define international travel

What is international tourism and why is it important?

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The International tourism industry is stronger than ever before. Destinations around the world have developed their economies around international tourism and they are thriving (minus the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, but I am confident that tourism will return so I am going to put that to one side for now). But what does it all mean?

In this article I am going to introduce you to the exciting world of international tourism- the industry that I have lived and breathed for so many years. The industry that I love. So here goes…

What is international tourism?

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Tourism is the generic term used to cover both demand and supply that has been adopted in a variety of forms and used throughout the world.

International tourism essentially refers to the activities undertaken by visitors, also known as the visitor economy. The tourism industry encompasses all activity that takes place within the visitor economy.

This includes activities that are directly related to the tourist, such as staying in a hotel, ordering a meal or visiting a tourist attraction. It also includes indirect activities, such as the transport company which delivers the food to the restaurant in which the tourist eats or the laundry company that has a contract with the hotel for cleaning bed sheets.

It is largely due to the indirect contributions to tourism, that defining and measuring the tourism industry is so difficult!

Tourism is a phenomenon with no universally accepted definition, owing to the complexity and individualism of the travellers themselves and the activities that they choose to undertake.

The most widely utilised definition of tourism, proposed by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and United States (UN) Nations Statistics Division (1994), prescribes that in order to qualify as a tourist one must travel and remain in a place outside of their usual residential environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business or other purposes.

Matheison and Wall (1982) on the other hand, do not impose a timeframe, simply stating that one must travel to a destination temporarily.

Leiper (1979) believed that defining tourism is more complex than this, proposing that there are three approaches that can be taken. The economic stance focuses on tourism as a business, the technical stance focusses on the tourist in order to provide a common basis by which to collect data and the holistic stance attempts to include the entire essence of the subject.

The Cambridge Dictionary define tourism quite simply as; ‘the business of providing services such as transport, places to stay or entertainment for people who are on holiday’.

As there is no universal definition for the term ‘international tourism’, for the purposes of this article I will define it as follows:

‘International tourism is the act of travelling to another country other than where you live for no more than one year for purposes of leisure or business’.

Why is international tourism important?

International tourism is hugely important. There are a number of key reasons for this that I will outline below.

Value to the economy

International tourism can help economies to bring in money in a number of different ways. Below I have provided some examples of the positive economic impacts of tourism .

The importance of international tourism is demonstrated through foreign exchange earnings. 

Tourism expenditures generate income to the host economy. The money that the country makes from tourism can then be reinvested in the economy.

How a destination manages their finances differs around the world; some destinations may spend this money on growing their tourism industry further, some may spend this money on public services such as education or healthcare and some destinations suffer extreme corruption so nobody really knows where the money ends up!

Some currencies are worth more than others and so some countries will target tourists from particular areas. Currencies that are strong are generally the most desirable currencies. This typically includes the British Pound, American, Australian and Singapore Dollar and the Euro . 

Tourism is one of the top five export categories for as many as 83% of countries and is a main source of foreign exchange earnings for at least 38% of countries.

The importance of international tourism is also demonstrated through the money that is raised and contributed to government revenues. Tourism can help to raise money that it then invested elsewhere by the Government. There are two main ways that this money is accumulated. 

Direct contributions  are generated by taxes on incomes from tourism employment and tourism businesses and things such as departure taxes. 

According to the World Tourism Organisation, the direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP in 2018 was $2,750.7billion (3.2% of GDP). This is forecast to rise by 3.6% to $2,849.2billion in 2019.

Indirect contributions  come from goods and services supplied to tourists which are not directly related to the tourism industry. 

There is also the income that is generated through  induced contributions . This accounts for money spent by the people who are employed in the tourism industry. This might include costs for housing, food, clothing and leisure Activities amongst others. This will all contribute to an increase in economic activity in the area where tourism is being developed. 

The importance of international tourism can be demonstrated through employment generation.

The rapid expansion of international tourism has led to significant employment creation. From hotel managers to theme park operatives to cleaners, tourism creates many employment opportunities. Tourism supports some 7% of the world’s workers. 

There are two types of employment in the tourism industry: direct and indirect. 

Direct employment  includes jobs that are immediately associated with the tourism industry. This might include hotel staff, restaurant staff or taxi drivers, to name a few.

Indirect employment includes jobs which are not technically based in the tourism industry, but are related to the tourism industry.

It is because of these indirect relationships, that it is very difficult to accurately measure the precise economic value of tourism, and some suggest that the actual economic benefits of tourism may be as high as double that of the recorded figures!

The importance of international tourism can be further seen through the contributions to local economies.

All of the money raised, whether through formal or informal means, has the potential to contribute to the local economy. 

If  sustainable tourism  is demonstrated, money will be directed to areas that will benefit the local community most. There may be pro-poor tourism initiatives (tourism which is intended to help the poor) or  volunteer tourism  projects. The government may reinvest money towards public services and money earned by tourism employees will be spent in the local community. This is known as the multiplier effect. 

International tourism boosts the economy exponentially.

This is partly because of the aforementioned jobs that tourism creates, but also because of the temporary addition to the consumer population that occurs when someone travels to a new place.

Just think: when you travel, you’re spending money. You’re paying to stay in a hotel or hostel in a certain area – then you’re eating in local restaurants, using local public transport, buying souvenirs and ice cream and new flip flops. As a tourist, you are contributing to the global economy every time you book and take a trip.

For some towns, cities and even whole countries, the importance of international tourism is greater than for others. In some cases, it is the main source of income.

For example, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism accounts for almost 40% of the Maldives’ total GDP. In comparison, it’s less than 4% in the UK and even lower in the US! In the Seychelles the number is just over 26% while in the British Virgin Islands it is over 35% – so tourism is vastly important in these nations.

Other posts that you might be interested in: – What is tourism? A definition of tourism – The history of tourism – The structure of the tourism industry – Stakeholders in tourism – Inbound tourism explained: What, why and where – What is ABTA and how does it work? – Outbound tourism | Understanding the basics

Value to society

The importance of international tourism is not only recognised through economic factors, but there are also many positive social impacts of tourism that play an important part. Below I will outline some of the social gains from tourism.

It is the local culture that the tourists are often coming to visit and this is another way to demonstrate the importance of international tourism.

Tourists visit Beijing to learn more about the Chinese Dynasties. Tourists visit Thailand to taste authentic Thai food. Tourists travel to Brazil to go to the Rio Carnival, to mention a few…

Many destinations will make a conserved effort to preserve and protect the local culture. This often contributes to the conservation and  sustainable management  of natural resources, the protection of local heritage, and a renaissance of indigenous cultures, cultural arts and crafts. 

The importance of international tourism can also be demonstrated through the strengthening of communities.

Events and festivals of which local residents have been the primary participants and spectators are often rejuvenated and developed in response to tourist interest.

The jobs created by international tourism can also be a great boost for the local community. Aside from the  economic impacts  created by enhanced employment prospects, people with jobs are happier and more social than those without a disposable income. 

Local people can also increase their influence on tourism development, as well as improve their job and earnings prospects, through tourism-related professional training and development of business and organisational skills.

The importance of international tourism is shown through the provision of social services in the host community.

The international tourism industry requires many facilities/ infrastructure to meet the needs of the tourist. This often means that many developments in an area as a result of tourism will be available for use by the locals also. 

Local people often gained new roads, new sewage systems, new playgrounds, bus services etc as a result of tourism. This can provide a great boost to their quality of life and is a great example of a positive social impact of tourism. 

International tourism can see rise to many commercial business, which can be a positive social impact of tourism. This helps to enhance the community spirit as people tend to have more disposable income as a result. 

These businesses may also promote the local cultures and arts. Museums, shows and galleries are fantastic way to showcase the local customs and traditions of a destination. This can help to promote/ preserve local traditions.

Some destinations will encourage local cultures and arts to be revitalised. This may be in the form of museum exhibitions, in the way that restaurants and shops are decorated and in the entertainment on offer, for example. 

This may help promote traditions that may have become distant. 

