What's In Your Baggie?

We all have our morning/evening rituals that we do in the bathroom before we head out. From face washing, to lather, rinse, repeat, lather, rinse, repeat, it's the comfort of these things that allow us to feel fresh, radiant, and willing to take on the challenges of life. But what happens when all these things that come together to complete your ritual aren't available? Like when you are traveling? Do you take mini one's of everything? Do you buy it all when you get there? Do you ship it to yourself?

We asked a few of our customers, who were traveling for reasons ranging from work to moving, what they packed in their baggies (we refer to baggies as what the TSA tells us is acceptable to carry our products in).

MOST COMMON
The most common things we found people packed was shampoo and deodorant/antiperspirant. Most hotels don't provide deodorant/antiperspirant (some will upon request). And the shampoo and conditioner that are offered while will do the job, did not meet the standards of most of our travelers, so they opted to take their own.

MOST UNCOMMON
The most uncommon items we found packed by those we talked with were hair spray/hair gel and facial cleanser.

"We're going to Florida for a week and I plan on being on the beach for 90% of the time. I am not really worried about what my hair is doing but more about how my tan looks." Deb, one of our travelers, said.

The volume of the baggies we got to look at varied from barely anything inside to barely able to close. It didn't seem to matter how long our travelers were going to be gone for, it seemed more about that routine, that ritual, that was done each day before venturing out. Those will full baggies seemed to be more attached to that ritual that those with less filled.

So, what do you take in your baggie?

You're Flying Through Where?

If you travel a decent amount, you have airports that you prefer to avoid, and those that you prefer to travel through. From long layovers, to multiple layovers, to congested concourses, to long delays, to subpar places to grab some food, to horrible customer service, there are those things that affect how we view the airports we travel to and from. What ones do you prefer to stay away from? Why do you chose to steer clear of them?

On our list, as you probably guessed, are the major airports. With our travel originating out of a smaller airport, most of our stops end up being at major airports, as we don't have the luxury of many one way flights. Atlanta, Charlotte, Newark, and Chicago top our list of airports we all try to avoid when making travel plans. As most of us have learned, we tend to have no problem leaving our regional airport; it's getting to our final destination from one or more of the aforementioned places. Not only do these airports experience delays, but the amenities such as food, customer service, to the vastness of the terminal, all play a role in adding to the headache that these airports cause. Usually once we experience a problem at one, the rest of the trip is expected to be about the same. A delay here causes a missed connection there, which leads us to a night stay in the terminal, and a chaotic morning sparing only minutes between touch down and that hour long meeting.

Unfortunately these airports are necessary evils in order to reach the places we're going. A lot of patience, some things to take up your time, and the forethought to fit in these occurrences into your travel plans, ultimately save you from chaos once you reach your final destination.

Check this out for a list of the worst routes to fly plus some that aren't so bad.

WAV Makes Staying Connected Easy

Westwind Airport Valet has opened it's very own “Customer Business Center” which is designed to provide its customers with a quiet, stress free, office-like environment for taking care of any last minute details prior to being whist away to the airport, or immediately upon their return. FREE Wifi is available throughout the facility, but the CBC enables our guests to make copies, scan documents, send faxes, re-charge their electronic devices, even purchase stamps if necessary.

We understand that in the rush of things, especially those last minute travel plans, things can get lost in translation. Our CBC is our way of trying to help our customers get done what they need to. In a time where everything is continuously moving, this is just another tool that allows for things to do just that. 

If you find yourself in need of doing some of those last minute emails, scans for a presentation, or mail that needs to be dropped that day, simply ask one of the employees for our WiFi password, a stamp, or where the CBC is in our office, and they will gladly assist you with your needs.

Sleeping in an Airport

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful holiday this 2012 season, and is ready to welcome in a new year. Over the holiday's, I had several family members and friends travel in from out of state. Some drove and some flew in from various places. We didn't have the weather we usually have, that is until right after the holiday when everyone was departing back to the respective places. I dropped one of my close friends off at the airport, fully expecting they wouldn't make it out, due to the weather we had that day. Unusually, they were on one of four flights that made it out that day. Never crossed my mind that they would get stuck overnight at their connecting flight stop due to mechanical malfunctions.

