I worked for an airline for a bit after retiring. Regarding baggage tags: Those belt buckle style clips you displayed were notorious for coming off luggage, we found them everywhere. The thick rubber ones with rubber loops perform better though they are usually transparent to some extant though I bet there are some that aren't. The only thing I put on mine is my last name and cell phone numbers for my wife and I. These will be the two biggest clues that might help an airline contact you. I was at an airport in a tourist area and can't tell you how many times a late bag would come in with just a home phone number. Not much help to you when you aren't there. I was in law enforcement before retiring and am aware of ring of baggage handlers at one of the largest US airports that was taking home address information from tags and selling it to thieves looking for empty homes.
Miami International Airport (MIA) is one of the most incompetent and corrupt airports in the U.S.A. They have baggage handlers from the Caribbean and Latin America who regularly steal from passengers' checked luggage, or steal the entire bags. Although several of these thieves have been caught, MIA still hires Third World thieves with shady backgrounds!
Wayyyy off topic: I hadn't flown outside of the country in MANY years. I was a nervous wreck until I found your channel. Your tips, recommendations, and suggestions were SPOT ON!!! My birthday trip to Colombia was a huge success thanks, in large part, to YOU !!!!! Greatly appreciated
@PortableProfessional In all of my binge watching your channel, I forgot to subscribe. Today, you have a new sub, lol. Thanks, and keep up the great work.
Two delayed flight stories I have that worked out in my favour. One was that my plane broke in London so I had to spend another day in my spirit city. The agent was so apologetic "We're so sorry, we'll put you up in a hotel, here are your meal vouchers, it's a beautiful day, maybe go to Brighton." I said "I'm going to back into the city and see a play tonight...I just might be the happiest person you meet today!" The second was outgoing FROM Edmonton and I had a transfer in Toronto that I wouldn't have made. That woman jumped through hoops, they even put me in a wheelchair and raced me to a flight that was loading. On the plane they gave me free breakfast for the "inconvenience". I said "That woman saved me, give HER the breakfast!
Helpful tip. Put the contact info for all airlines and hotels pertinent to your trip in your address book before you leave home, even if you have the app. Also use a disposable email for your contact information on your luggage tag. If someone does get a hold of it, it's not the email attached to any of your financial information.
I always put a friend's info (that is not traveling with me) on my luggage tags.That way if anyone tries something, they will find a very large angry guy waiting for them. A trick my brother taught me.
Simple fixes: 1: Keep the airlines customer service phone number saved to your phone so you don't have to look it up. 2: Save the airlines website to your favorites so you can always go direct to it. 3: Save the airlines App to your phone. 4: Keep a copy of your passport somewhere with you when travel outside your country. If your passport is ever stolen, you can go to the Embassy, and they will issue you a new one.
Addendum to #4: I scan the passport then paste the image into a document. Adobe wants a premium fee to let you encrypt a file, but you can also put images into Word and password protecting a document is included in the standard version.
When my kids traveled overseas, I always took photocopies of their passports and put them into their suitcases just in case. One time my daughter was outside Paris, and she had her bag stolen. Luckily the town she was in, she was able to retrieve her bag, which was turned in without the money of course. But she had already talked to the embassy, and they were able to get the process going, because she had that copy.
I always put my office address on my luggage tags to avoid any scammer to know my home address. That way if my luggage is lost there is actually a physical address that does connect to me, just not to my home.
You don’t need an address at all. When you bag is lose or delayed, they are not using the address on the tag, they are using what you entered in when you purchased the ticket.
Last week, I was stuck in an airport. I complained to the airline via X / Twitter about the long on-hold time on the phones. A total of THREE(!!!) scam accounts responded, but the actual airline never answered!
Great information, Megan. Many peeps are not aware of these. Until you mentioned it (a while ago), I freely used boarding passes as bookmarks. Left them lying around, well, anywhere. Thank you.
I haven’t flown for many years but hope to have more opportunities to travel soon. I always learn from your site and thank you sincerely. Also love seeing your precious pup.
I have had a flight cancelled because of a storm. So I had the airline rebook me for flight to an airport close to my destination and I rented a car to drive the rest of the way. The only reason I did this is because I had meeting the next day. I always carry at least 2 portable power banks with me when I travel. I appreciate you travel tips.
I find that most of my delays or cancellations come in the Fall/winter. As a Canadian 🇨🇦 I know that winter can cause havoc and try to book accordingly.
In doing anything with the airlines, I believe the safest way is to download the airline’s app onto your phone even before your trip. If there’s any flight changes by the airline, u will be alerted. And, for customer service phone number or check-in, boarding passes, re-booking flights, etc., mostly can be accomplished securely within the app.