Another reason for the importance of international tourism is the preservation of heritage. Many tourists will visit the destination especially to see its local heritage. It is for this reason that many destinations will make every effort to preserve its heritage. 

This could include putting restrictions in place or limiting tourist numbers, if necessary. This is often an example of careful  tourism planning  and sustainable tourism management. 

International tourism can, if managed well, empower communities. While it is important to consider the authenticity in tourism and take some things with a pinch of salt, know that tourism can empower communities.

Small villages in far off lands are able to profit from selling their handmade goods. This, in turn, puts food on the table. This leads to healthier families and more productivity and a happier population .

Value to the environment

Whilst most media coverage involving international tourism and the environment tends to be negative, there are some positives that can come from it: demonstrating the importance of tourism once again.

Some people think that international tourism is what kills nature. And while this could so easily be true, it is important to note that the tourism industry is and always has been a big voice when it comes to conservation and the protection of animals and nature. Tourism organisations and travel operators often run (and donate to) fundraisers. 

As well as this, visitors to certain areas can take part in activities that aim to sustain the local scenery. It’s something a bit different, too! You and your family can go on a beach clean up walk in Spain or do something similar in the UAE . There are a lot of ways in which tourism actually helps the environment, rather than hindering it!

Tourism brings with it huge economic potential for a destination that wishes to develop their tourism industry. Employment, currency exchange, imports and taxes are just a few of the ways that tourism can bring money into a destination.

In recent years, tourism numbers have increased globally at exponential rates, as shown in the World Tourism Organisation data below. There are a number of reasons for this growth including improvements in technology, increases in disposable income, the growth of budget airlines and consumer desires to travel further, to new destinations and more often.

Here are a few statistics providing by the UN and Statistica:

Here are a few facts about the economic importance of the tourism industry globally:

• The tourism economy represents 5 percent of world GDP
• Tourism contributes to 6-7 percent of total employment
• International tourism ranks fourth (after fuels, chemicals and automotive products) in global exports
• The tourism industry is valued at US$1trillion a year
• Tourism accounts for 30 percent of the world’s exports of commercial services
• Tourism accounts for 6 percent of total exports
• 1.4billion international tourists were recorded in 2018 (UNWTO)
• In over 150 countries, tourism is one of five top export earners
• Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange for one-third of developing countries and one-half of less economically developed countries (LEDCs)

There is a wealth of data about the economic value of tourism worldwide, with lots of handy graphs and charts in the United Nations Economic Impact Report .

International tourism is arguably the largest industry in the world. There are many benefits of international tourism to local economies as well as society and the environment. The many components of tourism that make up the industry are integral to livelihoods the world over.

• An Introduction to Tourism : a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to all facets of tourism including: the history of tourism; factors influencing the tourism industry; tourism in developing countries; sustainable tourism; forecasting future trends.
• The Business of Tourism Management : an introduction to key aspects of tourism, and to the practice of managing a tourism business.
• Tourism Management: An Introduction : gives its reader a strong understanding of the dimensions of tourism, the industries of which it is comprised, the issues that affect its success, and the management of its impact on destination economies, environments and communities.

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• GENERAL TRAVEL

What to Know Before Flying Internationally: 17 FAQs Answered

Liz is a collector of grand adventures. She first discovered her passion for meaningful travel wh...

• Before You Go
• General Travel
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Traveling internationally is your gateway to becoming a world citizen. You have the freedom to hop on a plane and visit places you’ve never seen before, taste exotic foods and learn foreign languages, go to sleep mid-flight and wake up on the opposite side of the world.

First step to adventure? Preparing for an international flight.

But international travel isn’t all fun and games. Between visas, security checks, long haul flights, and the drama of packing, international travel can be overwhelming—whether it’s your first time flying internationally or not.

It’s natural to have questions as you’re preparing for an international flight. Learn what to know before flying internationally, so you can begin your travel plans with confidence and ease.

If it is your first time flying internationally alone, you may be wondering, “ where do I even start? ” Who can help you navigate the nitty gritty of international travel? Lucky for you, every question you could imagine is right here at your fingertips.

What is the difference between domestic and international flights?

While domestic flights take you to other destinations within the same country, international flights take you overseas. If you’re planning to travel abroad, it’s important to know that you’ll be flying internationally.

Airports typically have separate domestic and international departures, with airport procedures before take off looking quite different. Keep reading to find out what to know when flying internationally.

How early do you need to be at the airport for international flights?

When preparing for an international flight, you’ll need to arrive at the airport at least three hours before your departure time. Three hours might seem like a long time, but between checking your bags, moving through various security checkpoints that may have you waiting in enormous lines, and finding your way to your gate, you’ll be happy you allowed yourself plenty of time.

Most international flights begin boarding between 40 and 60 minutes before take-off, leaving you only about two of those hours to get to your plane. Worst-case scenario? You arrive early and get to kill time in the food court or grab a quick beverage at the airport bar.

Dig into a pre-flight meal while you wait for your flight to board.

What do I need to fly internationally?

Flying internationally requires a lot more than just your passport. While your passport is absolutely essential , most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months longer than the dates of your trip. Some places also require you to have a certain number of blank pages to allow for visas and stamps.

Depending on where you’re headed, you may also need a visa , proof of onward or return travel, or proof of immunizations. The truth is, every destination will have different travel regulations, so it’s important to check with your destination when preparing for an international flight.

FAQs about preparing for an international flight

1. how to pack for international flight.

Packing for an international flight can be overwhelming, no matter how long you plan to be away. The very first step is to check your baggage allowance with the airline. How many bags are you allowed to bring on board? How big can they be and how much can they weigh?

Once you figure out how much you can bring, separate your checked and carry on bags:

• In your checked luggage, pack classic clothing items that can be mixed and matched to save space—even better if they’re lightweight and quick-drying fabrics. Remember that less is more, especially because you’ll want to leave a little extra room for souvenirs.
• In your carry on, pack your essentials, all your travel documents, and anything you might need while in flight.

Don't forget to weigh your bags after packing to make sure you aren’t hit with outrageous luggage fees at the airport.

2. How to prepare for a long international flight

When preparing for an international flight, you can do a few things to make sure you’re ready for the long haul:

• Get lots of rest in the lead up to your trip—flying can be exhausting!
• Take your Vitamin C to boost your immune system.
• Move your body before the flight so you feel prepared to sit for longer periods of time.
• Load up on entertainment—music, movies, TV shows, and books—to keep you busy in flight.
• Set your phone to the local time zone of your destination as soon as you get on your flight so you can minimize jet lag.

Remember, the more prepared you are, the less anxious you’ll feel when it comes time to travel.

3. What to do before an international flight

If it’s your first time flying internationally, making a to-do list will help ease your mind.

Make yourself a checklist. Do you have your passport, visa, and all your travel documents easily accessible? Have you purchased travel insurance ? It’s always a good idea to have travel insurance to protect yourself during international travel, just in case.

Next, make sure you let your bank know you’ll be traveling overseas. Having your bank freeze your credit card for unexpected transactions while you’re abroad is one big (but avoidable) travel nightmare .

So, notify your bank that you’ll be traveling. While you’re at it, check the international transaction fee policy so you know what to expect, and perhaps get some cash converted so you have it on hand when you land. ATM fees are usually most expensive at the airport, so it’s always comforting to have cash on arrival.

Last but not least, check the health advisories and travel warnings for your destination so you can ensure you’re safe when preparing for an international flight.

4. What to bring to the airport when traveling internationally

If it’s your first time flying internationally alone , there’s no such thing as preparing too much. Make sure you bring all of your travel documents with you, and if you have time, make digital copies of your travel documents too. You’ll want to bring all of these to the airport with you along with your carry on and checked luggage—and your comfiest clothes to wear in flight.

FAQs about documents needed for an international flight

1. what are the documents required for international travel.

When flying internationally, having a valid passport is non-negotiable. However, every country has different travel requirements beyond that.

