So you've planned your Hawai vacation, paid for your trip, did all your homework and are ready to go to paradise. But are you REALLY sure you're ready? Here are a few reminders before you walk out the door and on the plane to paradise.
Make sure you have all of your travel documents in order. In most cases you should receive them 35 days before you leave, look at them carefully and make sure things like your name the flight numbers, and your hotel reservations are correct. If there are any changes to be made please let your travel agent know right away. Pay close attention to your record locator this is usually six characters made up of numbers and letters. This is a universal locator called a PNR (passenger name record) which is used to identify this reservation in any global distribution system (GDS) which is used universally across the Internet and airline reservation systems to find apssengers and update ther records. In addition to PNR, you will be assigned e-ticket numbers which corresponds to each person traveling. In other words, you'll have one global record locator and then individual ticket numbers for each of the people traveling in your party.
You as a consumer are responsible for calling the airlines within 24 hours of traveling. There's really no exception to this rule and if you miss your plane, or your flight has been changed it's really up to you to get that information and is not the airline or you are travel agents responsibility to give you this information. Keep in mind that a good travel agent will always be notified and always notify you if there's any changes however, when a change occurs within 24 hours of travel, there is no way for a travel agent to be aware of a last minute change. This is why it's very important for you call 24 hours before you leave for the airport and then right before you go out the door. We also recommend that you do not print out boarding passes before you go to the airport because if something happens on your way to the airport and you don't make it you can still call the airlines and let them know. As soon as you print out those boarding passes the airline thinks you're checked in so can be a real problem if anything happens in route to the airport after you've printed out those boarding passes. recommend getting to the airport three hours before the plane departs. If you arrive just 40 minutes before the plainly as it's not enough time to board and you will probably end up not making your flight.
Make sure you look in your wallet and physically look at your drivers license before you leave, your identification, credit cards, and any important documentation that you have. Many people forget to do this and leave behind their drivers license and as a result can't board the plane and then a disaster occurs. Also remember to have all of your important cell phone numbers programmed into your cell phone.
You've done all your preparation and prepared a long time for your trip to Hawaii please make sure you don't make the mistake of forgetting these important last-minute tips.