This brings me to what this post is about, sleeping in an airport. People sleep in airports for various reasons. Some are voluntary, some are not. But either way, an airport is not a five start hotel. No, far from it. But if you will be staying in one, or are in the situation where you have no choice or don't want to cough up $100 plus dollars for a hotel, there are several things you can do to be prepared for that dreadfully long stay at an airport.

Be prepared. If you know beforehand the weather is going to be bad, expect there to be delays or cancellations.

Wear extra clothing. Airplanes themselves can be quite chilly and airports are no exception. Not only will wearing extra clothing help keep you warm, but that sweatshirt you have on can also double as a pillow for you to sleep on.

Soft ear plugs. This should be obvious.

Sunglasses. Believe it or not, some airports do not allow you to lay down or close your eyes. Sunglasses can be a clever way of disguising that, as well as providing the illusion of darkness to better help you sleep.

Have a way to wake up. Whether that be an alarm on a cell phone, or an alarm on a watch, make sure you have a way to wake up.

A breakfast bar/snack/food of some kind. Not everything in the airport is open all the time, and vending machines can be hard to come by. So if your sticking it out overnight at the airport, and you had counted on having that 16oz. prime rib for dinner but now are trying to make it on an empty stomach, that power bar or granola bar will come in handy. You can always buy a small snack too once you arrive, or if you realize that you may not take off, just in case.

A small blanket/pillow. These are not a necessity, if you dress with extra clothing much of that can be doubled as a blanket or pillow, but these never hurt. Also, don't be hesitant to ask the attendants at the counter for a pillow and blanket that the airline should provide. Just be polite and ask. Also, don't forget to return the items when you awake.

An electronic device for watching movies or listening to music. This goes without saying that you may indeed be in the airport for a long period of time, with no stores open to browse, television to watch, or things to do in general.

Look around at your surroundings. Security in airports post 9-11 has certainly become an issue of social mainstream. You should not feel as paranoid about your belongings, as everyone in the airport has had to pass through security and has a reason to be there. However, your personal items, such as passports, money, etc., should be kept somewhere that if you are to sleep, someone would have to wake you in order to get to them. Also, being aware of your surroundings includes knowing where your terminal is for the next flight. If you do not want to sleep sitting up, you may have to venture to find chairs that will allow you to lay down, and they may not be at your gate.

While some of you may be staying at the airport intentionally (afraid of missing the early morning flight, etc.), there are those that are going to be forced to stay. Remember as well, airport officials take the stance that an airport is "not a hotel." If it's bad enough, airlines will often try to offer discounted rates at local hotels for you to stay at. Some might even compensate you for the hotel. Others will offer nothing. Whatever your situation is, staying at an airport does not have to be an all-nighter. With a little forward thinking and preparedness, staying at an airport can save you money and not be a bank buster or stressful event.

While You Wait...

Sometimes is seems the more layovers you have the cheaper your flight will cost. While it might take you all day to go from A to B, the price cut may well be worth it. But what about the 4, 5, sometimes more, hours you spend waiting in the terminal for that connecting flight? Wasted time or not? What do you do while you wait?

Having various conversations with our wonderful fans that use Westwind Airport Valet when traveling out of the Dayton International Airport, we have come up with several things that seem to prevail over others. Using that and our own personal remedies for the time in between, here is what we have.

1. People Watch
Have you ever seen someone doing something like screaming into their phone, and wondered "What is that all about?" Or witnessed a person with the look of total confusion and wonder if they are going to make their flight? It's interesting to watch a human being from an outside perspective. It lets us know that we can be attentive and oblivious at the same time.

2. Eat
Nom, nom, nom! Eating is always a choice with tons of places to pick from in airports. From the isle side vendors to the full sit down restaurants, there is not shortage of places to grab a meal. A little tip. Certain foods cause you to be drowsy after consumption. If you have trouble flying, try eating some of these foods before your flight to help you maybe take a nap or be in a more sedated mood when flying.