If your destination country requires a visa, you will need to show this at the airport when you check in for your flight. In the days of COVID-19 , you may also need to show proof of vaccination for travel.

Check out the policies of your departure, arrival, and any transiting countries so you know exactly what documents are required for each leg of your trip.

2. Can you travel internationally with just a passport?

Ready to start collecting passport stamps? Yeah, we thought so.

This depends on where you’re traveling. Some countries allow departure and entry with just a passport, but many international destinations require a visa in some capacity.

Some countries allow you to get a visa on entry, with some visas free and others obtained with a fee. This is another big one to check on your destination’s immigration website before you depart so you know exactly what to expect when flying internationally.

3. Do I need my driver's license to travel internationally?

Typically, you’ll only need to show your passport when checking in for a flight, but it’s always a good idea to bring a driver’s license or another form of ID just in case.

Your driver’s license may come in handy more when you arrive at your destination, as carrying your passport around in a foreign country comes with some risks. You might want to put your passport away, lock it in your hotel safe, and use another form of identification when you’re out and about abroad.

4. Do you need two forms of ID to fly internationally?

Though you typically will not need two forms of ID to board a flight, if you have a second form of ID, bring it with you. If you are requested to show a backup ID or lose your passport while abroad, it’s always a good idea to have multiple proofs of identification on hand.

FAQs about international connections and baggage

1. what is allowed in carry on luggage on international flights.

Most airlines have a limit to how much luggage you can carry onto a plane as well as limits on the size, shape, and weight of your bags. Many airlines allow one piece of carry on luggage plus a personal item like a purse or backpack that can fit under your seat, but it’s always best to check with your airline.

You’ll always need to limit the amount of liquids you carry on to small bottles of 100 mL or less. All bottles will need to fit into one quart-size resealable bag.

Other regulated items include:

• Sharp objects
• Household items and tools
• Medical equipment

When packing your carry on, check the TSA guidelines .

2. What to pack in a carry on for an international flight

Your favorite clothes are just the top of your must-have packing list.

Use this checklist for packing your carry on to feel prepared for your international adventure:

• All travel documents (passport, visa, etc.) plus copies of each.
• Small toiletries that you’ll need for a long haul—think toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant at least.
• Any medications needed abroad, stored in their original containers.
• An eye mask, ear plugs, and pillow to get a good night’s sleep.
• An empty water bottle that’s easy to refill.
• Your electronics (laptop, phone, kindle, headphones) and their chargers.
• Snacks to tide you over, especially if you won’t have meals served on your flight.
• Spare undies and a change of clothes—just in case!
• A pen for your customs forms.
• Any other valuables.

3. Do I have to recheck my luggage on an international flight?

If you’re wondering what to know before flying internationally with layovers, it’s always best to check with your specific airline. Most international flights will check your luggage all the way through to your final destination, but this could change depending on your flight route.

For example, some countries require you to recheck your bag at the first point of entry, which means you’d need to pick up your bag, go through customs, and then recheck your suitcase for your next flight. When you first check your luggage at the departure terminal, ask the airline staff and they will let you know if your particular flight path requires you to recheck your luggage.

4. How much time do you need between connecting flights internationally?

If you want to be safe, allow at least two hours between connecting flights. Sometimes you can get away with shorter layovers, but it will undoubtedly be stressful.

Remember you may need to go through security if your connection is in another country, and it’s common for flights to be delayed—two hours will go by in a flash.

5. When do you go through customs on international flights?

Usually, you go through customs when you exit the airport at your final destination. However, if you have a layover in a different city in your destination country, you may need to go through customs before your connecting flight.

How to board international flight step by step

You’ve got this! Memories to last a lifetime wait on the other side of your flight.

Now that you know what to expect when flying internationally, it’s just a matter of showing up at the airport and going through the process to check in and get to your gate. Don’t be intimidated, it’s actually quite simple!

1. Check in for your flight.

Sometimes you can check in online, but if you have enough time and have questions, checking in at the airport can ease your nerves. This way, you can speak to your airline staff and ask any questions about your journey that you haven’t answered already. Make your way to the international terminal and find your airline’s check-in stand to get started.

2. Check your baggage and get your ticket.

When checking in for your flight, you’ll have an opportunity to check your luggage. The airline staff will give you your boarding pass and a tracking sticker that matches the one on your luggage. Keep these safe and tucked into your passport for easy access throughout the airport.

3. Go through the security checkpoint.

Now that you’ve lightened your load, it’s time to go through security. Follow the airport signs or ask the airline staff where to get in line for the security checkpoint. Typically, this involves waiting in line, scanning your carry on luggage, and showing your passport and boarding pass to enter the terminal.

4. Go through immigration.

If you’re flying internationally, you may need to go through a second security screening before your flight: immigration. All you’ll need to do here is show your passport and follow the instructions from the immigration staff. This is the last step before you can walk to your gate for your flight.

5. Find your gate.

You’re in! Your boarding pass will usually tell you the gate where you’ll board, but if it doesn’t, check the screens just past immigration. These screens list all destinations and their boarding gates. You may also want to double-check the information on your boarding pass—gates sometimes change.

Make your way to your gate and relax. If you arrive with time to spare, you may wish to explore your terminal a bit more, shop for snacks or books, or grab a meal and drink at one of the bars or restaurants nearby.

6. Board your flight.

About 40 to 60 minutes before your international flight, you will hear the airline staff announce boarding. Make sure you are at your gate and ready to board. Many airlines will board in groups, so check your boarding pass for your boarding group or zone, wait to be called, and line up. Have your passport and boarding pass ready to show the flight attendant, find your seat, and enjoy the ride!

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Don’t panic—flying internationally is so much easier than it seems.

The world awaits, so where will your first international flight take you?

While there’s a lot more to flying internationally than traveling on a domestic flight, it’s actually so much easier than it seems. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare for that first time flying internationally to make sure you have everything you need, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re in doubt. Once you know what to expect when flying internationally, those long flights will seem like a breeze and the world will be at your fingertips .

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Domestic vs. International Flight: What’s The Difference? [Inc. Tips and Advice]

• By Site Staff
• February 23, 2023
• In Travel Tips

You’ve got a trip planned that requires you to leave the country, and you’ve never traveled abroad. Naturally, you have some questions that need to be answered before you can even begin to plan your trip, like what is the difference between a domestic and an international flight?

As a family, we've been on our share of flights. Some international and some domestic. We have put together a handy guide to help you address your concerns and a whole lot more.

Updating this post in 2022 to add some more information - it's so great to be flying again!

First, let's talk about definitions.

What is a domestic flight?

A domestic flight is one that stays within the same country while an international flight is one that arrives in a different country.

What is an international flight?

If you live in the US, then a domestic flight would be one between one US state to another, or even within the same state.

If your landing destination is outside the borders of the USA, then you're on an international flight.

Most Americans have flown domestically at some point in their lives. After all, it is a big country. Unless you're willing to drive for many hours - and sometimes days - you'll need to board a plane when traveling between stats.

With that in mind, this post will focus mostly on international flights, and how they differ from domestic flights.

International Airports 

Your trip begins with an airport... so let's start this post there as well.

If you're visiting a new country, different from the one where your flight originated, then your flight is going to land at an international airport .

The international airport where you land will ask to see your passport, and possibly a visitor's visa.

They will ask you a few questions about your trip before letting you enter into their country. It's very rare but some people may be refused entry to a country at that point and sent on a flight back home (or to another destination).

This is what it looks when you enter the US, arriving on an international flight -

This picture was taken in the summer of 2015 when we entered the US. We arrived on an international flight from Israel, with a connecting flight in Rome.

That nice guy at the bottom of the escalators was welcoming Americans back home and directing everyone to the right lines for border control. There are always separate lines for returning citizens and visitors.

Domestic vs. International Airports

International airports allow you to travel all over the world, as opposed to domestic airports, which generally only allow flights within the same country.

The key difference here is that international airports are set up for border control and customs inspections .

With longer runways - to accommodate larger planes - and larger terminals, international airports are often also much more extensive than their domestic counterparts.