One of your better videos, Megan. You offer such good advice and guidance. I hope to run into you at an airport one day just to say it to you personally. You are good at this. Thanks for taking the time.
Wow, thank you! I really appreciate your encouraging words! I have a lot of travel planned for 2025 so who knows, we may just bump into each other somewhere!
My last delay was in September, returning to Gatwick from Thessaloniki. About 3 1/2 hours late. My complaint to Tui was efficiently handled, and £350 was in my bank account a week later. Good video. The big take-away for me was that advice about boarding-passes.
I watch this channel and appreciate her observations. However, the fear factor these tips create is so high that I no longer wish to fly: scammers meet you every step of the way.
I usually only write in the luggage tag the address of the hotel I will be staying at the destination. I only write my own address in the return flight. And in the future I think I'll start using my work address.
I had a flight cancelled due to bad weather when I was returning to America from Australia, after flying from Hobart to LA then for a layover in Chicago was when I found out my last leg flight to Norfolk VA was cancelled. Let's just say I wasn't very pleased when I learnt that out and getting stuck in Chicago overnight was not helping my jetlag any was an understatement.
Nightmare cancellation story: Flew into Burlington then drove to Montreal for a long weekend. Sometime between printing my boarding passes for both nonstop flights and arriving back at BTV to fly home, the airline cancelled my nonstop return flight and rebooked me on a partner airline with a stop in another city. I'd been in Canada and didn't check email or VM until I was back in the BTV terminal, so I had zero clue I'd been resked. This was mid-afternoon, but the airport's departures board had already been changed over to the next day. So I had no clue what gate to go to, or the status of any of that day's flights. Finally figured out the gate, showed up 45min before boarding for the new flight. Nobody at the counter. 15mins before boarding, still nobody. Agent finally showed up...to handle checkins for a completely different flight. She informed me that my flight (the resked one) had been cancelled. And offered no help at all. Called the airline CS#, they found a different flight with a different connecting city, but they couldn't guarantee they could get me on, I would have to be standby. If I couldn't make that flight I would have to stay in Burlington overnight and try again the next day...which was a workday, and my company was starting to lay people off so missing a day of work might cost me my job. The standby flight was...at the same gate with the same unhelpful agent. Who let two other pax board and then the flight was full. And then she left. Had to go back to the main counter to get someone to give me a hotel and meal voucher and book me on a nonstop the next morning. Same agent next morning, acted like nothing had happened!
Good advice. If I use a luggage tag it's just name and email indeed. I have a phone with 22,200 mah battery as main phone and a 20,000 mah powerbank with solar panel. I also bring a travel phone (6,500 mah battery I think) with mostly travel apps on it for the local sim card. But I use my phone only when needed. I never post on social media where I am but only when I'm back where I have been. So location on my phones is also turned off and I only turn it on when needed for instance when using maps. Turn if off again after use. There's a lot you can do if you just prepare. So I like this channel for making people aware. I unbderstand some people might take a long trip for the first time.
I always use a VPN when using public WIFI. And yes, the Taxi scam. This last holiday, one of the buggers got me outside of Gare du Nord. He was mixed in with the real ones, the rotten little swine
I'm sorry that happened to you. What a nasty experience on your trip! Gare du Nord is renowned for its dodgy taxis. Same at Charles de Gaulle airport. I wish the authorities would get a handle on it. It gives such a bad impression of the capital.
I'm sorry to inform you that using 99% of VPNs , and pretty much every single one you've ever seen an AD for, does basically nothing for security when connecting to public wifi, its more dangerous if anything becuase it creates an illusion of safety. But yeah, you're basically just as easy of a target if you're using a VPN. As someone who works in computers/cyber security, VPNs are one of the most successful cyber scams of recent time. FyI, most of those VPN companies are harvesting and selling your data too anyways. The only VPN I'd recommend using is called mullvad. it's the closest to secure a VPN gets
I always use my company business card for my luggage tags. This has my company name, address, and telephone number if they need to contact me. No personal information.
If you carry a power bank (as usually everybody does nowadays) you can easily recharge that item only on public ports without compromising your phone. Most of these power banks offer even charge-through functionality, means whiles charging the power bank you can charge your phone at the same time from your the power bank, being totally protected as there is no data flow possible. No 'charge only' cable required in that way. Pro tips: a) instead of charging your phone in the airplane by the USB ports offered in your arm rest or on your display, only ever charge your power bank there. Reason: Usually the Amperes of these airplane USB ports are very poor, so it would take you endless time to charge your phone (compared to recharge it with your modern power bank), but it doesn't usually matter how long it takes to charge your power bank. b) if you do not have already a power bank but consider to buy one: if you are a standard traveler, a small one (10.00 mAh) usually does these jobs, there is no need for bigger ones (which are not only much more costly bu come usually also with much more weight). Only if you have extended travel times without power connection or recharge options or if you have to charge also your laptop with the power bank, you might need a 20.000 or 27.000 format.
