The first step is to get the photo. Here are the rules for the passport photo, in case you want to do it yourself – the photo must be in color on photo quality paper, sized 2″ x 2″ (51 x 51 mm). They want the size of the head to be between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head and taken within the last six months. The background must be a solid white or off-white background, no colors. Your face must be facing directly forward, centered, with no smile, keep a neutral expression and both eyes open. Your clothes must be normal street clothes that you would wear on a daily basis, religious clothing is allowed but no uniforms. Do not wear a hat, or anything on or around your face if you can avoid it, unless it is religious in nature and worn every day. Here are some examples of good and bad photos.

I think the rules for babies is a little laxer because our photo fit almost all the rules except his mouth was open. He wasn’t smiling but I’d imagine a neutral expression usually means a closed mouth. Since that wasn’t explicitly listed as a no no, we submitted it anyway and the processor had no issue with it.

This is normally not an issue for adults, and older children, if they know the rules. Babies… well, babies don’t care.

The next few steps are the same for a child, under the age of 16, as it is for an adult. It consists of filling out and submitting Form DS-11, the Application for a U.S. Passport, and additional information that identifies the child and the parent or guardian of that child.

Here’s the full list of what you’ll need:

• DS-11 Application, along with passport photos.
• Evidence of U.S. Citizenship for the child – You can use a previously issued Passport, certified birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship.
• Evidence of Relationship, between you and child – Certified birth certificate with both parents’ names, Foreign birth certificate with both parents’ names, adoption decree with adopting parents’ names, court order that establishes custody or guardianship
• ID of parents – Passport, naturalization certificate, valid driver’s license, government or military ID
• Photocopy of each parent/guardian ID to be presented – Photocopy on plain white 8.5 x 11″ paper with front and back of ID

We opted to go to our local library, instead of the post office, because they offer this service for a $25 fee (same as the post office) and we figured it was going to be a little faster. After fifteen minutes and $105 later ($25 processing fee, $80 passport fee), we were done. Passport will be here in 4-6 weeks.

Remember, passports for children expire every five years.

(Photo: swimparallel)

If you are going this route, here are a few things to keep in mind when you look for a self-storage facility:

• Look for promotions: A lot of places will give you the first month’s rent free or they will offer you the use of their truck, which can save you money when you’re actually moving your stuff.
• Easy payment options: Make sure it’s easy to pay the bill each month (or even prepay for several months), you don’t want them auctioning off your stuff!
• Use it as excess storage: If you live near friends or family who have a lot of space, consider using self-storage when you’ve exhausted all other options. While you probably don’t want to leave everything at your friends or family’s houses, you can leave your most valuable items there and use self-storage as spillover.
• Look for good security: You want to make sure the self-storage area is fenced and well-lit, you won’t be around to guard your possessions so you’d like to believe the storage company will.
• Shop around: Like anything else you buy, shop around for the best price on the unit you want. Only get amenities you need (like climate control) if the items you’re storing need those perks.

What are your tips for making the most out of self-storage?

(Photo: roadkillbuddha)

The State Department also provides travel alerts and travel warnings. Travel Alerts are short term notices designed to educate you about any timely events that may be happening in an area, such as a recent election that might spark protests or a recent natural disaster. Travel Alerts are designed to educate you but not necessarily deter you from visiting an area.

Travel Warnings, however, are notices intended to dissuade you from visiting a particular region. Egypt, for example, was the subject of a February 1st, 2011 travel warning with this opening paragraph:

On February 1, the Department of State ordered the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members from Egypt. This replaces the Travel Warning for Egypt dated January 28, 2011. The U.S. Department of State continues to recommend that U.S. citizens avoid travel to Egypt at this time. U.S. citizens should consider leaving Egypt as soon as they can safely do so, due to ongoing political and social unrest. Large-scale demonstrations with the potential for violence continue in several areas of Cairo, Alexandria, and other parts of the country, and rail and road travel has been disrupted between cities, and between city centers and airports. Disruptions in communications, including internet service, also continue. The Government of Egypt may also disrupt mobile phone service during future demonstrations. The Government of Egypt modified the curfew times and locations; now 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. throughout Egypt until further notice. U.S. citizens should obey curfew orders and remain indoors during curfew hours.

The warning goes on for many more paragraphs that include information for those seeking to escape the unrest.

Before any major trip to another country, be sure to review the advisories and look out for any alerts or warnings.

Watch this brief video:

Why go through the lock when you can go through the zipper?

