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Travelling Tips

 

PASSPORTS

Passports are required for all international travel. Ensure that you advise your full name as it appears on your passport when booking international flights. Your passports should be valid for at least 6 months from your return date to Australia. We prefer to have a copy of the front page of your passport when making the reservation. Also we recommend that you make a few copies of your passport and keep them in different places in your luggage. This will make it easier in the unfortunate event that your passport is lost or stolen, to have it replaced.
 
 If you are NOT travelling on an Australian Passport, a re-entry visa may be required and visa conditions may vary.
 

DO I NEED A VISA?

Australian passport holders require visa’s to enter some countries. Some countries allow a "visa free" stay for tourism purposes. If you are travelling on business this does not always apply. You must also be careful that the correct visa is obtained, especially in the case of double or multiple entries.

We are able to assist with obtaining a Visa, where required, through our dedicated courier. This will save you time and money to head to the Consulate, as in most cases, you will need to make two trips. Take the hassle out of arranging it yourself and leave it to us.

Travel Time processing/courier charge is only $20 per person…. cheaper than petrol to the city! This is in addition to the Visa fee set by the specific Consulate.

For updated information on whether a visa is required for your holiday go to www.visalink.com.au


ARE YOU TRAVELLING TO USA?? IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL TRAVELLERS

Australian passport holders may require a visa to enter USA if they do not meet the Visa Waiver Program criteria. Part of the criteria is that you have a machine readable passport in good condition. All passports issued in the last 10 years are machine readable however if your passport has been stashed away in the back of the cupboard awaiting that magical holiday, then just check the condition of the barcode on the front page under your photo. Ensure that it has not been damaged by water or the like.

Another condition is that you do not hold a past criminal record, this may even be a drink driving charge. If this is the case, then you most likely require a visa. This can take at least several weeks to arrange as you may need to arrange an interview with the USA Embassy in your local city.

For full information please go to http://www.usembassy.gov/
or contact the US Consulate in Sydney on 1902 941 641 (charges apply).
 

NEW VISA REQUIREMENT FOR USA as at 1st August, 2008
 

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced that, beginning on 1st August, 2008, travellers using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will be able to provide certain information electroncially before travelling to the USA.

Currently Australian citizens complete a written form providing basic biographic and travel information at check in whilst travelling to the US, such as:

  • Full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport number, expiry date, country of issuance, country of residence
  • address while in the USA - including street number, street name (or hotel name), city, state, zip code.

 Under this new system, visa waiver travellers will need to provide this information online prior to their departure.

This electronic system will become mandatory from 12th January, 2009, and ALL travellers entering the US under the Visa Waiver Program will need to receive electronic travel authorisation prior to boarding a plane bound for the US.

If you would like more information on this you can visit the department website www.sydney.usconsulate.gov 

This information is correct as at 3rd August, 2008. Travel Time will not be held responsible for incorrect information.


 IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL THERE?

For reasons of political unrest, acts of war or terrorism or natural disasters in certain parts of the world the Australian Government may decide to issue a Government Advisory warning to Australian passport holders not to travel to that country. In these instances, travel to some countries is not advisable and some clauses of the travel insurance coverage may not be affective.

We recommend that you keep abreast of latest developments in the countries and regions that you wish to visit. Current travel advices are listed on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website http://www.smartraveller.gov.au or by phoning them on (02) 6261 3305.

You are also able to register your personal details, ie passport and contact details, in Australia and the countries you will be visiting, and this will assist the Australian govenerment to find you in the case of an emergency. Simply register via the website www.orao.dfat.gov.au to utilise this service.

Travel Time is proud to be part of Smart Traveller, an initiative launched by the Department of Foreign Affairs that supports safe travel.


*IMPORTANT* NEW HAND LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS FOR ALL TRAVELLERS

To increase your safety, as of 31st March, 2007, new restrictions apply to all hand luggage on all international flights out of Australia. The new rules apply to drinks, creams, perfumes, sprays, gels, toothpaste, lipstick, lip balm and similar substances.
Each container of liquids, aerosols or gels in your carry on luggage must be 100 millilitres or less. All the containers must be sealed in a transparent, one-litre plastic bag. You are only allowed one bag. You may still carry prescription or non-prescription medicines, however we advise that you obtain a letter from your doctor stating what medication you are taking as proof of need may be required. Baby products are also allowed.  

For a detailed list of what can and can’t be taken click here.

 

FREE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Checked baggage allowance varies from airline to airline and from destination to destination.
At the moment, for travel within Australia your free allowance in economy class is one piece of luggage weighing no more than 32kg for Qantas; and there is a charge for checked luggage with Jetstar and Virgin Blue. Excess baggage may be charged per kilo.

For International Travel, this varies greatly so please check with our office for your particular airline and destination. This following is a general guide only.

For travel from Australia to UK/Europe, Asia and Africa you are allowed 1 piece of luggage at 20kg in economy class, 30kg in business class and 40kg in first class.