I was traveling earlier this year the day the computer systems all went down and my flight was repeatedly cancelled. I was stuck for close to 9 hours in the Denver airport (I was heading to southern CA for work). Luckily, I have lounge access for United so I had a quiet, comfortable place to hang for the day with free food and drinks and great bathrooms. I also had access to the United reps there that not only rebooked me to a different southern CA city close to where I was going, they also rerouted my checked luggage for me! (My luggage actually arrived when I did) The lounge was a lifesaver that day that got me out of the chaos of the main airport.
I actually only had one flight canceled. I was flying from LaGuardia Airport (a complete 💩 show of an airport) home to Toronto. I checked in online about 5 or 6 hours ahead of time. I got to the airport early (because the shuttle company wouldn’t guarantee me making my flight unless they picked me up early). Went to drop off my bag and was told my flight was canceled… when I asked why, they said traffic at the airport. So, I asked what now and they told me, I could take an earlier flight or a later flight. I opted for the earlier one. So, for me it worked out fine. But still it was not pleasant.
For a luggage tag, I bought mine thru a Amazon service where they make permanent luggage tags so no worries about smearing or being torn. Also, I only include my name, phone, e-mail and home airport IATA or three letter code of your nearest airport(ie. Chicago=ORD).
I don’t know why anyone would want to post a picture of their boarding pass. That would be like posting a picture of your credit or bank card or your ID.
I belong to Delta's Sky Club. On the occasions when I have needed to re-book/whatever at the airport I have had good experiences going to the Sky Club and asking the staff there to sort it out. Especially true when the delay is caused by bad weather which affects many flights.
I wasn't allowed to board on my flight because I didn't have a visa to stay as long as my return flight date. In the Philippines it's easy to get an extension. I had to rebook my flight at a much higher price.
Most, if not all websites today, are encrypted. Adding a VPN on top of that is not necessary. Also, a VPN gives your private information to someone in another country and we do not know to whom that information may be sold.
I only had one cancellation and have many times for work and leisure We didn't have to book new flights as all 470 passengers were all transported to hotels and back to thevairport the next morning where a new Airbus 380-800 was waiting for us.
On the outgoing baggage tag I put my name, mobile number and accommodation at destination. On the return travel tag, I just put my name and mobile number. Although if I did put my home address and it was targeted, the thief would be met with my dog/house sitter and my 6 very large dogs! 😂
Sometimes scam website links look _exactly the same_ as the real one. However, by copying and pasting the link text into a word or note app, you can see that they've used a symbol or letter from another alphabet that looks exactly the same as the Roman alphabet we use. I saw one that used a Cyrillic letter that looked almost exactly like the Roman letter when seen in the link. You needed really sharp eyes to catch it, which I didn't; it was pointed out to me.
IF you want to put an address (although I don't) at least put a neighbor's address, a work address, or the address of a local police station. This way it doesn't give obvious information as to your actual address. But this info isn't required, and in this case, less is better. Email or phone along with your name is usually sufficient.
@@so.many.obstacles Right you are. That’s some kind of neighbor sending would-be robbers to my house. Sometimes these comment posters sure aren’t thinking!
I use my local UPS store for the address, so just the name and phone number are of any use....and with International Roaming, I always have my phone on.
I put my full name (as it appears on the ticket), phone number, e-mail address, and frequent flier number on my luggage tags. I am also going to use Air Tags for the first time when I travel in February.
Nothing will happen if you connect to a fake wifi or unsecured wifi. All connections are encrypted. Social media impersonators are real. Scammers will reply to your questions. So, I felt for one and I started talking about not being able to escalate with customer service. While I was complaining, scammers tried to get details about my case, which I didn't provide. One thing to keep in mind is not to transfer any personal info over the internet. Stick to that rule 100% and will be fine.
I flew from Denver to Miami Beach recently and found that my husband and I ended up with different flights. The airline chose to switch them and didn’t inform us when I tried to reach out to them. I was told I needed to download WhatsApp I found that to be suspicious, but ultimately they fixed my flight so we both were able to fly together on the same flight That typical for airlines to do that?
Additional Scams: currency exchanges are usually not regulated. The exchange rates will be either poor or there is a hidden fee. Number 2, non-bank affiliated ATM machines, as they might charge a fee or a high percentage (most countries the ATM must show the fees they are charging).
