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Travel Guide: Difference between revisions
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:: This page was originally created on Mozilla's internal intranet. However, it contains lots of information that could be useful to Mozillians who travel to Mozilla events, or really, anyone who travels, period. The original page (and its history) disappeared when the intranet site was retired. | :: This page was originally created on Mozilla's internal intranet. However, it contains lots of information that could be useful to Mozillians who travel to Mozilla events, or really, anyone who travels, period. The original page (and its history) disappeared when the intranet site was retired. | ||
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Travel doesn’t have to suck. In fact, there are probably relatively few parts of your life where a handful of modest optimizations can make such a tremendous difference. | |||
Travel doesn’t have to suck. In fact, there are probably relatively few parts of your life where optimizations can make such a difference | |||
* We never lose our luggage. | * We never lose our luggage. | ||
* We can get from the airport entrance to our gate in | * We can get from the airport entrance to our gate in minutes. | ||
* We get | * We get lounge access at the airport, upgraded flights, nicer rooms in hotels. | ||
* We don’t eat | * We don’t eat junk on the road. Indeed, we often discover great restaurants. | ||
We have secrets. We have millions of miles traveled between us, and we'd like to show you how it's done. | |||
But first, | But first, the 3 simplest things you can do to make travel a lot better: | ||
# Never, ever check your luggage. | |||
# | # Check in online as early as possible. | ||
# Check in online | |||
# Pick a Frequent Flyer program | # Pick a Frequent Flyer program | ||
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== Quick Tips == | == Quick Tips == | ||
* Scan a copy of your passport and any other travel documents | * Scan a copy of your passport and any other travel documents and put them somewhere web accessible but password protected (like Dropbox or Google Drive). This is helpful for getting replacements, and for getting consular help in the meantime. | ||
* Print a copy of those scans - particularly your passport, covid test and vaccination status - and keep them in your carry-on. Do this regardless of the current policies of the countries you're travelling to or through - if policies change while you're on the road, you might have a problem. | |||
* Let your credit card company know that you travel. Anti-fraud measures might lock your card the first time you use it on foreign soil, but they can flag your account so that doesn’t happen. This is no fun to discover after the fact. | * Let your credit card company know that you travel. Anti-fraud measures might lock your card the first time you use it on foreign soil, but they can flag your account so that doesn’t happen. This is no fun to discover after the fact. | ||
* Different airlines have different size restrictions for carryon luggage; know your limits for the whole trip and stay inside them. | |||
== Pick a Frequent Flyer Program == | == Pick a Frequent Flyer Program == | ||
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== General advice == | == General advice == | ||
* Make sure you know what the requirements are for crossing all immigration and customs barriers before you do so. If you don't know what those requirements are, embassy or consulate websites are often useful, as are the US government's [http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html country specific information] (though somewhat tending towards information useful to Americans). | * Make sure you know what the requirements are for crossing all immigration and customs barriers before you do so. If you don't know what those requirements are, embassy or consulate websites are often useful, as are the US government's [http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html country specific information] (though somewhat tending towards information useful to Americans). | ||
** This includes vaccination status and testing, which varies on a country by country basis and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. | |||
* Make sure you have any documentation needed in your carry-on luggage. When entering a country where you're not a citizen or resident, you should carry proof of onward travel, particularly if the reservation on which you're flying doesn't return you to your home country (e.g., because you're traveling on separate reservations). | * Make sure you have any documentation needed in your carry-on luggage. When entering a country where you're not a citizen or resident, you should carry proof of onward travel, particularly if the reservation on which you're flying doesn't return you to your home country (e.g., because you're traveling on separate reservations). | ||
* If you're ''transferring'' in a country (or multi-country immigration zone) that's different from your origin or destination, figure out whether you'll need to deal with immigration there, and if so, what the rules are. This might vary depending on the airport, or in some cases even on which terminal you arrive at and depart from. (In the latter case, airport websites are often helpful.) | * If you're ''transferring'' in a country (or multi-country immigration zone) that's different from your origin or destination, figure out whether you'll need to deal with immigration there, and if so, what the rules are. This might vary depending on the airport, or in some cases even on which terminal you arrive at and depart from. (In the latter case, airport websites are often helpful.) | ||