While it’s true that some domestic airports may have “international” in their title, these types of flights are often handled on an irregular (and sometimes very rare) basis and may not suit your schedule.

Domestic airports are built in a manner conducive to more localized travel, and as such, they cannot accommodate consistent international flights.

International airports typically handle both international and domestic flights.

Domestic airports typically only handle domestic flights.

With nearly 20,000 airports in the United States alone, you may feel overwhelmed with the sheer volume to choose from.

You may still need to use the services of one of those 20,000 if you choose to layover to a larger airport from a smaller, domestic one – and you may want to do this for many reasons – but you will mostly want to focus on international airports starting. You can then plan around the one you’ve chosen if need be.

Consider Passenger Volume

You may also want to consider passenger volume to help in decreasing your wait time and any potential delays.

However, keep in mind that the large airport where passenger volume is consistently high will be better equipped to handle all those people and suitcases. 

In other words, it's the unexpected peaks in passenger volume that you should be concerned about. 

Airports in the summer of 2022

We're back to traveling, now that covid restrictions have been lifted. That's both good and bad. 

Airports are understaffed because most of their personnel were laid off during the early stages of the pandemic. 

Airports and airlines simply don't have enough employees to handle all of the passengers and luggage they're seeing. 

It's not just in London.

This is a worldwide problem. Over the last two months, both my son and parents were on (different) international flights.

My son was lucky. He only experienced a single 8-hour delay on his way back from London. It was nerve-wracking, as there was no communication from the airline (did I mention understaffed?) but at least he finally made it on that flight back home).

My parents weren't so lucky.

They were flying from Tel Aviv to Chicago. After standing in long lines at the airport, they finally boarded their night flight. They even texted us this picture of my Dad on board the plane!

Then an hour later, they texted this picture -

They were asked to de-board the plane because of a minor technical issue. With no airport crew around to fix the issue right away, the flight had to be grounded.

They were told they would leave on the following flight the next day.

Then another email arrived, letting them know this was not happening. So they were moved to yet another flight. 

Two days later, the third flight finally took off - only an hour later than planned.

If you're planning any flight in 2022, at the very least, be extremely patient and be prepared for the worse.

But, back to more general information about international vs domestic flights.

Shopping at an International Airport

If you forgot to pack something – or you wish to stop and enjoy what they have to offer – all major airports include stores of many kinds, including gift shops, restaurants, and food courts.

And here's the thing -

International airports typically feature duty-free shops!

That's where luxury items and amenities can be purchased tax-free. By selling mostly to tourists who will be taking these items out of the country, many local and national taxes are waived.

What else is there to do in an international airport?

You will generally find WiFi services available, as well as locations for currency exchange.

Not only will you find the standard fare of shops and eateries, but some international airports also provide areas where passengers can rest and even take a nap.

Those areas are designated for those who may have become stranded or laid over. These days, they are usually reserved for business and first-class passengers.

More often, however, you will find hotels on the premises to allow for comfort and privacy. Anyone can use those - if they're willing to pay for their stay.

Airports are often massive (more on that below), and as such, you may find yourself in need of on-site transportation. Thankfully, you will often find services for just that, such as rail networks, curbside pickup, taxis, shuttle services, and buses.

If you need to leave your personal or rental car at the airport, many have parking garages for your convenience. This is highly beneficial if you don’t want to bother with an airport pickup or taxi service upon arriving home.

International Flights FAQ

Here are some of the questions people often ask about international flights. 

Do You Need a Passport to Book an International Flight?

Yes. Any time that you are traveling abroad, a passport is mandatory and required . You must also display your passport to enter the country to which you are traveling.

In some cases, you would also need a visa. 

As long as your passport is valid and in good condition, you don't need any additional forms of ID.

Do They Serve Meals on International Flights?

That depends. The answer used to be "absolutely", and meals are still featured on most transatlantic flights.

However, during shorter international flights, for example from one European country to another, they often serve only snacks and beverages.

On a low-cost flight, international or otherwise, you can purchase snacks and drinks but they're not included in the price of your flight ticket (unless you fly business or first-class - in which case, it depends).

The class in which you are traveling plays a significant role in the quality of your meals. We've only traveled in the economy until now. This is what a hot meal looks like when it arrives -

Nothing to write home about, in terms of the culinary experience.

However, I always say it's a welcome distraction on a long flight. Handling everything in such a small space is challenging and in a way, sort of entertaining.

When meals are served, you usually get a choice of vegan, vegetarian, kosher, low-sodium, and diabetic meals.

These all have to be pre-ordered when you book your flight or during the online check-in phase. If you don't tell them in advance, the airline won't have a special meal ready for you. Kids under 12 usually have their own kid's meals.

Do They Provide Blankets on International Flights?

In our experience, you do on transatlantic flights. Since airplanes are often rather chilly forms of transportation, it is generally standard fare to receive a blanket, as well as a pillow for use during the flight.

You're not supposed to keep the blanket though. They take them at the end of each flight and - presumably - wash and sanitize them for the next round of passengers.

This is what a good-quality typical flight pillow looks like -

Click here to see this pillow on Amazon

Check out our post on where to buy travel accessories for help finding all the comfort items you need for an international flight.

Some airlines really pamper you on transatlantic flights. On our flight to New York with Azerbaijan Airlines , we each received a small blue bag that had earplugs, an eye mask, a small toothbrush and toothpaste, and even a pair of blue socks!

Do You Get WiFi on International Flights?

While WiFi availability is growing rapidly in air travel, it isn’t available on all flights and with all carriers.

You will first need to check with your airline to ensure that they offer it, and then find out if your flight path has it as well. You can do this by looking at the coverage map on your potential airline’s website.

Not only will this service cost you, but it may also be limited in its functionality. Don't assume you'll be able to carry a Zoom call while in the air. You're likely to experience a relatively slow connection, so downloading your videos beforehand is recommended.

What Is a Transatlantic Flight?

As its name implies, transatlantic flights travel across the Atlantic Ocean, connecting passengers to the Americas (North, Central, and South), as well as the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Depending on weather conditions, transatlantic routes – called North Atlantic Tracks (NATs) – change daily to compensate for any issues that weather may cause for aircraft.

For passenger convenience, eastbound flights are usually in operation during the night, while ones westbound operate during the day. Approximately 2,500 aircraft make transatlantic flights daily.

Transatlantic Flight Times

As mentioned above, the night-time hours of an eastbound flight will generally make landfall between 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM UTC. Conversely, daytime westbound flights will usually make landfall between the hours of 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM UTC. It can certainly vary though, so carefully check your tickets.

Transatlantic flights are obnoxiously long too. 

To be honest, I dread these flights. But, as long as you're prepared, they are eventually over. 

My tip: Stay hydrated. Yes, this means more bathroom trips, but getting up and walking around every hour or two is a good thing.

Should I Lock My Luggage When Flying Internationally?

For your peace of mind, you can lock your checked luggage when flying to any destination, provided you use a TSA-approved lock.

See this TSA-Approved lock on Amazon

TSA agents carry master keys that will unlock all approved luggage locks if they feel your luggage requires extra screening.

And don't assume that your carry-on luggage will be with you at all times. The last people boarding the plane may be asked to send their carry-ons in the cargo hold. So, you may want to lock those smaller items as well, or at least have a lock on them.

By the way, a TSA-approved lock does not guarantee anything once you're outside the US. 

When flying internationally, once you make landfall outside of the United States, local agents won't have those TSA master keys.

If they feel the need to look inside your luggage, you may run the risk of having your lock cut off for them to complete their inspection. 

That's why we prefer to keep our suitcases unlocked on international flights. 

Tips for Making International Travel Easier

Here are a few quick tips that could help you when traveling internationally.

1. Passports and visas

Lastly, and this is a big one, find out ahead of time if the country in which you are traveling has any entrance and exit fees .

That’s right; some won’t allow you to do either without paying a fee.

If that is the case, make sure that you have cash set aside for such a situation, or an international credit card open for international transactions.

