Your Safety At The Ramp

What is the Ramp?

Generally I would say it is a place where planes park in a lay man's language.

Most of us may not have set our eyes on the Ramp even though we are frequent travelers. We may have however heard of workers who have been ingested by plane engines. The general notion is that we as travelers are not prone to this kind of risks when travelling. If you are boarding from well developed airports, you may never have time to set foot on the Ramp leave alone set you eyes on it. Precautions have been taken to ensure such does not happen, so your safety has been taken care of. Once in awhile or more frequently you may have to use airports which do not have such kind of facilities, you may be required to use the Ramp when boarding or disembarking. As much as the airline and airport authorities have put measures to ensure your safety, I believe in taking full responsibility of my life and so should you.We are going to have a look at a few travel tips that you should know in case you find yourself within the Ramp when travelling. Remember you can also find yourself in this kind of situation in well developed airports as well in case of emergencies, so let's go through this together.

Noise
The Ramp is one noisy place from the equipment and vehicles at the ramp as well as the planes. This noise can be damaging to the ears more especially the ones from a running engine. The longer the exposure the more at risk your ear drums are. I always make a point of carrying some earplugs to keep of the noise as well as protect my ear drums. You will also find them in handy if you are trying to have some sleep on board, you never know who your neighbors are going to be. I once sat beside a couple who talked all night, I was grateful I had my earplugs at hand. I was able to take a good nap before landing.

Equipment

The Ramp is a busy place, there will be baggage trolleys being towed around, flight steps, fueling vehicles, passenger buses and vans among others. Let us say it can be more chaotic than the normal road you use, the good thing is that if you have to use the Ramp, there are airport and airline staff to guide you through to avoid you from running into or being run into. There are also clear marking to indicate passenger walkways. It is always safe to follow the markings which resemble the normal zebra crossing we are all familiar with, in some cases they may be in form of footprints. When in doubt, always ask the staff around for direction and safe walkways. Most airport will provide you with a bus so you will not have to do the walking.

Engine thrust
A moving plane always has an engine trust and it is powerful enough to blow away a truck, that is how powerful a thrust can be. The airline or airport authorities will not allow you to go near a live engine, however if you find yourself at the ramp and plane taxiing in or out, keep off till the plane is well parked and engines turned off or has taxed off completely. It is also good to know that there have been cases where workers have been ingested by engines when aircraft are parked. Yes this can happen if the engines were come live by fault, be on the look when boarding or disembarking via the Ramp. Follow airline staff instruction and directions to the latter. 

Spillage
Spillage may occur from any equipment at the Ramp, airport authorities always make sure that this is cleaned up immediately. However if you are the first to note spillage, go round it and let the staff know about it. Spillage can cause fall downs and injuries if stepped on, the same goes for water spillage during and after rain. Since you can not go round a wet Ramp due to rain, be careful and steady in your steps.

Smoking

I know how much you may want that puff more so if you are in a non smoking airport. Whatever you do, never ever smoke at the Ramp, smoking at a petrol station will be much safer than smoking at the ramp. There are hundred of oil pipes and vents at the ramp. Most vents will be in operation (engaged) as planes have to be fueled, a tiny spark can easily cause a huge blast and a blinding fire for the whole airport. The ramp is one of the most dangerous places in the world when it comes to fire outbreaks, keep that cigar as far away as you can when at the ramp.

Phones

The same reason you are advised not to pick your calls at a petrol station applies to the Ramp. The magnetic fields and the oil vapors more especially during fueling can easily cause a fire. Keep cool and take that call inside the plane, you will have time to communicate before take off. The chances of a spark fire are minimal but not impossible as all precautions have been taken into account, I prefer to always be on the safer side that regret later and besides there is too much noise to have any effective communication at the Ramp.

Safety cycle

Airport authorities always ensure a safety cycle around an aircraft. Passengers as well as equipment are not allowed to encroach this space either for the safety of the passengers or the safety of the aircraft. You may notice cones put at specific points of the plane, it is simple avoid that safety parameter. You will also find staff to guide you accordingly, the safely circle will prevent you from approaching the engine even if it is idle and passing under the wings. Even if it is raining, you will not find shelter under the wings, it is a no go zone.

 It is my hope that you have learnt something new today. Do you know of any safety tips for the Ramp. Please feel free to share, we will be glad to answer any of your questions too.

How much do you know about your passport?

Last week I saw a man go wild when he was denied boarding on a flight on his way to Johannesburg. Reason, he did not have enough blank pages on his passport. He was not a first time traveler, and the fact that he has never encountered such kind of regulation before made his reaction understandable. Unfortunately there is nothing much an airline can do under such circumstances, travel documents are solely the responsibility of the traveler, they only reinforce such regulations as set down by various countries. Some airlines may not be so keen on such regulations and you may get yourself to your destination only to be denied entry. It is advisable that you get familiar with these regulations before you set out for your trip. The regulations vary from one destination to another. Today we are going to explore our knowledge on passport regulations.