Travel getting tricky. Luggage tags. Use an alias email address and a virtual number like Google Voice. I don't see why you would need a physical address
I just put my work contact details, not my personal on those tags. I only put my initials and never my first name or Ms or Mrs - nobody needs to know the owner of the bag is a woman. And always, always use a VPN whenever you aren't on a secure network. You can usually get one that covers a few devices so it doesn't work out expensive.
Why? Since the advent of social media, "it's not real" if it's not "online"... In the early days, many thought it critically important to update their "location" on FB whenever they went out... People seeking "validation" (like my own response here) from anonymous strangers...
@@annlavine3576 Good one! Thanks... Introverts don't publish their psychological profile on social media... Thanks again. It's good to have a chuckle every once in a while...
I already knew all these scams, and have never trusted USB Ports, have VPN with Norton, and bar codes from long ago. I put my mother’s address on tags, but maybe I will put my sisters. Funny thing about Iceland Air, even though we were delayed 45 min out of the EU. Due to people with carry on only bags that were too big, and trying to stuff them everywhere. Every flight in Iceland was delayed that day, so even though we thought we missed our connection, we still had a layover of about 1 hour. I think it is because they schedule their international flights to connect during a certain period, and do not want to pay for hotel stays, etc. The flight attendants had to go row by row to check people’s under the seat space, because they shoved them there with their feet on top of the bags. I wish more airlines would get rid of this option of economy saver, because it delays flights. Plus people are afraid to gate check bags, that just, here in EU at least, go down a chute and straight to the belly of the plane.
*My #1 SECURITY MUST-HAVE for Airports (only $3!!)* bit.ly/PP-nordvpn
Won't open link. Says it's spam 😂
I worked for an airline for a bit after retiring. Regarding baggage tags: Those belt buckle style clips you displayed were notorious for coming off luggage, we found them everywhere. The thick rubber ones with rubber loops perform better though they are usually transparent to some extant though I bet there are some that aren't. The only thing I put on mine is my last name and cell phone numbers for my wife and I. These will be the two biggest clues that might help an airline contact you. I was at an airport in a tourist area and can't tell you how many times a late bag would come in with just a home phone number. Not much help to you when you aren't there. I was in law enforcement before retiring and am aware of ring of baggage handlers at one of the largest US airports that was taking home address information from tags and selling it to thieves looking for empty homes.
It's pretty corrupt when you have to worry about airport staff stealing your stuff.
Miami International Airport (MIA) is one of the most incompetent and corrupt airports in the U.S.A. They have baggage handlers from the Caribbean and Latin America who regularly steal from passengers' checked luggage, or steal the entire bags. Although several of these thieves have been caught, MIA still hires Third World thieves with shady backgrounds!
Wayyyy off topic: I hadn't flown outside of the country in MANY years. I was a nervous wreck until I found your channel. Your tips, recommendations, and suggestions were SPOT ON!!! My birthday trip to Colombia was a huge success thanks, in large part, to YOU !!!!! Greatly appreciated
That is so nice to hear! Thanks for watching and Happy (belated) Birthday!
@PortableProfessional In all of my binge watching your channel, I forgot to subscribe. Today, you have a new sub, lol. Thanks, and keep up the great work.
Two delayed flight stories I have that worked out in my favour. One was that my plane broke in London so I had to spend another day in my spirit city. The agent was so apologetic "We're so sorry, we'll put you up in a hotel, here are your meal vouchers, it's a beautiful day, maybe go to Brighton." I said "I'm going to back into the city and see a play tonight...I just might be the happiest person you meet today!" The second was outgoing FROM Edmonton and I had a transfer in Toronto that I wouldn't have made. That woman jumped through hoops, they even put me in a wheelchair and raced me to a flight that was loading. On the plane they gave me free breakfast for the "inconvenience". I said "That woman saved me, give HER the breakfast!
Helpful tip. Put the contact info for all airlines and hotels pertinent to your trip in your address book before you leave home, even if you have the app. Also use a disposable email for your contact information on your luggage tag. If someone does get a hold of it, it's not the email attached to any of your financial information.
I always put a friend's info (that is not traveling with me) on my luggage tags.That way if anyone tries something, they will find a very large angry guy waiting for them. A trick my brother taught me.
Smart brother! Safe travels, Lisa!
@@PortableProfessional Same to you!
Simple fixes: 1: Keep the airlines customer service phone number saved to your phone so you don't have to look it up.
2: Save the airlines website to your favorites so you can always go direct to it.