2. Make copies of your passport

Take clear photos of your passport's main page. Keep them accessible on the cloud and also carry a printed copy with you.

Leaving a copy with someone back home is always a good idea too (a digital copy should be enough).

3. Carry some local money (and/or a credit card)

Talk to your credit card company to make sure your card will work overseas while traveling. If traveling to Europe, you may need to upgrade to a card with the new chip technology. We usually prefer to carry some cash for the first days on us, just in case.

4. Vaccinations

Most western countries don't require any vaccinations except for covid shots. Yes, one more thing to check these days.

And consider yourself lucky because when flying in 2021, you had to produce proof of vaccination and also a negative covid test. If you could travel at all, that is.

As for other vaccines. 

You don’t want to go through all the steps of planning for a trip only to find out at the last minute that you don’t have proper vaccinations. Check with your doctor well in advance to ensure that you’re up-to-date.

5. Carry your valuables and medications on you

Don't send your medications in your suitcase. Have at least a week's supply in the bag that you're carrying with you. The same goes for any valuables. Luggage can and does get lost.

We also carry a change of underwear and one set of clothes for each person in the trolley that we take on board the plane. Meds and everything that is absolutely necessary for the flight itself stays in our handbags or even pockets.

And again, some airlines may ask you to send your trollies too, right at the gate, so it's best to be prepared.

All of the above is especially true in 2022 - when your chances of losing luggage are higher than ever.

6. Get some food and an empty bottle for the flight

Even if food is served, I like to have some snacks with us. Just in case the boys don't like the food served, or that someone gets hungry in between meals.

Energy bars are a good alternative, as they're small and filling.

You can't carry a full bottle of water through security, so we buy one after passing the check and while waiting at the gate. During the flight, I get up and fill it up to keep hydrated.

7. Get up often during the flight

It's very tempting to just cocoon up during a long flight, avoiding drinking and bathroom visits. That's a huge mistake, especially for adult travelers.

It's very important to stay hydrated and move around to prevent blood clots from forming.

8. Lip balm and hand cream can come in handy

Airplane air is dry, so if you're prone to chapped lips and dry skin, get some with you in advance. Find small travel-size products. Any large tubes (larger than 100CC) will be taken away from you during the security checks.

What Are Some International Airports?

I've been asked for examples of international vs domestic airports. So, let's wrap up with some airport-name-dropping.

Here are some major international airports in the USA.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport

The Detroit Metropolitan Airport, or DTW, is one of the major international airports in the United States. Located in Romulus, Michigan, the DTW covers a massive 4,850 acres, with four runways totaling nearly 11 miles.

It averages over 35 million passengers every year, offering flights to 30 international destinations with 39 of the United States covered, as well. Not only the DTW Michigan’s busiest airport, but it also has one of the largest airline hubs in the country.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, or MSP, serves both the public and military for international flights. The MSP is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota, juxtaposed within 10 miles of both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Covering 2,930 acres, it’s a little over half the size of the DTW, with approximately seven miles of total runway. Averaging nearly 38 million passengers annually, the MSP ranks fairly high in terms of busiest airports.

Las Vegas McCarran International Airport

The Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, or LAS, is another large international airport. Located in Paradise, Nevada, it covers 2,800 acres and has four runways that span over eight miles combined.

With nonstop flights to cities in Europe, Asia, and the United States, it serves almost 50 million passengers every year.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

The fourth busiest airport in the world (aircraft movement) and 15 th busiest in passenger traffic, the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, or DFW, is located on the Dallas and Tarrant county line in Texas.

Clocking in at over 17,000 acres, it is the second-largest airport in the United States, so large that it has its own post office, medical emergency, police, and fire rescue. It serves more passengers annually than any other entry listed here – nearly 70 million.

Orlando International Airport

Located just six miles from downtown Orlando, the Orlando International Airport, or MCO, is the busiest airport in Florida. Open for public use, the MCO serves approximately 47 million passengers annually.

It covers over 13,000 acres, making this airport one of the largest in the United States, with four runways totaling nearly 10 miles in length.

What Are Some Domestic Airports?

Here are some popular domestic airports in the USA.

Dallas Love Field

The Dallas Love Field (DAL) airport was once Dallas, Texas’ main airport of use until the massive Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport opened in 1974. Located just six miles from Dallas, it sports roughly three miles of runways while serving approximately 16 million passengers annually.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport

A commercial and military airport, the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (or SAV) is located in Savannah, Georgia. With two runways that total just over three miles, it serves approximately 3 million passengers annually, with that number increasing every year.

The Savannah Air National Guard is located at the airport, serving to transport its personnel, as well.

John Wayne Airport

Serving Orange County, California, as well as the Greater Los Angeles area, the John Wayne Airport (SNA) serves over 10 million passengers every year. Smaller than others listed here, its two runways equal around 1.5 miles in total length.

The SNA is just 14 miles from the Disneyland Resort, while the famous LAX is 35 miles away.

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

The Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) is another public airport located 3 miles from Manchester, New Hampshire. Its two runways total just over three miles in length.

The MHT generally serves around 1.5 million passengers annually and is New England’s fifth-largest airport in terms of passenger volume.

Palm Beach International Airport

The Palm Beach International Airport, or PBI, is located in Palm Beach County, Florida and has three runways that total just over three miles. It serves approximately 6.5 million passengers every year, with limited international flights.

These include seasonal routes to Montreal, and Toronto, Canada, as well as year-round access to the Bahamas.

Final words

Flying can be a fun experience, though the longer it gets, the more tedious it tends to get. Still, you can't do without it if you want to travel abroad. I hope you found this guide helpful. If you have more tips, insights or questions, don't hesitate to leave me a comment. And you may also want to check out this guide -

Flying with a teenager - what to bring on the plane

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Un tourism joins launch of ireland’s first sustainable tourism observatory, women take centre stage building inclusive tourism in asia & the pacific, un tourism members promote investment and education as international arrivals to the americas grow, un tourism: putting communities at the centre of tourism development in the americas, the first global dashboard for tourism insights.

As society progresses, the tourism sector, much like many other sectors, needs to transform to serve as a catalyst for prosperity at a universal scale. Enhancing the well-being of individuals, safeguarding the natural environment, stimulating economic advancement, and fostering international harmony are key goals that are the fundamental essence of UN Tourism. The organization takes on the role of driving a sustainable force that is now central to many economies

Opens Calls for Best Tourism Villages 2024

According to the first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year, international tourism ended 2023 at 88% of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.3 billion international arrivals.

The multi-dimensional nature of the tourism sector, combined with the dynamics of the source of investment capital presents a complex picture for understanding and measuring tourism investments.

"UN tourism is leading the way forward in growing investments into the tourism sector. We serve as the bridge between investors and destinations, and we guide investments where they will have the biggest impact in making tourism more resilient, inclusive and sustainable."

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Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

International Travel

Where can i find more information about preparations for international travel.

The following resources can help:

• Travelers' Health  (Centers for Disease Control)
• Travel Advisories  (State Department)
• Learn About Your Destination (State Department)
• Five Tips to Travel Smart from the Start (State Department)
• International Travel Tips  (Customs & Border Protection)
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Tips  (USDA)
• Spraying Aircraft for Insects — Disinsection  (Centers for Disease Control)

Does FAA provide safety oversight for international flights?

Under the International Convention on Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) each country is responsible for the safety oversight of its own air carriers. Other countries can only conduct specific surveillance activities, principally involving inspection of required documents and the physical condition of aircraft.

FAA conducts the  International Aviation Safety Assessment Program  (IASA), assessing the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of each country that has carriers operating to the United States. Because of the provisions of the Chicago Convention and national sovereignty, FAA is not permitted to evaluate a foreign carrier within its own sovereign state.

An IASA assessment determines if the foreign CAA provides oversight to its carriers that operate to the United States according to international standards. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency, and Annexes 1, 6, and 8 of the Chicago Convention develop those standards.

If the CAA meets standards, FAA gives that authority a Category 1 rating.