Blank pages on your Passport
Like our friend found out, you are likely to be denied boarding if you do not have enough blank pages on your passport. Some countries require that you have a blank page/pages for visa or entry and exit stamps. It does not matter how small  the entry stamp may be, some countries are very strict on blank pages on your passport, they may vary from one page to six pages. Do enough research on your destination and prepare accordingly. You would not want to have to cut short your trip at the airport because of missing a blank page not forgetting that this is not something you can fix in a matter of hours or a day.

Passport Expiry dates
Your passport maybe expiring in the next two months, yes it is valid but this can deny you entry in some destinations. The duration varies from one country to another up to more than six months validity from the date of entry. I highly recommend you renew your passport a year before expiry. Can you imagine arriving at your destination only to be denied entry because of the expiry of your passport? I guessed as much, it is one experience you would not want to encounter leave alone the idea of explaining to your friends or employer why you were denied entry. Not a nice picture.

Additional pages on your Passport
If your passport is full, consider applying for a new passport. Most countries if not all no longer allow the additional of new pages on passports, it is a regulation that is being enforced to curb fraudulence. Recheck your passport to ensure it is valid for travel in case you are travelling in the near future to avoid the last minute oh! surprise of I did not know when the rules changed

Significant damage to your passport will require a new one
Normal wear and tear is expected of your passport, however if your passport has significant tear, water(liquid) damage or unofficial markings renders your passport invalid. Consider getting a new one, better still keep that passport out of reach of children who are prone to make interesting drawings on every book they come across.

Alteration in your appearance
Immigration board agents as well as airline agents are trained on features to look for in you appearance so dying your hair or cutting it short should not be a reason for you to opt for a new passport. However, if you have had changes in your physical appearance due to surgery, face uplift, face tattoos or weight gain you should renew your passport accordingly. In some countries you may be required to apply for a new passport due to age. For example if you got your passport at the age of three 10 to 15 years ago, you will be required to apply for a new one. It is considered that your physical appearance has changed significantly by then.

Some country stamps may deny you entry to another
Surprised? So was I when I found out. Some stamps in your passport can put you in trouble, for example entry stamps to Israel in your passport can deny you entry to some countries in the Middle East like Lebanon and and Saudi Arabia. Organize yourself if you are planning to visit such kind of countries. A good research on the countries you have visited against your destination is advisable.

I hope now you know better about your passport. Do not hesitate to ask any question about your travel documents. We will be glad to assist or get you an expert to to guide you through. Happy Travels!

Let's Talk About Air Tickets Part 1, Non Refundable Tickets.

I am a fan of social media and I follow a lot of travelers online.I get to learn a lot about travel experiences.These experiences are always full of fun and exciting till one decides to cancel their itinerary and of course they want their money back. If you are an economist like me, I know you choose the cheapest offers in the market, why not, after all every penny counts more so if you have plans of exploring more destination like the ones I have planned for this year, I hear you. The nightmare begins when the airline or the agents informs you that your ticket is non refundable. Wo wo wo , wait, what do you mean my ticket is non refundable, we are talking about my hard earned $1020? I know what you're thinking, this is straight unfair and I agree with you it is unfair, 100% yes from face value. Why should you pay for services you have not consumed anyway? If you travel frequently you have come across such scenarios and I am sure it never made any sense back then, it has not and maybe never will.

As you travel more and more you will realize that you will pay different fares to a destination with the same airline, now it is cheaper and it doubles in the next two hours or so and you wonder why? I want to take you through this journey step by step so that you may have more understanding on air tickets and air fares. Today we are going to talk about non refundable tickets.

What do airline mean when they say your ticket is non refundable?
A non refundable ticket means you will not get your money back if you choose to cancel your itinerary, as simple as that. It is a policy across most if not all airlines, well I have not heard of any that does not sell non- refundable tickets. We can equate it to sales policy in some stores where goods once sold cannot be returned.

What makes a ticket non refundable?
A ticket becomes non refundable due various reasons.

Promotional Tickets
Many tickets on offer if not all are non refundable. That means if you buy and pay for you ticket now, and you decide you are not taking the trip in the next second, you are not getting your money back. Many offers are made by airlines to promote a new destination, attract more customers, or on special occasions like Easter, valentines or Christmas. Promotional tickets in some cases do not make money for the airline unless they are sold in bulk, such tickets are non refundable like goods once sold cannot be returned. It is your choice if you want to consume the goods/service or not. I highly recommend you buy such tickets when you are sure about your trip to avoid any cancellations.   

Discounted tickets
Discounted tickets are sold cheaper than the normal published fares. An airline may decide to select a few seats and sell them at discounted fares. A discounted ticket may be fully non-refundable or partially refundable. When a ticket is partially refundable it means you can get a refund on some taxes. In most cases  a small percentage of your full ticket. On some discounted tickets you can get a refund before you take your flight, however if you have used part of the ticket then the rest may be non refundable.