3: Save the airlines App to your phone.
4: Keep a copy of your passport somewhere with you when travel outside your country. If your passport is ever stolen, you can go to the Embassy, and they will issue you a new one.
Thanks for sharing these great tips!
Addendum to #4: I scan the passport then paste the image into a document. Adobe wants a premium fee to let you encrypt a file, but you can also put images into Word and password protecting a document is included in the standard version.
When my kids traveled overseas, I always took photocopies of their passports and put them into their suitcases just in case. One time my daughter was outside Paris, and she had her bag stolen. Luckily the town she was in, she was able to retrieve her bag, which was turned in without the money of course. But she had already talked to the embassy, and they were able to get the process going, because she had that copy.
5.stay home and go golfing or boating 😊
@@JIMDAVIS-z2h Doesn't work so well in winter when the lake is iced over and the golf course is covered in snow.
I always put my office address on my luggage tags to avoid any scammer to know my home address. That way if my luggage is lost there is actually a physical address that does connect to me, just not to my home.
You don’t need an address at all. When you bag is lose or delayed, they are not using the address on the tag, they are using what you entered in when you purchased the ticket.
Been using my work address on luggage tags for years. Didn’t realize boarding passes bore so much personal info! Very helpful info!
Last week, I was stuck in an airport. I complained to the airline via X / Twitter about the long on-hold time on the phones. A total of THREE(!!!) scam accounts responded, but the actual airline never answered!
Great information, Megan. Many peeps are not aware of these. Until you mentioned it (a while ago), I freely used boarding passes as bookmarks. Left them lying around, well, anywhere. Thank you.
Your welcome, Kim!
I haven’t flown for many years but hope to have more opportunities to travel soon. I always learn from your site and thank you sincerely. Also love seeing your precious pup.
How very sad that there are people who will do these things to others…😖
Didn't know about the charge-only cables. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! You never know what you might find out!
You can also use a USB data blocker - a small, cheap device that works with any normal USB A connector. So you don't need an extra cable.
I have had a flight cancelled because of a storm. So I had the airline rebook me for flight to an airport close to my destination and I rented a car to drive the rest of the way. The only reason I did this is because I had meeting the next day. I always carry at least 2 portable power banks with me when I travel. I appreciate you travel tips.
Going to scratch out my address on my luggage tag right now! 😮🇨🇦.
Thanks for the info Megan! 😄
I use my address label. It’s so small no one can see it 4,5 feet away. The airline has your address in case of luggage loss.
Thanks as always for the info it is very helpful.
These were most excellent warnings, and a couple that I didn't know.🎉
Thanks, Jeff! Safe travels!
I find that most of my delays or cancellations come in the Fall/winter. As a Canadian 🇨🇦 I know that winter can cause havoc and try to book accordingly.
Your channel is great. Thank you. While some of your advice is common sense, there are many aspects that one so easily forgets. Keep up the good work!
Great content! And adorable dog
Thanks, Tracey! Safe travels!
Thanks for all the good advice!
Good information. I was unaware of some of these. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for keeping us safe! 💜
My pleasure! Thank you for the visit!
In doing anything with the airlines, I believe the safest way is to download the airline’s app onto your phone even before your trip. If there’s any flight changes by the airline, u will be alerted. And, for customer service phone number or check-in, boarding passes, re-booking flights, etc., mostly can be accomplished securely within the app.
Buy a "data blocker" not the whole data blocking cord.
I use "portapow data blocker" that goes between the usb port and my charging cord.
Good to know, thanks! There's so many to choose from, never know where to start.
Appreciate all these information as always, Megan. Always very helpful. God bless you and your family.
Cheers to all of you! 😁
My family has a business, so all of us put the family business (physical) address on our luggage tags. Plus, I use covered luggage tags.
One of your better videos, Megan. You offer such good advice and guidance. I hope to run into you at an airport one day just to say it to you personally. You are good at this. Thanks for taking the time.
Wow, thank you! I really appreciate your encouraging words! I have a lot of travel planned for 2025 so who knows, we may just bump into each other somewhere!
Megan, thanks for all the great tips as always.
My pleasure, Patrick!
Norton VPN!!! Use it every time i use my stuff in public.
I prefer SurfShark because it has more devices and covers my whole family.
Thank you!
My last delay was in September, returning to Gatwick from Thessaloniki. About 3 1/2 hours late. My complaint to Tui was efficiently handled, and £350 was in my bank account a week later.
Good video. The big take-away for me was that advice about boarding-passes.
I watch this channel and appreciate her observations. However, the fear factor these tips create is so high that I no longer wish to fly: scammers meet you every step of the way.
