.

So the passenger, if not able to provide absolutely everything, then to the main moments will be ready and will not be late for boarding.

2. Remember the parking space
   Large international airports have large parking areas. It is not easy to quickly orient yourself and find the car you left behind. You can take a picture with landmarks, for example, capturing the frame and the gate or a group of trees standing nearby.

Remembering the parking place will save the passenger a lot of time searching for his/her car after the long vacation.

3.
If the flight is international, it is necessary to go through customs control before checking in. Passengers must go through one of the two corridors green or red.

• red sign. Passengers with goods subject to written declaration pass through here.
• green plate. For those who are not carrying goods subject to a declaration.

1. Check-in rules.
   You can check in in two ways: online or in person at the airport.

• Online check-in

Many airports offer this service. Check-in is done at home by filling in your information, ticket number, etc. Eventually the system will issue a boarding pass. It must be printed out and then presented when boarding the plane. This is convenient because you do not need to stand in long lines. After placing your luggage on the conveyor belt, you can immediately go to the customs and passport control.

• In-person check-in

Check-in begins 2-3 hours before departure and ends half an hour before boarding. All necessary information about the upcoming flights is located on a special board. There, the passenger will find the number of the necessary desk, where to register his flight.

At registration you must present your passport and plane ticket. Baggage must be put on the conveyor. In return, the passenger receives a boarding pass and luggage tags.

5. Luggage transportation
   At check-in, luggage is placed on the conveyor belt. It is weighed and tagged with the airplane number. By the way, if there are old tags from previous flights, they must be removed. Otherwise airport workers may get confused and lose luggage. Perhaps check and hand luggage, and hang a mini-tag on it.

All belongings should be divided into hand baggage and luggage in advance. Fragile and valuable items should not be placed in the luggage. These include a laptop computer, camera, souvenirs, etc. All equipment must be turned off and ready for inspection.

There are restrictions for hand luggage. Information about this can be found on the official website of the airline. For attempting to carry prohibited items you may receive a fine.

The thing is that the loaders need to fit as much and as tightly as possible things in the luggage compartment. Therefore, valuables may break during loading. Experienced tourists take pictures of luggage, so that in the case of loss it would be easier to find. Also do not interfere with the suitcases own signatures with the name and the point of departure of the owner.

By the way for the excess luggage will have to pay extra.

6. Boarding the plane
   When the boarding is announced over the loudspeaker you must show your boarding pass and, if necessary, your passport. The airline representative tears off the stub and gives it to the passenger. It is necessary to keep it until you get your luggage.

Then a special bus takes everyone to the ramp. Major airports have telescopic bridges for such cases.

7. Queues at the airport
   If the season is touristy, there may be long lines at the ticket office. Experienced tourists remind you that those who are about to board will be let through first. So you can not take a queue, and at the right time just walk up to the check-in counter. Do not forget that timely said kind words and a joke help to avoid negative reprimands to the impudent passenger.

8. Behavior during document inspection
   The speed of going through the control depends on the border guards and the immigration service. The rules of procedure depend on the country of residence. The control may be formal or it may turn into a long exhausting conversation.

Remember that the border guards will not appreciate jokes about drugs or explosives. Most likely, they will invite you to a separate room for further conversation. In the worst case, you may be taken off the flight or charged criminally.

You should unconditionally comply with all requests of controllers to show the bag or remove shoes. All their actions are for the benefit and safety of passengers. When communicating clearly answer questions, remain positive and polite.

9. Comfortable Clothing.
   Clothing and shoes for travel should be comfortable and not restrict movement. Assemble a light and practical closet is not as easy as it seems at first glance. Of course, you need to take into account the weather conditions, the destination and the desired type of recreation (beach, skiing, etc.).

Long sundresses, dresses and any clothing with many folds cause unnecessary questions from suspicious officers at the control. They have the right to detain a passenger for a search and a more thorough inspection of belongings.

10. Keep your change separately.
    Experienced travelers advise to save time and nerves to put all useful small things in a separate bag and send immediately on the conveyor belt.

This is necessary so that you don’t have to search for your lighter, cell phone, or keys, delaying your turn.

Be polite!
Positivity and politeness are indispensable companions of any travel. First of all, polite treatment is a common norm of society, which can be understood even without knowledge of the language.