• Category 1 means the air carriers from the assessed state may initiate or continue service to the United States in a normal manner and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with U.S. carriers.
• IASA ratings  are released to the public.

What happens if a CAA does not meet ICAO standards?

If the CAA does not meet standards, FAA gives that CAA a Category 2 rating.

• Category 2 means the air carriers from the assessed state cannot initiate new service and are restricted to current levels of any existing service to the United States while corrective actions are underway.
• FAA does not support reciprocal code-share arrangements between air carriers for the assessed state and U.S. carriers when the CAA has been rated Category 2. During this time, the foreign air carrier serving the United States is subject to additional inspections at U.S. airports.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• For Travelers

Travel Overseas

This section provides information for international travelers about planning for your trip, returning home, navigating passenger processing. You can also find brochures about traveling overseas.

Travel Alerts

Travel Alerts are issued when short-term conditions that pose risks to the security of U.S. citizens.

Travel Warnings

Travel Warnings are issued when long-term conditions make a country dangerous or unstable and U.S. citizens should avoid or consider the risk of traveling to that country.

Preparing for your Trip

A passport is required for overseas travel. It is recommended to make a copy of your passport and put it in a separate place. Carry your passport - do not pack it in your checked luggage. You must present it to the Customs and Border Protection officer upon arrival in the United States.

Find out if you need to get a visa. United States citizens don’t need a U.S. visa for travel, but when planning travel abroad may need a visa issued by the embassy of the country they wish to visit. If you have a visa, we recommend you make a copy and put it in a separate place. Carry your visa with you — do not pack it in your checked luggage.

Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP ) provide modified screening for pre-approved members, improve security by being more efficient during screenings at ports of entry.

Learn about the types of identification that are required for travel in the Western Hemisphere (Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America). There are six types of acceptable documents for crossing US borders.

All children, including infants, must have their own passport or Trusted Traveler Program document for U.S. entry. Carry documents for traveling with minor children.

• If you are escorting a minor child without the parents, have a letter from both parents indicating that you have permission to travel with the minor.
• If the child is accompanied by only one parent, the parent should have a note from the child's other parent. For example, "I acknowledge that my wife/ husband is traveling out of the country with my son/ daughter. He/She/ has my permission to do so."
• If a single parent has sole custody, a copy of the court custody document can replace a letter from the other parent.

If bringing a dog, have a health certificate and proof of rabies vaccinations from a veterinarian in your country of residence. Prior to your trip, check with your airline for its rules on transporting animals – many airlines require a health certificate.

Returning Home

Find out what is prohibited or restricted before you pack for your trip. Products that would harm community health, public safety and domestic plant and animal life are restricted from entering the United States and are subject to seizure by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency .

Other considerations for packing:

• Carry only medication needed for the trip in its original container. Do not pack it.
• Carry only the jewelry needed for the trip. Do not pack it.

Navigating Passenger Processing

When planning connecting flights to or from the United States, allow at least two hours between flights. Allow time for CBP processing that must be completed at your first port of entry.

If entering the United States by air or sea, you will receive en route a CBP Declaration Form 6059B and, if you are not from a Visa Waiver Program country, a CBP Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record . Complete all sections of the forms.

Review the CBP Inspection Process before your travel. Listed below are general steps for the inspection process.

• On your U.S. arrival, go to the primary CBP passport control area. The CBP officer will ask to see all of your travel documents and the completed CBP forms. The officer may refer you for a secondary screening.
• Proceed to baggage claim to pick up luggage.
• Go to the CBP customs inspection checkpoint and show your declaration to the CBP officer, who may examine your bags and refer you for a secondary inspection.
• Pay duty, if applicable.

Traveling Overseas Resources

These resources can help navigate traveling overseas. 

• Know Before You Go – Regulations for International Travel
• International Travel Tips – Online resources for common questions about international travel
• Welcome to the United States – A Guide for International Visitors
• Import/Export Forms – Travel documents and forms
• Ports of Entry (Air, Land, Sea) – Locate the ports of entry into the United States
• How Do I - For Travelers

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Domestic vs International Flights (3 Key Differences)

When planning a vacation or business trip, many people have to decide whether to fly domestically or internationally.

Domestic vs international flights differ in terms of flight duration, visa requirements, and security procedures, with domestic flights typically shorter and less stringent in terms of paperwork and security, compared to international flights

Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages. Domestic flights tend to be more convenient and usually discounted, but they also may not go directly to the destination and involve connections along the way.

On the other hand, international flights can be a little pricier but tend to provide more direct routes and may offer additional amenities such as in-flight meals or Wi-Fi access.

Before deciding on your flight route , it’s important to weigh up these factors and consider what works best for you based on budget, convenience, and comfort that’s the key to making an informed travel choice!

Table of Contents

What Is A Domestic Flight?

Domestic flights are flights that take passengers to destinations within the same country. They offer a convenient and quick way to travel from city to city within the same nation.

Domestic airlines generally use smaller and more fuel-efficient aircraft than their global counterparts, making them cheaper, faster, and more environmentally friendly. On domestic flights, there may be restrictions on weight limits for luggage as well as for items that cannot be taken onboard.

Aboard these planes, travelers will have access to complimentary in-flight entertainment or drinks/snacks depending on the airline’s policy.

What Is An International Flight?

An international flight is any flight departing from one country and arriving in another. From the comfort of a plane, you can experience new cultures, explore exotic destinations, and create lasting memories.

When you take an international flight, you’ll have so much to look forward to incredible cuisine, new customs and traditions, breathtaking landscapes – all of this and more await you on your journey abroad.

Even if the destination is far away, with the right airline and expert travelers’ tips, it’s possible to make your trip smooth sailing.

With plenty of options available today, international flights are no longer just a distant dream; they’re closer than ever before.

International Airports

International airports are the gateways to entire worlds, introducing travelers to cultures both near and far. They are vibrant places that hum with activity, teeming with people representing hundreds of countries and speaking a variety of languages.

Travelers enjoy watching others wander through the corridors, taking note of the unique experiences each person brings to the airport hall.

The process of traveling can be exciting and overwhelming, yet in an international airport it is also calming; here one is surrounded by travelers that have familiar stories: they’re looking forward to new adventures, reconnecting with old friends, or returning from somewhere special.

For a traveler, experiencing an international airport is like visiting a world unto itself; for inside its walls is the foundation for many journeys of exploration.

Domestic Vs. International Airports

When traveling, one of the most important considerations is whether to book a flight from a domestic or international airport.

Domestic airports are typically more accessible and tend to have cheaper flights, whereas international airports are often much larger and offer access to more destinations in different countries.

Domestic airports must comply with certain safety regulations, however, international airports typically adhere to even stricter standards due to the diversity of passengers they accommodate.

Airports may also differ in terms of amenities offered: while domestic airports may feature restaurants and shopping outlets, international airports may offer those as well as currency exchange services and extensive duty-free options.

Opting for a domestic or an international airport will depend on your destination and preferences so choose wisely.

Consider Passenger Volume

When considering passenger volume between domestic and international airports, it becomes clear that there are unique differences depending on the region. Domestic airports act as busy hubs for travel within a country while international airports typically serve people traveling between different countries.

For instance, when looking at airport traffic numbers in the US, Newark Liberty International Airport serves more overall than most other US airports due to its intercontinental connections, while a smaller airport like Raleigh-Durham International in North Carolina has a higher percentage of domestic travelers.

Both types of airports play an important role in today’s world as we globally become increasingly interconnected and dependent on air transportation.

Airports In The Summer

Airports in the summer months can be both invigorating and exhausting. The energy that accompanies the hustle and bustle of travelers arriving, checking luggage, and navigating to their respective gates is undeniable.

With travel season at its peak, surrounded by others full of anticipation, it isn’t difficult to feel the collective excitement contained within an airport during these warm months.

But unfortunately along with all that community spirit comes a bit of chaos; long lines at security checkpoints, delays due to backlogs of already backed-up air traffic, and overcrowded terminals all add up to what can be a nerve-wracking experience.