Thank you! Great information ❤
Thanks Megan. Great info.
I usually only write in the luggage tag the address of the hotel I will be staying at the destination. I only write my own address in the return flight. And in the future I think I'll start using my work address.
The airlines should have this video playing on their monitors at each gate at each airport 24/7
Thanks for your channel, Megan! You were totally correct about Croatia being amazing! I loved it!!
I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip!
Great information! Thanks
I had a flight cancelled due to bad weather when I was returning to America from Australia, after flying from Hobart to LA then for a layover in Chicago was when I found out my last leg flight to Norfolk VA was cancelled. Let's just say I wasn't very pleased when I learnt that out and getting stuck in Chicago overnight was not helping my jetlag any was an understatement.
Nightmare cancellation story:
Flew into Burlington then drove to Montreal for a long weekend. Sometime between printing my boarding passes for both nonstop flights and arriving back at BTV to fly home, the airline cancelled my nonstop return flight and rebooked me on a partner airline with a stop in another city. I'd been in Canada and didn't check email or VM until I was back in the BTV terminal, so I had zero clue I'd been resked.
This was mid-afternoon, but the airport's departures board had already been changed over to the next day. So I had no clue what gate to go to, or the status of any of that day's flights.
Finally figured out the gate, showed up 45min before boarding for the new flight. Nobody at the counter. 15mins before boarding, still nobody.
Agent finally showed up...to handle checkins for a completely different flight. She informed me that my flight (the resked one) had been cancelled. And offered no help at all.
Called the airline CS#, they found a different flight with a different connecting city, but they couldn't guarantee they could get me on, I would have to be standby. If I couldn't make that flight I would have to stay in Burlington overnight and try again the next day...which was a workday, and my company was starting to lay people off so missing a day of work might cost me my job.
The standby flight was...at the same gate with the same unhelpful agent. Who let two other pax board and then the flight was full. And then she left.
Had to go back to the main counter to get someone to give me a hotel and meal voucher and book me on a nonstop the next morning.
Same agent next morning, acted like nothing had happened!
😮
Good advice. If I use a luggage tag it's just name and email indeed. I have a phone with 22,200 mah battery as main phone and a 20,000 mah powerbank with solar panel. I also bring a travel phone (6,500 mah battery I think) with mostly travel apps on it for the local sim card. But I use my phone only when needed. I never post on social media where I am but only when I'm back where I have been. So location on my phones is also turned off and I only turn it on when needed for instance when using maps. Turn if off again after use. There's a lot you can do if you just prepare. So I like this channel for making people aware. I unbderstand some people might take a long trip for the first time.
You have the best travel info. I appreciate it.
Thanks! Happy to help!
I always use a VPN when using public WIFI. And yes, the Taxi scam. This last holiday, one of the buggers got me outside of Gare du Nord. He was mixed in with the real ones, the rotten little swine
I'm sorry that happened to you. What a nasty experience on your trip! Gare du Nord is renowned for its dodgy taxis. Same at Charles de Gaulle airport. I wish the authorities would get a handle on it. It gives such a bad impression of the capital.
I'm sorry to inform you that using 99% of VPNs , and pretty much every single one you've ever seen an AD for, does basically nothing for security when connecting to public wifi, its more dangerous if anything becuase it creates an illusion of safety. But yeah, you're basically just as easy of a target if you're using a VPN. As someone who works in computers/cyber security, VPNs are one of the most successful cyber scams of recent time. FyI, most of those VPN companies are harvesting and selling your data too anyways. The only VPN I'd recommend using is called mullvad. it's the closest to secure a VPN gets
Thank you Megan 😊
Thanks for the visit, Ricardo!
Great advice great channel! Thank you ❤️🔥
So glad you are enjoying watching!
I’ve used the customer service phone number on the frequent flier cards for re-booking assistance for decades.
Thank you. ❤
I always use my company business card for my luggage tags. This has my company name, address, and telephone number if they need to contact me. No personal information.
If you carry a power bank (as usually everybody does nowadays) you can easily recharge that item only on public ports without compromising your phone. Most of these power banks offer even charge-through functionality, means whiles charging the power bank you can charge your phone at the same time from your the power bank, being totally protected as there is no data flow possible. No 'charge only' cable required in that way.
Pro tips: a) instead of charging your phone in the airplane by the USB ports offered in your arm rest or on your display, only ever charge your power bank there. Reason: Usually the Amperes of these airplane USB ports are very poor, so it would take you endless time to charge your phone (compared to recharge it with your modern power bank), but it doesn't usually matter how long it takes to charge your power bank.
b) if you do not have already a power bank but consider to buy one: if you are a standard traveler, a small one (10.00 mAh) usually does these jobs, there is no need for bigger ones (which are not only much more costly bu come usually also with much more weight). Only if you have extended travel times without power connection or recharge options or if you have to charge also your laptop with the power bank, you might need a 20.000 or 27.000 format.
