High Fashion at 30,000 Feet - This is not the Red Carpet

We have all seen fashion faux pas in magazines, but on a plane, it could mean your health. Take Lady Gaga for instance. In 2010, on a transatlantic flight, she wore blue platform Alexander McQueen shoes and an outfit made of black and yellow tape. In flight, Ms. Gaga began to experience symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, a life-threatening condition commonly caused by a combo of in-flight risk factors like low cabin pressure, dehydration, immobility during a long trip and cramped seats (according to the American Council on Exercise). Symptoms include swollen or red limbs, but individuals suffering from deep vein thrombosis often exhibit no symptoms. Gaga, knew something was wrong and fortunately when she complained to the cabin crew, they convinced her to change into less constricting clothes.

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Most likely you don’t have a comparable wardrobe to Lady G. However you might have something that’s looks great but is not designed for sitting in a seat, with limited mobility, at high altitude for hours. Think tight jeans.

Tight clothes can restrict blood flow in the already-confining space of an airplane seat. Save those skinny jeans for when you arrive. My favorite travel outfit is loose fitting travel slacks from Paskho and a nice knit top.I look fashionable, but more importantly,I'm comfortable. Go for loose-fitting natural fiber garments (clothes made from cotton, rayon or linen). Give your skin and your veins some breathing space.

Part 2 of Lady G’s problem were her high heels. Any woman knows the problems these shoes offer, just standing on solid ground. When you watch the on board safety features video, they always say not to exit the plane in an emergency with high heels. They can puncture the evacuation equipment. I don’t know about you, but I want shoes on my feet if I have to run from a plane. Why not wear your bulky, but comfortable shoes and leave space in your luggage. If you have to change planes and have a long walk between gates; comfy shoes are best. And if you didn’t take my tip on how to get TSA PreCheck all the time (no shoes off), then please consider slip on shoes. That’ll save you (and everyone behind you in line) some time.

Odors are intensified on a plane, passengers are in close quarters and the air is recycled throughout the cabin. The perfect seatmate is one who doesn't smell like anything. Just because your flight is at the crack of dawn, don’t wear yesterday’s jogging outfit. I love perfume but don’t wear any when you fly. Scent is subjective. We’ve all sat next to the guy with too much after shave cologne. People with allergies or asthma could have a reaction to strong perfumes; could be uncomfortable for both of you.

You can go through a range of temperature climates in just one flight. There's the tropical feel of a jog through the sunny airport terminal, then the stuffy and warm wait while the plane sits on the tarmac, followed by the in-flight arctic chill, especially if you are seated next to a window. Layers are a traveler's best friend for varying temperatures. I always have a shawl and blanket in my carry on. Air plane blankets have become an endangered species.


You can look fabulous and fashionable when you get to your destination.
En route, look smart and comfortable.


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What Is Your Passport IQ?

September is Passport Awareness Month

You can't leave the country without it. How up to date are you on the rules and regulations?

1. When do you need to renew your passport?

2. What is the difference between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry?

3. What is the difference between a passport book and a passport card?

4. What is the Real ID Act? How does it affect your travel?

5. What is the difference between a Regular Book and a Large Book?

6. What is STEP?

For the answers email info@WemakeTravelEasy.com and then let me know how well you did.


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Free Can Be Very Costly

You are at the gate, an hour before you flight. You zipped through security because you have Global entry; sailing through TSAPreCheck. You’re feeling good, you found a nice computer spot, you take out your iPad, computer, phone and connect to the free airport Wi-Fi and that’s where it all ends.

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In a recent study (January-May 2018), Coronet a cloud security company, ranked 45 of the busiest US airports and found San Diego to be the absolute worst for cyber threats. Free Wi-Fi at airports may seem like a public service, in reality, they serve hackers. “The main reason airports are problematic is because most people are taking convenience over security,” said Dror Liwer, chief security officer and co-founder of Coronet.

These networks are usually unencrypted, insecure or improperly configured according to the study. Its’ not just your own device that is at risk, but your company’s entire digital infrastructure that's at risk, every time you login to a Wi-Fi that is unencrypted, unsecured or improperly configured and send emails or share data with a co-worker.