That’s why it’s so important for travelers to give themselves plenty of time when departing in the summertime to ensure they get their journey off on the right foot!

International Airport Shopping

For the wanderlusts who never can stay in the same spot for too long, no place quite checks the boxes like a bustling international airport.

Shopping at an international airport can have a certain allure to it, especially when you’re making connections overseas.

From the second you arrive, there are usually enticing window displays displaying everything from luxury items to products that capture the local flavor and culture.

After collecting your bags, strolling around and taking in the atmosphere of a new place while shopping can be a great pastime.

It’s no wonder why airports often provide tax-free goods so shoppers can save money while trying out new flavors, souvenirs, and styles they won’t find anywhere else.

For travelers who want to make their journeys even more special, then going shopping at an international airport is certainly worth a try!

What Else Is There To Do In An International Airport?

An international airport offers travelers an experience that goes beyond the simple process of catching a flight. With facilities such as spas, saunas, and gyms, visitors have the opportunity to relax and get ready for their upcoming adventure in style.

Shopping stores offer everything a traveler may need be it souvenirs or items they forgot in their packing. Food courts often provide a taste of local cuisine from nearby countries and host live music performances regularly.

When waiting for boarding time is too much to handle, travelers can always find a quiet corner for some quick meditation or open spaces with comfortable seating to enjoy a book or take in the sights of the airport.

International airports are truly destinations within themselves – providing endless avenues to explore and discover something new.

International Flights FAQ

Below is a list of some common questions travelers often ask about international flights

Do You Need A Passport To Book An International Flight?

Booking an international flight can be a source of excitement and nervousness all at once. One of the most important things to consider when venturing beyond your country’s borders is whether or not you need a passport in order to book the flight.

It will depend on the destination that you are planning, but for almost all foreign countries travelers must have a valid passport to board an international flight even if it is just for transit. This is usually enough time to apply for or renew a passport, if necessary.

It is always important to verify what travel documentation your trip requires; by doing so, you can avoid any unnecessary stress and have a more enjoyable journey.

Do They Serve Meals On International Flights?

Many international flights now offer meals as a part of their standard in-flight service, although the quality and range of options will depend largely on the airline you are traveling with and the fare you have purchased.

Longer flights may include hot meal services, multi-course entrees, snacks, light refreshments, and beverages for passengers across all classes, although passengers on some budget carriers may be required to pay a small fee for food and drinks.

While it is always wise to check specifics before booking your journey, generally speaking, most international airlines now provide some form of meal service during the flight.

Do They Provide Blankets On International Flights?

For those traveling on international flights, the thought of being blanketed in comfort while soaring thousands of feet high in the sky is only natural.

However, this isn’t always a reality as different airlines may provide varying levels of comfort especially when it comes to provisions for remaining warm.

While some airlines may cover passengers with a comforting yet thin blanket, others might only provide a few, more rigid options such as sweaters or ponchos for people to huddle and hide under.

Due to this inconsistency, travelers should be sure to check their airline and inquire about what kind of blankets will be available prior to boarding their flight.

Do You Get WiFi On International Flights?

Many travelers need to stay connected even when their journey takes them thousands of miles across the globe, but do you get WiFi on international flights? The answer is very dependent on the airline and route, but more and more airlines are offering quality in-flight internet access.

For example, some carriers provide free WiFi to business class passengers on select international flights, while others require all passengers to purchase a premium data package that grants access to onboard wireless networks.

There’s still a long way to go before every international flight comes with robust WiFi connectivity, but there are already enough options available today that frequent travelers can easily find an accommodating flight.

What Is A Transatlantic Flight?

A transatlantic flight is a long-haul flight that crosses the Atlantic Ocean, usually between Europe and North America. These flights can be between two cities in Europe and two cities in North America, or between a city in Europe and a city in North America.

Transatlantic flights are typically operated by large commercial airlines and can take anywhere from 5 to 8 hours, depending on the distance and route.

Some of the most popular transatlantic flights are between London and New York, Paris and New York, and Frankfurt and New York.

These flights usually offer a range of seating options, including economy, premium economy, business, and first class.

Generally, this type of long-distance air travel occurs on a larger aircraft, with facilities such as reclining seats, in-flight entertainment, and meals all available for the comfort of passengers.

While international routes cover different distances than those typically associated with transatlantic flights, the term has come to refer to any cross-Atlantic trip.

These marvels of engineering provide an easy albeit lengthy way to traverse vast distances quickly while still getting the chance to experience some of the awe-inspiring views below.

For travelers looking for a unique adventure or an efficient method of travel, a transatlantic flight can offer both.

Transatlantic Flight Times

Navigating the world of international travel can be confusing and intimidating, especially when it comes to understanding different timetables and regulations. One aspect that may stymie travelers is understanding UTC landfalls for their particular route.

Most eastbound flights will give way to UTC somewhere between 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM while westbound flights tend to touch base around 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

As always, though, there are small contingencies that may affect any particular trip so it always pays off to double-check your tickets prior to flight time.

Should I Lock My Luggage When Flying Internationally?

When traveling internationally on a flight, it is important to consider what security measures to take for your belongings. Locking your luggage is an ideal way to ensure that your items remain safe and secure en route.

A simple lock added to the zippers of your luggage will deter potential thieves who may think twice before attempting to open something secure.

Not only that but knowing that your bag has been kept undisturbed can provide some peace of mind while you are away from home. It is also important to take into consideration any airline regulations related to locking devices depending on where you are traveling and the requirements of specific carriers.

Taking the time to properly research these measures ahead of time can help ensure a smooth journey for you and your items.

Can I Bring My Pet On The Plane?

It is possible to bring your pet on the plane, but it will depend on the airline and the type of pet. Some airlines may allow small pets to travel in the cabin with you, while others may require larger pets to be shipped as cargo. It is recommended to check with the airline for specific guidelines and requirements.

Bringing your pet on an airplane ride may sound like a great idea, but it brings its own risks and problems that you should consider before attempting to do so.

Not all planes will allow you to bring your pet onboard and even if they do, the airline has its own set of regulations for transporting animals. You must make sure that the animal is up to date with its shots and that the proper paperwork has been filled out in order to ensure a successful flight.

In addition, you should consider how stressful flying may be for your pet; it is advised you provide them with a toy or something familiar from home to provide comfort throughout the journey.

Since every airline will have different policies regarding pets onboard, it’s important to look into it carefully as individual circumstances can affect whether you can bring your furry companion along.

Can I Bring My Tablet On The Plane?

Yes, you can bring your tablet on the plane. However, it must be placed in your carry-on luggage or checked baggage and will be subject to security screening.

The use of electronic devices is usually restricted during takeoff and landing. It is recommended to check with the airline for specific guidelines.

Most airlines allow passengers to bring a tablet on board, either as a carry-on or in checked luggage. There are some restrictions, however: tablets must be charged, turned off during takeoff and landing, and stored away during the actual flight.

Even if you get permission to use the device during the flight, it is important to respect your fellow passengers by keeping volume levels at a minimum.

While it is probably best not to rely solely on your tablet while traveling if packed thoughtfully and used responsibly a tablet can provide endless entertainment possibilities for long flights.

Can I Bring My Scissors On The Plane?

Travelers often wonder if they can bring their scissors on the plane with them. The answer is yes, although there are conditions and stipulations important to understand.

All scissors must be less than four inches in length; otherwise, they must be stored in checked baggage. When packing scissors it’s best to place them in your carry-on bags under special scrutiny from airport security personnel.

Use caution to not place pointed items like the tips of scissors near or against the sides or pockets of your carry-on bag, as this may get withheld at TSA checkpoints due to enhanced security regulations.

When considering bringing a pair of scissors on a flight, plan ahead and keep scissors under four inches away from other objects in your carry-on luggage for easy clearance when traveling through security checkpoints.

Can I Bring My Knitting Needles On The Plane?

Knitting needles are generally allowed in your carry-on luggage. However, it is recommended to check with the airline or the TSA for specific guidelines.