I always keep physical boarding passes until I return home. Then I deal with them
I always feel much and prepared after watching ur videos ❤😊❤😊❤😊
Great tips as always! Btw, I love the quizzes you post!👍👍👍
Thanks, Janice! More quizzes to come!
This scares me and gives me anxiety and I hate scammers 😢😢😢😢😢
Love the doggie [name?] and the interior decor.
Thanks, glad you liked Ollie! He helps keep me company on long days filming.
I love your videos, such important and informative information, THANK YOU.
Signed, novice flyer
😊
Glad to help! You won’t be a novice flyer for long!
luving the k9 participant ❤
Thanks! He loves being my assistant!
I was traveling earlier this year the day the computer systems all went down and my flight was repeatedly cancelled. I was stuck for close to 9 hours in the Denver airport (I was heading to southern CA for work). Luckily, I have lounge access for United so I had a quiet, comfortable place to hang for the day with free food and drinks and great bathrooms. I also had access to the United reps there that not only rebooked me to a different southern CA city close to where I was going, they also rerouted my checked luggage for me! (My luggage actually arrived when I did) The lounge was a lifesaver that day that got me out of the chaos of the main airport.
DIA is a crowded place, security sucks there too.
@@jumpingjeffflash9946 It was particularly bad on that day! Made me wish I was connecting through Chicago (which is my usual preference).
I actually only had one flight canceled. I was flying from LaGuardia Airport (a complete 💩 show of an airport) home to Toronto. I checked in online about 5 or 6 hours ahead of time. I got to the airport early (because the shuttle company wouldn’t guarantee me making my flight unless they picked me up early). Went to drop off my bag and was told my flight was canceled… when I asked why, they said traffic at the airport. So, I asked what now and they told me, I could take an earlier flight or a later flight. I opted for the earlier one. So, for me it worked out fine. But still it was not pleasant.
For a luggage tag, I bought mine thru a Amazon service where they make permanent luggage tags so no worries about smearing or being torn. Also, I only include my name, phone, e-mail and home airport IATA or three letter code of your nearest airport(ie. Chicago=ORD).
I don’t know why anyone would want to post a picture of their boarding pass. That would be like posting a picture of your credit or bank card or your ID.
Always Gathering New Information to Arm Myself when Traveling is the Best!
Thank You Megan! I Love You!
💖💖💖🙌🗝🪽💖💖💖
I belong to Delta's Sky Club. On the occasions when I have needed to re-book/whatever at the airport I have had good experiences going to the Sky Club and asking the staff there to sort it out. Especially true when the delay is caused by bad weather which affects many flights.
That's great! Happy travels!
There are scams for everything just be careful, do ur best and take care, be aware of everything around you
So luggage tags with a phone number only maybe?
I wasn't allowed to board on my flight because I didn't have a visa to stay as long as my return flight date. In the Philippines it's easy to get an extension. I had to rebook my flight at a much higher price.
Most, if not all websites today, are encrypted. Adding a VPN on top of that is not necessary. Also, a VPN gives your private information to someone in another country and we do not know to whom that information may be sold.
What’s the “X’ looking karate chop arm/hand things? Politely 🙏🏻 sorry, it looks a bit silly.
I only had one cancellation and have many times for work and leisure We didn't have to book new flights as all 470 passengers were all transported to hotels and back to thevairport the next morning where a new Airbus 380-800 was waiting for us.
Thank you for the video
You're very welcome!
More Ollie !!
He will be very happy to hear that! Thanks for the visit!
On the outgoing baggage tag I put my name, mobile number and accommodation at destination. On the return travel tag, I just put my name and mobile number.
Although if I did put my home address and it was targeted, the thief would be met with my dog/house sitter and my 6 very large dogs! 😂
Sometimes scam website links look _exactly the same_ as the real one. However, by copying and pasting the link text into a word or note app, you can see that they've used a symbol or letter from another alphabet that looks exactly the same as the Roman alphabet we use. I saw one that used a Cyrillic letter that looked almost exactly like the Roman letter when seen in the link. You needed really sharp eyes to catch it, which I didn't; it was pointed out to me.
I use my work address on my luggage tag - in fact it’s my business card: name, phone, and email all right there.