3. Read
Reading is a great way to pass the time while traveling. If you have a good book, a long layover, and a few flights, you might be able to finish the entire thing. Not only does it keep your brain active, so when you arrive at your final destination you're not "lost", but it allows you to focus on what you are reading and not be distracted by factors that can stress you out. I think it's safe to say that there is a bookstore in about every airport.

4. Drink
Make it a double! Some people head straight to the bar. Many people have the misassumption that alcohol will "calm my nerves" because they're a nervous flier. Actually alcohol is a stimulant and does the opposite of what you think it does. Most airport, TSA, and airline companies will tell you to try to avoid alcohol consumption before flight, but magically they all serve alcohol aboard the flight. Ironic? Of course you can drink enough to pass out if your that nervous of a flier, but try to find alternatives to calm your nerves.

5. Sleep
That flight at 5 a.m. comes quick. And if it was a last minute plan, or procrastination just took over, you might not have gotten that full nights sleep. So catch a few Z's while you wait. If you are a light sleeper, try putting some headphones in, with or without music playing, to drown out background noise. Just be sure you have a way of waking up, either by alarm, a travel partner, or someone who is waiting on the same flight as you. Asking someone around you if they will be so kind as to wake you up in 30 minutes etc., usually is not a problem for most travelers and can even be a great way to strike up a conversation.

6. Work
Most of us know it never stops. And just because you're traveling, does not mean that the work flow back at the office is getting put on hold just for you. Doing work while you are waiting is great way to stay ahead of the game and keep things on a level so you do not have an overload of to-do's when you get back to the office.

These are just a very few of the things you can do while you wait. After sitting for so long, getting up and walking around is a good way to spend the layover time and get some exercise. If the wait is long enough, see about checking out the local town, grab a shower, etc. There are plenty of options to chose from when waiting on a flight.

What do you like to do?

Some FAQ's about WAV

We get first time parkers at Westwind Airport Valet every day. It can be an experience if you are not familiar with what valet parking service is. We get some questions more frequently than others, and we get questions that are firsts for us as well.

Read on and get some answers to some FAQ's, and find out more about what a typical experience is when you park with us here at WAV.

Do I need to have a reservation to park with you?
No. You are not required to have a reservation. But we do recommend that you make one. Reservations are free make. They reserve you a spot, save a few minutes upon check in, and allow us to be extra prepared for your arrival.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
Not a problem! Westwind Airport Valet is open 24/7. If you have time amid all the chaos to call us and let us know that you are delayed or cancelled, we appreciate it on our end. But either way, there will always be someone here to pick you up on your return.

Where will you pick me up when I return?
When you return, as will be explained again below, just give us a call and we'll send someone right over to collect you and your luggage.

WAV Pick up and Drop off Locations

If you look at the image above, it shows an aerial view of the Dayton International Airport. Depending on the number of fans, and the vehicle being used, drop off and pick up will occur at the inner or outer lanes. The first two stars highlight our drop off area. This entrance to the Dayton International Airport is directly in to the ticket counters. Pick up will occur at the opposite end of the terminal by baggage claim. The two highlighted areas at the baggage claim end of the terminal are located at the VERY end of the terminal. Again what lane we pick you up at will be relayed to you upon your return call. A yellow fire hydrant is located on the outer lanes of traffic where we pick up at for a visual reference.

What is a typical experience like at Westwind Airport Valet?

Here's a run-through of how your experience will go.

You pull into our lot and proceed to the right side of the building. There are signs that direct you if you get a little confused. Once on the right side of the building you will pull to the first garage door. It also has signs reading "Valet" and "Enterance". If the door is closed, a few seconds will go by while they automatically open. From there, please pull forward and to the right as to allow other fans to pull in behind you. 

Once you are in our building, this is where our world class white glove service takes charge. While one of our employees gets your return information and any services you would like done, a chauffeur will transfer your luggage from your vehicle to ours. After than, we take you directly to the Dayton International Airport. The whole process from the time you pull in to our facility to the time you step foot at the terminal is about 5-7 minutes. 