* | * Don't carry any non-commercially-packaged food through customs, not even the apple you got in the airport. Many places have strict agricultural control policies that prohibit doing so; it's not worth the trouble. | ||
* Always carry a pen (blue or black) somewhere in your checked luggage for filling out the immigration and customs forms. | |||
* | |||
= Packing = | = Packing = | ||
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* TIP: Things to make sure are '''not''' in your checked bag: everything you need to get through customs and immigration and get to your final destination. Any electronics that might be stolen. Lithium-ion batteries (prohibited). | * TIP: Things to make sure are '''not''' in your checked bag: everything you need to get through customs and immigration and get to your final destination. Any electronics that might be stolen. Lithium-ion batteries (prohibited). | ||
Some airlines (particularly non-North American | Some airlines (particularly non-North American or discount airlines) have much lower limits for what you're allowed to carry on, so you'll have to check luggage anyway. | ||
Some airlines (e.g., Air France, KLM) will even want to weigh your carry-on bag (often although not reliably), and want it to be a weight that's lower than what it is with your laptop in it (e.g., 6kg, 8kg). Remember that your laptop often counts as a separate personal item and you can take it out of the bag before weighing. | Some airlines (e.g., Air France, KLM) will even want to weigh your carry-on bag (often although not reliably), and want it to be a weight that's lower than what it is with your laptop in it (e.g., 6kg, 8kg). Remember that your laptop often counts as a separate personal item and you can take it out of the bag before weighing. | ||
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* It's extremely helpful to have some kind of containers to organize your stuff. Purpose-made packing "cubes" are great, but are absurdly expensive. You can get by with zip-top plastic bags if you don't travel often, or while you're waiting to find ready-made cubes on sale. | * It's extremely helpful to have some kind of containers to organize your stuff. Purpose-made packing "cubes" are great, but are absurdly expensive. You can get by with zip-top plastic bags if you don't travel often, or while you're waiting to find ready-made cubes on sale. | ||
* If you buy only one packing accessory, consider getting a [http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Creek-Travel-Pack-It-Folder/dp/B002YIRC3O/ packing folder], which helps you fold larger items (shirts, pants, skirts) to a uniform footprint, and then encloses them like an envelope. | * If you buy only one packing accessory, consider getting a [http://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Creek-Travel-Pack-It-Folder/dp/B002YIRC3O/ packing folder], which helps you fold larger items (shirts, pants, skirts) to a uniform footprint, and then encloses them like an envelope. | ||
* Compression bags, which let you squeeze all the air out of your clothes, are good only for clothes that don't easily wrinkle. However, a compression bag can be great as a laundry bag to minimize the volume of dirty clothes on your way home. | * Compression bags, which let you squeeze all the air out of your clothes, are good only for clothes that don't easily wrinkle. However, a compression bag can be great as a laundry bag to minimize the volume of dirty clothes on your way home. Either way, have a cloth or plastic bag you can use to keep used laundry separate. | ||
= Airport Hacking = | = Airport Hacking = | ||
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== Being prepared for security == | == Being prepared for security == | ||
* Veteran move: if you have a digital boarding pass, set a screenshot of that boarding pass as the background of your lock screen, so you can see the QR code without unlocking the phone. | |||
* Bring identification. [http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/acceptable-ids Here's a list of acceptable IDs] in the US. If you forget your ID, all is not lost. It's possible, with some extra hassle, to travel within the US even if you don't have your identification. [http://blog.tsa.gov/2013/04/tsa-travel-tips-tuesday-can-you-fly.html Here's what the TSA says to do if you don't have ID.] | * Bring identification. [http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/acceptable-ids Here's a list of acceptable IDs] in the US. If you forget your ID, all is not lost. It's possible, with some extra hassle, to travel within the US even if you don't have your identification. [http://blog.tsa.gov/2013/04/tsa-travel-tips-tuesday-can-you-fly.html Here's what the TSA says to do if you don't have ID.] | ||
* Have photocopies - paper copies - of your passport and one other piece of ID (and where necessary, vaccination status or test results.) | |||
* Avoid getting into a screening line behind people who look like they don't travel often (families with kids, retirement-age folks, large groups). | * Avoid getting into a screening line behind people who look like they don't travel often (families with kids, retirement-age folks, large groups). | ||
* Wear slip-on shoes | * Wear slip-on shoes and socks. Do not go barefoot in airports (And, for the love of God, Do Not Sit Or Lie Down On The Floors. Airport floors are disgusting, you have no idea.) | ||
* Consider not wearing a belt, or wear one with no metal, so you don't have to take it off. | * Consider not wearing a belt, or wear one with no metal, so you don't have to take it off. | ||
