Travel in wartime
<a href=www2.ocregister.com>An already-stressed public braces for more worries – here's how to cope Sunday, March 23, 2003 By GARY A. WARNER Travel Editor
MULTIMEDIA Interactive Travel Warning Map
THE DRILL: Americans are used to doffing their shoes and getting patted down at airports, but security lines will likely get longer.
The invasion of Iraq may be happening on the other side of the globe, but the effects will be felt by travelers everywhere, from the corner gas station to the local airport.
Short of hiding out in our homes for the duration, there's little hope of avoiding hassle. Any journey is going to reacquaint Americans with the renewed realities of heightened security and uncertainty. Navigating travel in wartime will take extra preparation and patience. It's the price for some kind of peace of mind.
"I think America wants us to be prepared – America wants us to take precautionary measures," Thomas Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Security, said on March 17, the day President Bush issued his ultimatum to Saddam Hussein.
Ridge has even given the heightened domestic security measures one of those names usually reserved for military campaigns: Operation Liberty Shield.
GETTING INFORMED Travelers should start by getting a general security assessment from the Department of Homeland Security, on the Web at www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/.
The home page for the command center in the nation's war on terrorism, it has the latest updates on the color-coded threat levels.
Even the lowest levels mean scrutiny at airports, but the elevated (orange) threat level can lead to tighter border controls, limits to airport and other transportation-center access, and long delays at security checkpoints. A severe (red) threat level could mean the partial or complete shutdown of airports and borders, or at least extremely long delays at security checkpoints.
ON THE ROAD For many Americans who still want to travel during wartime, the answer is to hit the road and stay close to home. Automobile travel is on the upswing again, along with rec reational vehicle use.
The main effect for road travelers will be the high cost of gasoline, which is well over $2 a gallon throughout much of the country and higher in some areas, such as Southern California. Some analysts expect an additional fuel-price spike during the war. Adding to the effects of the war is the unsettled situation in Venezuela, where continuing civil unrest has strangled the flow of oil to the United States.
However, there is little chance of a fuel shortage of the kind Americans went through in the 1970s. Saudi Arabia has promised to open a 50-million-barrel strategic reserve. The United States could also open its own 600-million-barrel strategic supplies if the price spiral continues. The question will be whether gasoline companies and gas-station owners pass their savings to motorists.
To monitor the price of gasoline, check out the Web site www.fuelgaugereport.com. Also check out the Web sites of state auto clubs. Monitor what is going on at the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Web site, www.opec.org.
National and state parks are reporting a high volume of reservations for the spring and summer vacation periods. Check out National Park updates at www.nps.gov.
DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL The biggest effect will be on the flying public. With the heightened security requirements, airports are instituting new screening procedures, which get tighter as the color-coded threat levels increase.
During orange (elevated) threat levels, airport access can be limited and some roads shut down.
Red (severe) threat levels could mean the partial or complete closing of some airports.
Most airports suggest arriving two hours before a domestic flight. Try to use public transportation because of increased inspections of private automobiles on the access roads and in the parking lots at airports. Restrictions on carry-on items are still in place and will likely be tightly enforced during the higher threat levels.
In response to the war, many airlines have instituted temporary waivers of limits on the lowest priced nonrefundable tickets. Some airlines offer one-time rebooking during specific times in March, while others link their looser policies to whether the government issues a red (severe) threat level. Because there is no common policy among airlines and even differences in rules for tickets at the same airline, find out the rules for your specific fare.
An added concern for travelers is that the war could push already-teetering airlines over the brink. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, airlines slashed the number of flights by 20 percent. Flight cutbacks could again occur if the war is prolonged or the rebound in travel immediately afterward is not speedy. Check well in advance to make sure an airline has not changed or canceled your flight.
For the current status of air travel in the United States, go to www.faa.gov. A list of what you can and cannot bring aboard a commercial airline flight can be found at www.tsa.gov.
FOREIGN TRAVEL Traveling overseas during the war is cause for both trepidation and opportunity. Consult the U.S. State Department's travel warning list of places Americans should not travel to. A second list includes countries where Americans need to take extra precautions. The lists can be found on the Web at www.travel.state.gov.
Travelers flying overseas are cautioned to arrive three hours before their flights and to be prepared for long lines and multiple security checkpoints. Limit your amount of carry-on luggage to speed your time in line. Make sure your passport is valid – some countries require that you have at least six months of validity left before your next renewal date. Everyone – even infants – must have his or her own passport. Because of heightened security, processing applications is taking longer. It takes at least six weeks for normal service and two weeks for expedited service. For information, go to travel.state.gov.
The only upside of the conflict is that airlines are seeing a steep decline in the number of passengers. As a result, fares are at a 12-year low in some cases – as low as during the gulf war in 1991 – and airlines are waiving many cancellation and rebooking restrictions. If you can stomach the stress, you can take advantage – travel overseas hasn't been this cheap in years. For the best bargains, go to airline Web sites and sign up for weekly updates on sale fares. Travel services Web sites like www.travelocity.com also allow you to enter a limited number of destinations and will send you e-mails when fares drop by more than 1 percent.
CRUISES Some cruise lines are canceling voyages during the war. Others are loosening the refund and rebooking rules for passengers who feel uncomfortable about going to sea during the war. There is no industry-wide standard, so contact individual cruise lines for more information. A good clearinghouse for information is the Cruise Lines International Association trade group, whose Web site is www.cruising.org.
RAILROADS Amtrak does not plan any changes in service. For passengers who have not taken the train lately, be aware that new security restrictions limit carry-on luggage to two bags per passenger (not including personal items such as laptops or purses). Bags must be tagged with the name and address of the passenger. Information: www.amtrak.com.
ANTI-AMERICANISM ABROAD Whatever your position on the war, you are an American. Many travelers fear they will be treated coolly even in countries like Britain – where the government supports the war, but polls show most people do not. France in particular has been a source of some worry for foreign travelers. The U.S. State Department cautions Americans traveling abroad not to call undue attention to themselves and to stay away from any public demonstrations.
Emmanuel Gagniarre, a spokesperson for the French Embassy in Washington, said the fear of a rude reception is understandable but unfounded.
"I understand that some Americans might be afraid " Gagniarre said. "The fact is that it's not the case. Americans should not fear anything. They are welcome. They will enjoy their trip as millions have before them, no more, no less. My message is that relations are always easier when they are approached in an adult manner."
CONTACT US: Warner can be reached at (888) 436-0026 or by e-mail at gwarner@freedom.com