How do I know if my ticket is non refundable?
Some airline or agents will issue you with a ticket and it is clearly written on the footer that the ticket is non-refundable among other condition that govern your ticket, in some cases you will not. The best way to find out is to ask when you are purchasing your ticket. You will be in a position to make an informed decision before you do the purchase.

Can I reschedule my flight if I have a non refundable ticket?
Some non refundable tickets allow for a reschedule, however it is advisable to note that such tickets attract the highest change of reservation fee and for some you can not change at all. I always make a point of finding out if my ticket has an allowance for rescheduling in case I decide otherwise.

The airline has changed my schedule, will I get a refund on a non refundable ticket?
Most airline if not all will refund your ticket in full if they cancel your flight and you have decided not to take the trip because of the changes. However it is good to note that some taxes like service fee are non refundable if you did not book your ticket online. Do not expect to get all your monies back.

Ridiculous Questions They Ask About Your Check-in Luggage Or Are They?

Some Questions they ask you when you are checking in for your flight, very ridiculous or are they?
When I started working in the airline industry over 10 years ago, I was instructed to ask some questions religiously before accepting customers to check in for a flight. I thought some of those questions were ridiculous, I got to be asked same question more or less the same every time I checked in for my flight at the airport. From face value, you will agree with me they are ridiculous or unnecessary. Let us go through some of the questions together.

Is this your Luggage?
Give me a break, why would you ask me if this is my Luggage, who else would it belong to? And what if it is not mine, what do you care? It could be for my friend or brother, all the same it is mine now, I am the one checking it in.You are right about one thing, once you check it in, it is your bag and you assume full responsibility. It is a familiar reaction for first time travelers and for frequent travelers it could be an annoying question you get to hear now and again. Is it really necessary? My personal opinion, yes it is. I have come to appreciate this question more and more as I travel and sometimes I wish the same could apply to road transport systems. The airline industry is very volatile and security concerns has been on the rise. For your safety and mine, airlines have put measures to ensure that you are aware of the luggage you are checking in, checking in a bag that does not belong to you with no knowledge of its contents may put your safety as well as of other travelers at risk. Go easy on the check-in agent and politely answer the question as honest as possible.

Did you pack this Luggage yourself

Oh my goodness, why on earth would the airline want to know if I packed my bag myself? From the face value it sure does not make sense at all and I would have agreed with you 100% over ten years ago on this. I would be in a hurry and ask my spouse to pack my bag for me or a house help would do the work as I get myself ready. Packing a travel bag is not my favorite part either, however I ensure I do it myself or supervise the packing, this way, I am in a position to ensure I do not carry staff that are forbidden for check in, stuff that can be dangerous mid air or worse still God forbid someone packing something in your bag that can put you on the wrong side with the law. One thing I hate about travelling is when I have to remove some stuff from my travel bag at the airport or worse still having to answer some questions to the custom authorities about things in my bag that I did not pack myself or was not aware about. Trust me it is not a good experience, if you have been in this kind of situation you know what I am talking about. If you did not pack your luggage, checked in or carry on at least know every item that is in your luggage, the airline is concerned about your safety.

Did you Leave your luggage unattended at any time?
Unattended luggage includes the one you left for that guy beside you when you felt a need to visit the toilets or get your ticket from the sale shops. Your bag was with someone else not you, it was unattended. We are trustful most of the time, but not everybody is trustworthy, anyone can put anything in your travel bag at any time. Dangerous or not, you need to be aware of what you are carrying in your luggage at all times. I highly recommend that you stay with your luggage at all times, if you have to leave it behind, let it be with someone you trust like a family member and only if they are travelling with you. It is also good to inquire if they have put anything extra in your bag in case they have and what it is, more especially if they are not frequent travelers. Recheck you bag in case you have left it behind with someone else. It is highly recommended.

Are you aware of the contents of your luggage?
Well I have carried a package for a friend to deliver to his cousin abroad, an extra box for the guy behind me on the line who has busted his weight limit, but does it really matter? I have known my friends for long and the guy behind me is travelling with me on the same plane. Hello! who told you he is going to board the flight at the gate or take responsibility at custom clearance? You should be 100% aware of all the contents in your luggage. When I say 100% I do not mean 99.9%. It does not matter who packed your travel luggage, you are the carrier of your luggage and you take 100% responsibility of its contents from the time you check in, to the time you clear with customs at the port of entry. You can not convince the authorities that it was your spouse who packed your luggage or the possibility of your 10 year old putting something in your travel luggage which you were not aware about. Be alert at all times, keeping your luggage safe is prioritizing your safety more than you think.

Thank you for going through this with me, if you have some ridiculous questions they ask about your travel luggage at check in, share with us and we will go through it together to see if it is really necessary. I hope you are now more enlightened about your travel bag contents and how they affect your safety.