For travel to from Australia to USA, Canada and South America the ‘piece system’ is used and you are generally allowed 2 pieces of luggage at 32kg each piece!!!

For Round the World Airfares that include USA/Canada, the ‘piece system’ applies so you don’t need to pack lightly!

Special allowances are made for Infants, Children, Wheelchairs and other special needs.

Be sure to label baggage inside and out, with your name, address and contact number for your destination.


CAN I PRE BOOK MY SEAT?

Generally business and first class passengers can pre book their seats on flights.

For economy class, some airlines allow all their passengers to pre book seats which is great. Other airlines have a restriction that you must be a frequent flyer or purchasing a certain airfare. And other airlines do not have this privilege at all.

Wherever possible we will endeavour to pre-book your seats at time of booking to ensure your preference is noted to the airline. Note that although you may be allocated a seat number, this is never guaranteed unfortunately, and the airline has every right to make any changes until check in.
 
Some airlines have a way that you can Check in On Line a day prior to travel. You are then able to lock your seats in, and perform check in procedure, saving you time at the airport.


HOW FAR AHEAD MUST I CHECK IN FOR A FLIGHT?

For travel within Australia, we recommend that you be at the airport 1 hour prior to your flights time of departure.

For travel from Australia to overseas destinations, we recommend that you be at the airport 3 hours prior (economy class) and 2 hours prior (business/first class) to the flights time of departure. This is due to the increased security measures and delays that occur.

The normal check-in used to be 2 hours prior to departure, but it is our suggestion that you are there a little earlier where possible. Check in opens 3 hours prior and there is the added benefit that you may have a better chance of securing your preferred seating if you are there early.


TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel Insurance is strongly recommended by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, for all travellers.

Insurance covers for unforeseeable events such as:
  • Overseas Medical Expenses including Hospital and Dental
  • Lost or Stolen Luggage
  • Cancellation Fees
  • Personal Liability
  • Car Insurance Excess (this is a fantastic way to save money when hiring a car!)

And Much More!

There are various options to suit your budget, destination, age and requirements.

Insurance should be taken out at the time of paying any monies to ensure you are covered immediately. Please note that cover may not automatically cover a pre-existing medical conditions, and if such cover is required, a separate assessment form must be submitted to the insurance company.

Click here for an Insurance Quote and save 20%.

We are an authorised representative of the Licencee, Travellers Assistance. Any quotation is an indicative price only and there are various cover options and plans that you should consider. Please refer to the Travellers Assistance Product Disclosure Statement before making a decision on whether to purchase.

 

FREQUENT FLYERS

Most airlines offer Frequent Flyer Rewards Programs - if you are not a member of any of these programs we are happy to discuss your options and the benefits with you. Most are free to join, and apart from accruing points towards free flights, some have the added privilege of priority seating for frequent flyer members.

If you are a member of any Frequent Flyer program please advise us of your membership number. It is advisable to keep all your boarding passes so that you can verify this against your Points Summary after travel has been completed, and rectify any unallocated points!


HEALTH

Vaccinations are required for travel to some countries. Please check with your GP or contact Travelvax on 1300 360 164 or Travelex at www.travelvax.com.au for expert travel health & vaccination advice. Some inoculations are required months prior to travel so get on to this early.
 

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CARRY MONEY OVERSEAS?

Credit Cards are a popular and handy way to carry money when you are travelling. It is most handy for those unexpected purchases, and checking in to hotels and hiring cars where security is required. It also acts as a form of identification.
However another safe and handy way that complements the credit card is Cash Passport. Cash Passport acts as an ATM card and is a cheaper alternative to withdrawing from Debit and Credit Cards. As you can pre set your spending limit it is a great way to budget beforehand.

In partnership with Travelex, Travel Time offers you a complete foreign exchange service to ensure you get value for money and quality service. We sell Travellers Cheques, Foreign Cash and Cash Passports. Click here for more information.
 

DOCUMENTATION

We recommend that you photocopy any important documents before you depart. This includes your Passport, Airline Tickets, Drivers License, Credit Cards and Travel Insurance. These should be kept separately to your tickets, in your suitcase and will make it easier to cancel and replace these items if the need arises.


DO I NEED TO RECONFIRM MY FLIGHTS?

Most international flight reservations made through Travel Time can be viewed on Viewtrip www.viewtrip.com You can access your flight information and keep abreast with latest schedule changes. All you need is your booking number that we supply and your last name.

It is no longer necessary to reconfirm your flights departing from Australia, however we recommend that you ensure that the flight is leaving on time by checking Viewtrip or contacting Travel Time or the airline on the day of departure. However, it is advisable to reconfirm any ongoing flights and this will give you an opportunity to advise the airline your local contact details in case of any flight delays. You should also check with the airline on the day of departure to ensure that there have been no changes.

 

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