* Avoid clothes with extra pockets, like cargo pants. They can be flagged by the | * Avoid clothes with extra pockets, like cargo pants. They can be flagged by the body scanner, and cause you to get a pat-down. Same for "travel" clothes with hidden pockets; these can be handy while touring, but not while flying. Even a hoodie can win you a pat-down for the hood and kangaroo pocket. | ||
* On the other hand, a jacket with lots of pockets is like an extra carry-on; you have to remove it for security anyway, and you can keep your in-flight necessities (gadgets, etc.) close to hand during your flight. | * On the other hand, a jacket with lots of pockets is like an extra carry-on; you have to remove it for security anyway, and you can keep your in-flight necessities (gadgets, etc.) close to hand during your flight. | ||
* Know the drill with liquids, gels, and creams: containers at most 100ml/3oz, in a clear zip-top bag, 1 liter/1 quart size. Have this in an external pocket of your carry-on, ready to pull out and put in a bin. (If you travel often, you might want to get a sturdier bag than the grocery store kind. It must still be clear and zip-top.) | * Know the drill with liquids, gels, and creams: containers at most 100ml/3oz, in a clear zip-top bag, 1 liter/1 quart size. Have this in an external pocket of your carry-on, ready to pull out and put in a bin. (If you travel often, you might want to get a sturdier bag than the grocery store kind. It must still be clear and zip-top.) | ||
** Don't pack little bottles of booze. Yes, it's under the limit, yes you're technically allowed to carry it through security. Don't. | |||
* Avoid large metal jewelry. | * Avoid large metal jewelry. | ||
* Take everything, but especially metal (keys, coins, etc.), out of your pockets. | * Take everything, but especially metal (keys, coins, etc.), out of your pockets. | ||
* Leave your pocket knives and multitools at home. | * '''Leave your pocket knives and multitools at home.''' | ||
* If you're wearing an activity monitor, such as a FitBit, take it off for screening. | * If you're wearing an activity monitor, such as a FitBit, take it off for screening. | ||
* You should hang onto your ID and boarding pass as you go through the line, but you can't carry them through screening; put them in your bin. | * You should hang onto your ID and boarding pass as you go through the line, but you can't carry them through screening; put them in your bin. | ||
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* Take your laptop out of your bag and put it in a separate bin. You can usually leave it in a sleeve, as long as there's nothing else in the sleeve. | * Take your laptop out of your bag and put it in a separate bin. You can usually leave it in a sleeve, as long as there's nothing else in the sleeve. | ||
* Consider getting a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag, with a laptop-only section that folds out without taking out the computer. The less you handle your laptop, the less likely you are to drop it. (US TSA allows you leave the computer in this type of bag; other countries often do not.) | * Consider getting a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag, with a laptop-only section that folds out without taking out the computer. The less you handle your laptop, the less likely you are to drop it. (US TSA allows you leave the computer in this type of bag; other countries often do not.) | ||
* Don't | * Don't start going through the screening machine or metal detectors before you can see your stuff moving down the conveyor belt. | ||
== US Trusted Traveler Programs == | == US Trusted Traveler Programs == | ||
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== Country-specific notes == | |||
* | |||
* | === USA === | ||
* | * visitors under the [https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html visa waiver program] (those who don't need a visa) must apply online for an [http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/esta ESTA]. | ||
* | |||
* | === Canada === | ||
* visitors who do not need a visa, are entering Canada by air, and are not US citizens or Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents, must apply online for an [http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp eTA]. | |||
=== Schengen Area (Europe) === | |||
* The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area Schengen Area] is an immigration-barrier-free zone covering most of the European Union and some additional non-EU countries, but not the UK or Ireland. | |||
* If you need a visa to visit the Schengen Area, it is easier to get such a visa if your point of arrival in the Schengen Area is the same country as your destination. (For example, if you're traveling to Spain, it is easier to arrive in Madrid after connecting in the UK or US than connecting via Amsterdam, since in the latter case getting the visa requires dealing with both the Spanish and Dutch authorities.) | |||
* If your nationality requires a visa to visit the Schengen Area and your trip does not terminate in Schengen, avoid making more than one connection in Schengen; in such a case you must get a Schengen visa, even though that's not your destination. Schengen immigration authorities look at your ''next'' point of travel (not your final one) to decide whether you need a visa; if it is Schengen, they will ask for one. | |||
=== New Zealand === | |||
* Make sure to declare any shoes in your checked luggage. The authorities just want to look at them and maybe clean the dirt off for you, but they'll be upset if you don't declare them. | |||
* Don't even think about [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11404025 bringing fresh fruit] into New Zealand or you will get an instant fine. | |||
=== Australia === | |||
* Visitors who can can enter without a visa must apply online for an [https://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ ETA]. | |||
= Flying = | = Flying = | ||