Vay-Kay

Mars and I won't be on the radio for a week and a bit because the boss has actually given us some time off!

Summer is upon us, and most of us try to take some sort of a getaway during the nice weather.  Whether it's just a weekend away or full blown European vacation travelling can sometimes be frustrating and time consuming.

If your vacation requires dealing with the airlines, here's a few tips on how to make your trip go as smooth as possible.

At some point, we've probably all been royally SCREWED OVER by the airlines.  But here are some things you can do to minimize the chance of it happening to you . . . 

1. DO SOME RESEARCH: Here in Canada, make sure you check out both airlines and see who can offer the better deal and with airlines outside of the country, go to a site like flightstats.com which gives you information about specific airlines and current flights so you can make a better decision when choosing which airline you want to fly.

2. PREPARE FOR THE WORST.  Seriously.  When you're prepared for the absolute worst thing that can happen . . . you'll know what to do next, instead of dwelling on how pissed off you are.  Keep the airlines' numbers on your cell phone, so you can immediately look for alternatives if your flight is screwed up.

3. KNOW WHEN TO FLY.  Here are a couple tips:  Fly in the morning, especially during the summer, because you'll have less of a chance of weather-related delays.  It also increases your chances of getting on another flight if yours is delayed or canceled.

4. PACK LIGHT.  This is pretty obvious, but the risk of losing your bag goes WAY DOWN if you carry it on instead of checking it.

Happy vacationing!