“Hacking, which includes phishing, ransomware, malware and skimming, is the most common type of data breach and accounts for 60 percent of attacks, according to a 2017 study by the Identity Theft Resource Center. These attacks can lead to identity theft, which along with debt collection, imposter scams and other kinds of fraud, cost consumers $905 million in total losses in 2017, according to the Federal Trade Commission.” reports Carmen Reinicke of CNBC.

Here are the 3 major risks you take when you log onto public Wi-Fi

Your Device: When you click on "accept terms and conditions", you may unknowingly be installing malware on your device. The website looked legit, but it wasn’t.

Credentials: You can be a target for a Wi-Fi phishing scheme. The website looks just like the site you think is legit, just like your email sign in page. But it’s not and as you sign in, you are giving your login info to the hacker.

Data: Now you can infect your entire company. If data is sent to and from coworkers, through the hacker’s device, then they have all that info. You’ve handed it all over to them on a silver platter, so to speak.

Here’s the list of the 10 worst airports. Just because your airport is not on the list, it doesn’t mean it’s safe. It just means the hackers haven’t gotten to it yet.

These are the top 10 worst airports for cybersecurity. 10 being the absolute worst.

* Source: Coronet

1. San Diego International Airport 10

2. John Wayne Airport- Orange County Airport 8.7

3. Hobby Airport Houston TX 7.5

4. Southwest Florida International Airport Fort Myers 7.1

5. Newark Liberty International Airport 7.1

6. Dallas Love Field 6.8

7. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 6.5

8. Charlotte Douglas International Airport 6.4

9. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport 6.4

10. Logan International Airport Boston 6.4

You are much safer signing into secured network. It may not be as convenient, but it sure will save you in the end. I use my T-Mobile Hot Spot when I’m traveling. I never sign into unsecured networks and neither should you.


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Prefer to email? info@WeMakeTravelEasy.com

How to get compensated for flight delays

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Worst Airport Nightmare! Well there is an app to the rescue! 

AirHelp is on my phone and it should be on yours. I’m reprinting this article by Gilbert Ott* so that you have all the details on this great service. I hope we never have to use it, but what a great service if we do.

What is AirHelp?
AirHelp is a free app available for Android and iPhone that automatically tracks flights for delays, cancellations, and any other unforeseen circumstances that could mean compensation for passengers. Rather than sending people to a customer service phone number that gives you smooth jazz and automated options instead of a human being, the company does all the work necessary to file and win a claim on your behalf. In fact, they only get paid when you win. Their simple interface automatically tracks all flights around the world for potential claims, making it seamless for users to definitively find out if there's any undiscovered airline money hiding in their inbox, or on their boarding pass. To date, AirHelp has assisted more than 900,000 passengers recover north of $85 million from airlines—and counting.

Don’t Throw Away Your Boarding Pass

OK. But how does it actually work? In early June, Airhelp launched a new boarding pass scanner, meaning you can now file a compensation claim with a single photo of your boarding pass. That's right—even if you're still sitting on the plane and landed more than three hours late, a single picture can initiate a claim, letting you know what you're eligible for. Those old boarding passes? They work, too, up to three years, even potentially for flights where the airline has already denied you compensation.

With the click of a button (on desktop or mobile) you can also sync past travel reservations from Gmail, TripIt, Yahoo, or Outlook with AirHelp's system, which will automatically search through three years of travel history. If you're due some money, the company will offer to file the claim on your behalf and when they win, they'll automatically wire you the money, minus their 25 percent cut for the whole "dealing with the airline" bit. If you'd prefer not to sync all your past travel; and want to input your history manually by flight number and date, you can opt for that instead—it will just take a bit longer.

Know your rights...

AirHelp works worldwide, but a few routes will yield more compensation than others. Certain parts of the world, such as the European Union, have extremely stringent requirements placed on airlines to protect the rights of passengers. If your flight is delayed on arrival as little as three hours leaving the EU on any airline, or arriving to the European Union on an EU airline, you're eligible for up to $671 (€600) in cash compensation. In addition, if your flight is canceled, you're still eligible for a ride to your final destination, on top of the money.

In other parts of the world, such as the United States, where there's no official guidance on compensation, airlines may still compensate passengers in the form of vouchers or miles for inconveniences. While there's no benchmark for compensation in the U.S., a $100 voucher—or 10,000 airline miles—is certainly a good minimum starter. It's not unfair to claim expenses you incurred during the hassle, either.

*This article was originally published in 2016. It has been updated with new information.


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