Now, Southwest is migrating towards a new mileage system where you earn points based on the fare, not on the flight itself. This will reward long haul flyers who pay higher fares and “punish” regular flyers who don’t select Business Select (or even Anytime).

Earning, Redeeming Points

In the new system, you’ll earn points based on dollars spent in each fare class:

• Business Select – 12 points per dollar spent
• Anytime – 10 points per dollar spent
• Wanna Get Away – 6 points per dollar spent

Fortunately they kept redemptions easy, it’s basically ten times the rate at which you earn them:

• Business Select – 120 points per fare dollar
• Anytime – 100 points per fare dollar
• Wanna Get Away – 60 points per fare dollar

Summary of Changes

With all things being equal, this basically makes the Rapid Rewards voucher equal to ten round-trips, versus the eight round trips before. What I used to do was fly home from BWI to ISP every few months to visit my parents. After eight flights, I’d acquire a Rapid Rewards voucher and use it to fly to somewhere on the west coast. It was fantastic because eight flights at $150 a piece earned me a nice $300-500 flight. Now I won’t benefit quite as much since I’ll have to use more points to get the $300-500 flight.

Another change was the removal of blackout dates and seat limitation. In the past there were only a handful of seats available for Rapid Rewards and you couldn’t use it on flights around the holidays. Now it’s all fair game.

A-List, A-List Preferred

There were always preferred flying classes with Southwest but here is a summary of the programs now. With A-List, which you get with 25 one ways or 35,000 flown points, you get priority boarding/checkin, a 25% earning bonus, priority standby and a special phone line. With A-List Preferred, earned at 50 one-ways or 70,000 flown points, you get all the above plus free on-board wifi.

Transition

All this will take place March 1st, with existing award tickets still following the old system. Any credits you have will remain credits and you will have to convert new credits into old credits to redeem them (1,200 points to a reward credit).

Overall I’m a bummed out about the changes because the reward program hurts my particular situation. I think it probably benefits business travelers, who can accrue business travel at a high rate and redeem it for personal travel at a lower rate, and that’s something Southwest seems to be catering towards these last few years.

(Photo: joanna8555)

If I did, I’d probably take advantage of the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program to apply for a redress number.

The definition of the term “redress” is to “remedy or set right” and in this case it remedies or sets right you and your name apart from the person who shares your name who may be on a TSA no-fly or watch list.

If your name appears on a TSA list, you probably experience additional scrutiny and screening in security lines at airports, customs at the borders, and other points of entry and exit. If you aren’t a security risk, it’s really a pain to be “selected” each time for additional security screening and, honestly, a waste of their time. IF this happens to you, you may want to apply for redress here.

There are some cases, especially in smaller plans, where the luggage compartments are pressurized the same as the cabin itself. In these smaller planes, there’s no separate luggage area and so luggage is stored in another part of the airplane. The smaller the plane, the more likely this will be the case.

When it doubt, check with the airline to see if the compartment is pressurized or temperature controlled. It will depend on the model of your aircraft and only your airline will know the specific details.

(Photo: smaedli)

One deck name that I see repeated is the Lido Deck. To those from the UK, Lido refers to a “public outdoor swimming pool and surrounding facilities,” which is fitting as the Lido deck is typically where the pool is. The origin of the word comes from Lido di Venezia, a beach that encloses the Lagoon of Venice.

So the next time you see a cruise ship with a Lido deck, you’ll know where that word comes from!

What are they?

• Airlines are required to provide passengers with food, potable water, comfortable cabin temperatures and ventiation, and adequate restrooms while a plane is delayed on the ground for over two hours.
• Airlines are required to offer the option for passengers to deplane if they’ve been on the ground for more than three hours after the door has closed. This option would be offered every three hours if it continues to sit on the ground. Violations will be penalized, up to $27,500 per passenger.
• Airports and airlines would be required to develop contingency plans for delayed flights. These plans would have to be reviewed and approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT can fine airlines and airports that don’t submit plans.
• The DOT will create a consumer complaint hotline so passengers can call the agency about delays.

The only exception to the three hour rule is if the pilot believes there would be a risk to passenger safety or security. Also, the pilot can delay deplaning for up to 30 minutes past the three hour period if they believe the flight will depart within 30 minutes.

The Early Show has a segment on the subject:

Airline executives call it a declaration of war… really? I don’t know about that.

How do I know? I listened to the pronunciation about thirty times and I still can’t repeat it!

If you want to give it a try, here is a recording from Wikipedia.

Good luck!