Secondly, the attitude of employees to polite and positive people is more loyal. With a smile it is easier to find pleasant interlocutors or ask the flight attendant to replace an uncomfortable dish.

12. Bring a bottle and an empty bag
    Sometimes employees ask to pack little things, such as cosmetics in a plastic bag. Just in case, it is better to keep it with you right away.

Also at the airports they strictly inspect containers with various liquids. Bottles should also be hidden in transparent bags. You can not take water bottles with you, but you can take empty ones. After you pass the security check, fill the container with water in the lounge area.

13. Leisure activities for children.
    As practice shows, more often than not the parents themselves heat up the uneasy situation. They are nervous waiting for the unknown and constantly yelling at their children. In order not to spoil the upcoming vacation for yourself and your children, it is worth thinking in advance about the child’s leisure.

The main thing is not to get nervous over nothing and take the stage of boarding as the start of an exciting adventure.

14. Free seats
    It often happens that the airplane is not 100% full of passengers. When the boarding command sounds, you may try to change to a seat that is comfortable for you.

In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is better to clarify this possibility with the stewardess in advance.

15. Get to know your fellow passengers
    New acquaintances can be useful. An easy conversation will allow time to pass more quickly. If your airport neighbors are experienced tourists, that’s a big deal. They always know a lot of interesting secrets and little things about traveling that make life a lot easier.

In some countries, interesting places are located directly at the airport: cinemas, libraries and even museums, as in Amsterdam.

16. Taking care of pets in advance
    If you can not leave your pet at home, it is worth taking care of the rules of transportation. Detailed rules are listed on the website of each airline. Most of them boil down to the fact that the pet must have documents, vaccination certificates, etc. Birds are transported in cages with covers. The animal must be in a carrier or with a muzzle and leash.

Depending on size, human friends may travel in the cabin or in a special compartment. Experts advise putting your pet in the carrier with your T-shirt.

17. Compensation for flight delay
    Passengers are entitled to compensation for delay caused by an airline. The longer the flight is delayed, the greater the bonus:

• luggage is stored free of charge
• Mothers with children are given a separate room
• If the delay lasts 2 hours, you are entitled to two calls and a drink.
• if delayed for 4 hours, a hot meal is provided
• if delayed for 8 hours, passengers are accommodated and transported there and back for free

However, if the flight was delayed due to bad weather conditions, no compensation is provided. In case of flight cancellation passengers have the right to count on an alternative flight or a full refund.

18. Items needed at the airport and on the plane
    Useful small things that can help brighten up your leisure time and distract from unnecessary fuss:

• earplugs
• inflatable pillow for sleeping
• interesting book
• player with soothing music
• sedative drops
• some snack food: yogurt, apple, chocolate bar, etc.

19. Exchange offices
    Tourists often rush to do as much as possible at once and exchange currency at the airport. However, the exchange rate in such places can be overpriced. You may want to take your time and look for an exchange office with a good rate. Usually change currency in hotels, banks or special exchangers.
20. After landing at the airport
    After landing you must go through the same procedures as when landing. After passing through passport and customs control it is allowed to take your luggage. If your luggage is lost, you must contact an employee without leaving the airport area.

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Baggage at the airport

Statistically, no more than 1% of all luggage carried by airlines is lost. But you have an especially big chance to lose your luggage if you change planes; if you drop it at the last moment before check-in is closed; if your suitcases are oversized or too heavy; if they are poorly packed (straps stick out of the backpack for example); and if you carry anything suspicious (which will attract the security service) or something expensive (which will attract dishonest airport employees). But the following simple tips will help you lower the chances of losing it and speed up the search for it if it happens:

• Don’t drop off your luggage at the check-in counter at the last minute.
• Pack it well (use food or special packing film, or a paid packing service at the airport), especially bags and backpacks with straps.
• Do not put valuables or suspicious items in your luggage, and carry them by hand.
• Attach a tag with your name, phone number, flight number, and airline number to your luggage before you check it in.
• Take a picture of it before you drop it off, so that if the airport services search for it, they can identify it more easily.
• Take out travel insurance with an included option against loss of luggage. This option is available at almost all insurance companies, and is also offered by the airlines themselves.