IF you want to put an address (although I don't) at least put a neighbor's address, a work address, or the address of a local police station. This way it doesn't give obvious information as to your actual address. But this info isn't required, and in this case, less is better. Email or phone along with your name is usually sufficient.
Same when you order a Lyft or an Uber to get to the airport; I always give them an address two doors down…
So you don’t want to use your info, but you find it okay using someone else’s?
@@so.many.obstacles Right you are. That’s some kind of neighbor sending would-be robbers to my house. Sometimes these comment posters sure aren’t thinking!
I use my local UPS store for the address, so just the name and phone number are of any use....and with International Roaming, I always have my phone on.
I put my full name (as it appears on the ticket), phone number, e-mail address, and frequent flier number on my luggage tags. I am also going to use Air Tags for the first time when I travel in February.
Yes, baggage handlers beware ...they hire anyone
So if your bag is just delayed how would they contact you??
Nothing will happen if you connect to a fake wifi or unsecured wifi. All connections are encrypted. Social media impersonators are real. Scammers will reply to your questions. So, I felt for one and I started talking about not being able to escalate with customer service. While I was complaining, scammers tried to get details about my case, which I didn't provide. One thing to keep in mind is not to transfer any personal info over the internet. Stick to that rule 100% and will be fine.
I don’t know why people share personal information on internet. They are not aware of the ID theft?
I flew from Denver to Miami Beach recently and found that my husband and I ended up with different flights. The airline chose to switch them and didn’t inform us when I tried to reach out to them. I was told I needed to download WhatsApp I found that to be suspicious, but ultimately they fixed my flight so we both were able to fly together on the same flight That typical for airlines to do that?
Megan, thank you so much for these videos; I never knew.
AIRPORTS - You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
My name, phone, email, and address have been hacked so many times that they are no longer any kind of secret.
You are right but the fact that they know who you are traveling is helpful to thief.
Additional Scams: currency exchanges are usually not regulated. The exchange rates will be either poor or there is a hidden fee. Number 2, non-bank affiliated ATM machines, as they might charge a fee or a high percentage (most countries the ATM must show the fees they are charging).
Thanks for watching!
I would love to support your channel. I do a lot of traveling and your tips help a lot. Do you have a Patreon account?
I use my work information
Most people put their phone number and email on their luggage tag but not the home address. I don’t put anything on the luggage tag.
Just wanted to tell you that you have a lovely dog.
What about getting an email just for the trip, and putting that on the luggage tag? After the trip, stop using that email.
Travel getting tricky. Luggage tags. Use an alias email address and a virtual number like Google Voice. I don't see why you would need a physical address
On our baggage tags, I put the address of our local jail. Small town and I know someone there will recognize the name.
I just put my work contact details, not my personal on those tags. I only put my initials and never my first name or Ms or Mrs - nobody needs to know the owner of the bag is a woman.
And always, always use a VPN whenever you aren't on a secure network. You can usually get one that covers a few devices so it doesn't work out expensive.
Using the work contact is a great idea!
Why would someone post a boarding pass online?
Why? Since the advent of social media, "it's not real" if it's not "online"...
In the early days, many thought it critically important to update their "location" on FB whenever they went out...
People seeking "validation" (like my own response here) from anonymous strangers...
@@rustycherkas8229 not a issue here I am a introvert
@@annlavine3576 Good one! Thanks...
Introverts don't publish their psychological profile on social media...
Thanks again. It's good to have a chuckle every once in a while...
I posted my address online. Nothing bad happened but I exchanged few post cards with friendly people. It was in year 1994.
Great video, as always. J'aime ton chien.
Merci! Glad you enjoyed watching!
✨💖✨Thank you💫 10:33
I already knew all these scams, and have never trusted USB Ports, have VPN with Norton, and bar codes from long ago. I put my mother’s address on tags, but maybe I will put my sisters.
Funny thing about Iceland Air, even though we were delayed 45 min out of the EU. Due to people with carry on only bags that were too big, and trying to stuff them everywhere. Every flight in Iceland was delayed that day, so even though we thought we missed our connection, we still had a layover of about 1 hour. I think it is because they schedule their international flights to connect during a certain period, and do not want to pay for hotel stays, etc.
The flight attendants had to go row by row to check people’s under the seat space, because they shoved them there with their feet on top of the bags. I wish more airlines would get rid of this option of economy saver, because it delays flights. Plus people are afraid to gate check bags, that just, here in EU at least, go down a chute and straight to the belly of the plane.
For baggage: Apple Air Tag. You will always be able to find it.
Thanks for watching!
AG@ Love your channel. I travel a good bit - mostly LA/CHICAGO/NY - and your tips don’t always apply to me, but they are always fun and interesting….!