Sisters travelers can dodge snafus

The holiday season was a nightmare for many travelers -- especially those who tried to get across the country by air.

Comair's computer failure led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights on Christmas Day and snarled traffic for a week and a U.S. Airways sick-out further complicated the already hobbled air travel system.

Most Sisters area travelers avoided such travails according to Phil Arends of Desert Wings Travel in Sisters. But Arends acknowledged that air travellers can now expect more headaches and hassles than ever in an industry he calls "very fragile."

U.S. Airways is just one of several airlines in financial trouble. Travelers from the Pacific Northwest haven't experienced too much trouble because of the airline's plight.

"So far it hasn't been much of a factor," Arends said.

According to Arends, most of the region's carriers seem to be in pretty good shape, although United Airlines is in bankruptcy.

It's really not possible to "cherry pick airlines and use only those that seem to be most stable.

"We've kind of gone through that exercise," Arends said.

He said he tried to "sell away" from United to protect clients, but doing so limited options.

Industry-wide financial troubles are worrisome, since travelers can't even be sure an airline they book with will be there when it comes to travel. And, as the U.S. Airways debacle showed, financial problems can create turmoil in the skies.

But Arends says travelers can't fret too much about things they can't control.

"You probably couldn't fly if you were too concerned (about bankruptcies)," he said.

Arends recommends that travelers do everything they can on an individual level to protect themselves -- then take the plunge and hope for the best.

The travel agent offered these suggestions:

• Use a credit card to purchase tickets, since doing so offers at least some recourse if the purchase "disappears."

• Don't book too far in advance. It used to be that travel agents urged travelers to book well in advance for, say, a summer vacation in Europe to get the best schedule and price. No more.

Arends recommends booking no more than three months out. That gives travelers some chance to avoid schedule problems and other hassles as airlines go through one crisis after another.

• Purchase travel insurance. That's a good idea in the volatile global climate in any case.

Travel insurance won't help you if you book on a bankrupt airline, but it is a good idea where it applies.

• Use a travel agent. The business climate is tough for travel agents as airlines cut commissions and more and more people book travel on-line. But Arends still sees a role for the service he provides.

A travel agent can be a trouble-shooter for a traveler when something goes wrong. An agent can't always fix a problem, but he's better placed to find a "work-around" than the traveler who is stuck in the airport.

"At least if something happens, you have somebody to speak to," Arends said.

The Automobile Association of America (AAA) also offers advice for travelers.

Winter weather plays havoc with flight schedules, no matter what the airlines do. AAA recomends being well-prepared for weather-related delays:

• Pack an emergency kit. Whether traveling by air or motor vehicle, be prepared for unexpected delays. Books, toiletries, and games for children will help endure delays in airports

• Pack wisely in case you become separated from your luggage. Important and essential items such as medications, keys, travel documents, jewelry, toiletries, important phone numbers and other valuable items should be placed in a carry-on bag.

Arends does not hold out much hope for improvement in the world of air travel.

He said that he is generally opposed to government intervention in business, but he's convinced that de-regulation of the airline industry has failed.

"I do think that if there's one area the government needs to be involved in, it's the air transportation system," he said.

The air transportation system is vital to world commerce.

"The world's a smaller place; we're not going to quit traveling," he said. "(Air travel) is basically glorified bus service so there's no way we can not have a good system. The whole world needs to come together and make it work."