What to do if your luggage is lost
If despite all precautions you can not find your luggage on the baggage claim belt at the airport of arrival, you should ask for its search. In large airports there are special desks in the baggage claim area or staff who will give you a form to fill out and accept it. If you cannot find it after a certain period of time, you will be paid compensation, which is calculated on the basis of the weight of the loss. This amount depends on the country, airport, and airline.

Have a safe flight, and don’t lose your luggage!

The post Simple tips for air passengers: how not to lose your luggage at the airport and on the plane appeared first on My&AIR.

There is a solid exclusion zone in the terminal area. This is to prevent terrorists from approaching a building densely packed with people in a car packed with explosives. Before entering the airport, you may want to pay attention to the security cameras that keep a watchful eye on the surrounding area. No event that takes place in the immediate vicinity of the airport building will get past these cameras and each one will be recorded on a recording device.

Once you enter the building itself, you are met with the next step in airline security – the inspection of your luggage and yourself. You will place large bags and suitcases on special moving conveyor belts that will run your luggage through a magical device that scans the entire contents of your bags like X-rays scans a person. You will be asked to empty all the contents of your pockets and place them in a special container. You will also remove your watch, belt, headgear, and perhaps even your shoes. Relieved in this way you yourself will go through a stationary metal detector, which will detect the remains of metal products on you or your clothes. The metal detector is used by security to try to detect cold or firearms that you may be trying to sneak into the airport building or onto the plane.

Sometimes you may see a dog at entry control that is specially trained by scent to detect drugs hidden in your clothing or luggage. This is the work of the narcotics control department. In the airport building, if you lift your head and wiggle it around, you will also find an array of surveillance cameras. Security guards use them to keep a close eye on the passengers and look out for those who are not behaving quite adequately. Perhaps some of them are terrorists or potential airplane hijackers.

Exactly the same kind of screening, including a stationary metal detector and an “X-ray” machine, you will go through before boarding the plane itself and a third time at the airport of arrival. Sometimes it seems that all these measures are unnecessarily tedious. However, they are all done for you and me, to achieve the maximum level of safety during your air travel.

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Seats at the emergency exits.
These are traditionally thought to be the best seats on an airplane (not counting business class seats, of course), and they really are. There is much more space in front of the seats and as a result you can stretch out your legs. However…

On almost all airlines, these seats are now paid for. In some cabin layouts these seats have no individual entertainment system, and the entire flight you’ll have to watch airline ads and a map of the flight on a common screen. You’ll say that’s a small thing. On short flights it really does not matter, but for long flights having a multimedia entertainment system is very important. After all, to sleep on the plane in economy class, even with legs outstretched, very difficult, so the whole flight to watch movies and listen to music.

Window seat (porthole)
The seats by the window are good not only because you can admire the opening views of the clouds passing by, but also because you can lean against the wall, which will greatly facilitate your sleep. So if you can, choose those seats.

The middle of the cabin
If we talk about the landing areas in the airliner, the middle of the cabin (closer to the wings) is the least shaky during takeoff and landing, on the air pits. Not to say that this is fundamental, but if you’re afraid to fly and every creak of plastic in the cabin horrifies you, it’s better to choose the middle.

The front of the plane
Usually in the front of the cabin is the business class seats, followed by economy. If you need to get off the plane quicker than everyone else (for example, if you have a short stopover or if you don’t want to stand in line for a visa or passport control) it makes sense to choose seats at the front. Also, the feeding starts at the first seat.

The tail of the plane
The tail of the cabin is statistically considered the safest seat. According to physics, in the event of an accident, fuel from the wings (yes, the fuel tanks of passenger airliners are located in the wings) by inertia splashes forward and catches fire. But let’s not say any more sad stuff, because an airplane is the safest mode of transportation.

The good thing about the tail is that in wide-body aircraft with more seats in a row, their number in this part of the cabin is reduced, and if you are flying with two or a family, you can take the whole row by yourself. Another good thing is that the automatic seating is at the beginning of the cabin and if the board is not completely full there is a chance to be in that part of the cabin among the empty seats. And what does that entail? That you can take any row and lie down. Just do not “slow down” and take a row immediately after climbing up, because there are a lot of smart guys like you

But keep in mind that the last row can be the worst – the seats in it are usually against the back wall and almost can not recline.

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