While you are gone, we will perform the services you have requested so that they are complete by the day you return. If you have requested a service and your return information changes, please update us. The more time in advance we know, the better we can assure that the service is done. 

When you return, we simply ask that you have both collected all of your luggage and reached the exits before you call.We are not permitted to wait at the Dayton International Airport for excessive amounts of time. We understand the luggage is coming out and you expect your bags to be the next ones off, but history has told us that bags can get lost, misplaced, seized, broke, taken, you name it. So while you think it may only be two minutes until you have your bags, please do not be offended when we ask that you call us back when you have bags in hand before we send someone over. 

Once you are back here, checking out with our desk attendant is all you have to worry about, as the chauffeur will again transfer your luggage from our vehicle to yours. If it's cold out, we will start your car and have it heating. If it's hot out, we will have it started and cooling off for your return. We also provide a nice cold refreshing bottle of water to every one of our fans. The return process, as the arrival process, takes minutes. 

While your here, you can also enroll in our WAV Rider program. It allows you to earn points that can be redeemed for every service we offer. We only require that a Credit Card be left on file. This too is a perk of the program, as the Credit Card is run when you call to be picked up, and when you return, there is no need to come in and check out. A copy of the receipt will be waiting for you in your vehicle.

That is a typical experience of valet parking with us here at Westwind Airport Valet. Believe it or not, we have been told that is can be so seamless and easy that our customers almost forget what they're doing or where they're going. If you do happen to forget something, we'd be more than glad to retrieve it from your vehicle and bring it over to you before your flight. 

Hope this provides some insight as to what world class white glove service you can expect when parking with us. If you have any other questions, you can check our website out to learn some more, or call us.

Hunting Season: Traveling with Firearms

Hunting season is here. And it is there too. And over there. And down there. It's everywhere. Which makes traveling to those opportune hunting areas a weekend priority on a lot of lists. Some travel local, a short drive. Some travel long distances, halfway around the world. Others are somewhere in between. No matter where your final destination is, traveling on an airline with a firearm can be a serious thing.

Firearms have been making the flights right along side the humans who use them for about as long as passenger flights have been operating. It is perfectly legal for someone to travel with a secure, unloaded, cased and locked, legal firearm. The most daunting part of the whole process, happens before you even start to pack for your trip.

The TSA has rules and regulations for traveling with a firearm. As well, each airline has rules and regulations for traveling with firearms and ammo.

Some things to expect when traveling with a firearm:

Make sure you read the TSA guidelines as well as your airlines guidelines
Some airlines don't allow you to transport ammo and weapon in the same case.

Do not get a "TSA lock"
You can put more locks than a state prison on your case. But you should be the only one who can open them. Ever.

Get a good case
We all know that sometimes that souvenir you packed to bring back to your Aunt Jean of a hula girl doesn't always make it. Don't risk ruining your hunting trip by chancing something happening to your beloved firearm or equipment by packing it in a cheap case.

Listen to Announcements, Ask Questions
Every airport is different and each airline is different. While one might put your gun case on the conveyor belt, another airline or airport may require you to pick it up at the airline counter. Listen to the announcements, as they will often say "firearm cases" can be claimed here. Also, don't hesitate to ask the desk employee when checking in where you can reclaim your firearm when landing.

Have a little patience
The TSA has to do their job. The airline personnel have to do theirs. No matter how quick you get checked in and on with it, your flight will still take off at the same time. And when traveling with a firearm, it may take some time. Remember there will be papers for you to fill out about the firearm, ammo, declarations of being unloaded, etc. And then the TSA will have to check the case and contents. Patience. Hopefully that big 18 point bad boy you've been baiting and feeding all summer and fall hasn't been shot by the neighbor who's on his first hunting trip.

With a little research, things should go smoothly. Just remember, research first. When traveling with a firearm, in a crowded airport, on a plane, things can go south quickly as I'm sure you can imagine. Don't let that happen. Best of luck to all you hunters out there this season!