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vice charges, taxes, processing fees,
etc.
If you decide to buy the trip after checking it out,
paying by credit card gives you certain legal rights
to pursue a chargeback (credit) if promised services
aren't delivered.
For further advice, see Other Sources of
Information at the end of this brochure for details
on how to order the Federal Trade Commission's
pamphlet Telemarketing Travel Fraud.
Flying is a routine activity for millions of Americans,
and raises no health considerations for the great
majority of them. However, there are certain things
you can do to ensure that your flight is as
comfortable as possible.
Changes in pressure can temporarily block
the Eustachian tube, causing your ears to ‘pop' or to
experience a sensation of fullness. To equalize the
pressure, swallow frequently; chewing gum
sometimes helps. Yawning is also effective. Avoid
sleeping during descent; you may not swallow often
enough to keep ahead of the pressure change.
If yawning or swallowing doesn't help, use
the ‘valsalva maneuver':
Pinch your nostrils shut, then breathe in a
mouthful of air.
Using only your cheek and throat muscles,
force air into the back of your nose as if you
were trying to blow your thumb and finger
off your nostrils.
Be very gentle and blow in short successive
attempts. When you hear or feel a pop in your
ears, you have succeeded. Never force air
from your lungs or abdomen (diaphragm);
this can create pressures that are too intense.
Babies are especially troubled by these
pressure changes during descent. Having them feed
from a bottle or suck on a pacifier will often provide
relief.
Avoid flying if you have recently had
abdominal, eye or oral surgery, including a root
canal. The pressure changes that occur during climb
and descent can result in discomfort.
If you have an upper respiratory or sinus
infection, you may also experience discomfort
resulting from pressure changes. Postpone your trip
if possible. (Check to see if your fare has
cancellation or change penalties.)
A final tip on pressure changes: they cause
your feet to swell. Try not to wear new or tight
shoes while flying.
Airliner air is dry; if you wear contact lenses, blink often
and limit reading.
Alcohol and coffee both have a drying
effect on the body. Airliner cabin air is relatively dry
to begin with, and the combination can increase
your chances of contracting a respiratory infection.
If you wear contact lenses, the low cabin humidity
and/or consumption of alcohol or coffee can reduce
your tear volume, leading to discomfort if you don't
blink often enough. Lens wearers should clean their
lenses thoroughly before the flight, use lubricating
eye drops during the flight, read in intervals, and
take the lenses out if they nap. (This may not apply
to extended wear lenses; consult your practitioner.)
If you take prescription medications, bring
enough to last through your trip. Take along a copy
of the prescription, or your doctor's name and
telephone number, in case the medication is lost or
stolen. The medicine should be in the original
prescription bottle in order to avoid questions at
security or Customs inspections. Carry it in a pocket
or a carry-on bag; don't pack it in a checked bag, in
case the bag is lost.
You can minimize the effects of jet lag in
several ways:
Get several good nights' sleep before your trip.
Try to take a flight that arrives at night, so you
can go straight to bed.
Sleep on the plane (although not during descent).
During the flight do isometric exercises, eat
lightly, and drink little or no alcohol.
Try to use a rest room in the airport
terminal before departure. On some flights the cabin
crew begins beverage service shortly after the
Fasten Seat Belts sign is turned off, and the
serving cart may block access to the lavatories.
Air travel is so safe you'll probably never have to use
any of the advice we're about to give you. But if
you ever do need it, this information could save
your life.
Airline passengers usually take safety for
granted when they board an airplane. They tune out
the crew's pre-flight announcements or reach for a
magazine instead of the cards that show how to open
the emergency exit and what to do if the oxygen
mask drops down. Because of this, people are
needlessly hurt or killed in accidents they could
have survived.
Every time you board a plane, here are
some things you should do:
Be reasonable about the amount of carry-on luggage
that you bring. FAA rules require airlines to limit
the amount of carry-on baggage, and if you try to
carry too much with you, the crew may insist that
you check in some items. (There is no universal
limit; it depends on the aircraft type and the
passenger load.) A bag that is not properly stowed
could turn into an unguided missile in an accident or
block the aisles during an evacuation.
Count the number of rows to the nearest emergency
exit.
Be careful about what you put into the storage bins
over your seat. Their doors may pop open during an
accident or even a hard landing, spilling their
contents. Also, passengers in aisle seats have been
injured by heavy items falling out of these
compartments when people are stowing or retrieving
belongings at the beginning or end of a flight. Please
be considerate of others and put hard, heavy items
under the seat in front of you; save the overhead
bins for coats, hats, and small, soft bags.
As soon as you sit down, fasten and unfasten your
seat belt a couple of times. Watch how it works.
There are several kinds of belts, and in an
emergency you don't want to waste time fumbling
with the buckle.
procedures, pointing out emergency exits and
explaining seat belts, life
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