Most airlines now allow passengers to bring knitting needles on board. However, there are some important things to keep in mind when planning to bring knitted items with you as you fly.

For instance, follow the rules for carry-on items as stated by the airline, and be sure that your scissors and other sharp objects stay safely stowed away during the flight.

Needles should not be stored in checked luggage as they may encounter extreme temperatures or other factors that can damage them.

When packing your knitted items, wrap them well so they do not snag on other items through their journey, and mark them clearly with your name and contact information in case they become misplaced while traveling.

With a little preparation, knitters can have a safe and enjoyable time bringing their yarn and needles with them while traveling by air.

Can I Bring My Electric Razor On The Plane?

Electric razors are generally allowed in your carry-on luggage. However, it is recommended to check with the airline or the TSA for specific guidelines.

Flying with an electric razor can be a bit tricky, as it is important to know the airline’s regulations on personal electronic items and other hazardous materials.

Depending on the country and aircraft, you may be able to carry an electric razor in both checked bags and carry-on bags, but carrying one in your carry-on might require special approval depending on the battery type.

It is always recommended to check with your airline before bringing anything that might not pass the security scanning and so it is best to ask beforehand if bringing an electric razor is allowed.

Remember that even though you are allowed to bring one on board, it cannot be used while the plane is in flight, again this varies from airplane to airplane so check with your airline prior to the trip.

Can I Bring My Hair Dryer On The Plane?

Hair dryers are generally allowed in your carry-on luggage. However, it is recommended to check with the airline or the TSA for specific guidelines.

If you plan to fly soon, bringing a hair dryer probably crossed your mind. Since airport regulations on what items can be brought onto a plane can be confusing or unclear, it’s important to make sure that you are allowed to bring a hair dryer on board.

Thankfully, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says that most portable hair dryers are allowed in your suitcase and through security clearances.

However, it’s best to check with the airline ahead of time in case they have any additional restrictions.

To make sure your experience goes as smoothly as possible, avoid bringing large blowdryers with attached nozzles and corded hair straighteners as they may not pass security clearance.

As long as you follow the proper protocols and double-check with the airline, you should be able to bring your favorite hair dryer along for your next flight!

Can I Bring My Makeup On The Plane?

Making sure that your precious makeup items are safe and sound when you’re traveling can be a stressful situation.

When it comes to bringing powder-based and liquid cosmetics on the plane, there’s a safe way to do it.

Not only should you place any makeup that’s in non-crease compacts into sealed sandwich bags, but also ensure that all liquids are under 100 milliliters each and placed in a clear bag for easy viewing by airport security.

Doing this will not only make your trip smoother but also keep your makeup secure for your destination.

9 Tips For When Traveling On International Flights

Plan ahead:

Start planning your trip well in advance to allow enough time to get all the necessary documents, book flights , and accommodations, and make any necessary arrangements.

Get your documents in order:

Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after your return date and has enough empty pages for any necessary visas or stamps. It’s also a good idea to make copies of your passport, driver’s license, and other important documents and leave them with a trusted friend or family member in case they get lost or stolen.

Research your destination:

Familiarize yourself with the culture, customs, and laws of the countries you’ll be visiting. This can help you avoid any misunderstandings or potential legal issues. Look up the local emergency number and the address and phone number of the nearest embassy or consulate.

Pack wisely:

Only bring the essentials and try to pack light. This will make it easier to move around and avoid excess baggage fees. Consider packing a small bag or backpack that you can take with you on day trips or when you’re out and about.

Learn a few key phrases in the local language:

Knowing how to say “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” can go a long way in helping you communicate and navigate your destination. Consider downloading a language translation app or bringing a pocket-sized phrasebook with you.

Use a travel wallet or money belt:

Keep your important documents and cash safe by using a travel wallet or money belt. These items can be worn under your clothes to keep them out of sight and secure.

Get travel insurance:

Consider purchasing travel insurance in case of unexpected emergencies or cancellations. Travel insurance can provide coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and other unforeseen circumstances.

Stay healthy:

Eat and drink carefully, practice good hygiene, and consider getting any necessary vaccines before you go. Avoid tap water and ice in countries where the water may not be safe to drink and be sure to wash your hands often.

Keep an open mind:

Embrace the unfamiliar and be open to new experiences. Traveling is an opportunity to learn about different cultures and ways of life, so don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Be respectful of local customs and traditions, and try to learn as much as you can about the place you’re visiting .

What Are Some International Airports?

International airports are a vital part of the world’s transportation infrastructure, providing millions of people with access to a huge variety of destinations.

Each country has different requirements and regulations for operating an airport, but many international airports are beginning to incorporate modern technologies like self-service kiosks and facial recognition systems in order to streamline the passenger experience.

There are many international airports around the world. Some of the busiest and most well-known include:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) in Beijing, China
• Dubai International Airport (DXB) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Frankfurt, Germany
• Haneda Airport (HND) in Tokyo, Japan
• Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London, United Kingdom
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, United States
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, United States
• O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, United States
• Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris, France
• Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok, Thailand
• Sydney Airport (SYD) in Sydney, Australia

What Are Some Domestic Airports?

Domestic airports are airports that serve flights within a country. Some examples of domestic airports include:

• Denver International Airport (DEN) in Denver, Colorado, United States
• Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Orlando, Florida, United States
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, United States
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, New York, United States
• O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, Illinois, United States
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, United States
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas, United States
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Phoenix, Arizona, United States
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, United States

This is just a small sample of the many domestic airports that exist in the United States and around the world. Domestic airports can range in size from small, regional airports serving a few flights per day to large, busy airports serving hundreds of flights per day.

Final Thoughts

When traveling, it is important to stay healthy and open-minded. There are many international and domestic airports that can help you get to your destination.

Whether you are flying within a country or across the world, there are many options for air travel that can meet all of your needs.

Whatever your destination may be, planning ahead and staying aware of local customs can help you make the most of your journey.

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Example sentences international travel

The industry was in recession at the time and most companies were cutting costs, including international travel .

It became the ubiquitous symbol of mass international travel , and a big earner for its manufacturer.

They recently returned his passport after withholding his right to international travel for four years.

His interests paint him as a sophisticate who likes 'fine dining' and international travel .

In the real world, the 1960s saw an expansion in mass tourism and international travel .

Definition of 'international' international

Definition of 'travel' travel

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• international unit
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Travel Medicine and International Health

Travel medicine and international health is a specialized branch of medicine that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of health issues related to international travel and global health. It aims to promote the well-being of travelers by providing pre-travel consultations, vaccinations, prophylactic medications, and post-travel care for various travel-related illnesses and conditions.

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international

Definition of international

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of international  (Entry 2 of 2)

• multinational
• transnational

Examples of international in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'international.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

1870, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing international

• international date line
• international law
• international pitch
• international relations
• international unit
• the international date line

Dictionary Entries Near international

internation

international auxiliary language

Cite this Entry

“International.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/international. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of international.

Kids Definition of international  (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on international

Nglish: Translation of international for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of international for Arabic Speakers

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• Travel Terms Glossary

We have provided a glossary for your use.  The travel industry is replete with jargon and acronyms and we hope you find this glossary/dictionary of travel terms useful when you run across a term you are not familiar with.  We encourage our clients to submit any words or concepts they would like defined or clarified to us on the Contact Us page and we will be happy to reply by email with a definition and include the term or clarification in our glossary/dictionary of travel terms for other clients benefit as well.

A la carte – referring to meals, an indication that each dish is priced separately; also that a choice of meals may be vailable, such as on a tour.

A la Carte Bar – Also known as a “Cash Bar,” a bar located within one’s hotel room that is pre-stocked with an assortment of snacks and beverages.

ABC – a reference to the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, in the Netherlands Antilles, just off the northern coast of South America (Venezuela). Fabulous for diving, snorkeling and all manner of watersports.

Abeam – A directional term, used on ships and aircraft, which describes something off to the side of the vessel, such as the wings.

Accessible Tourism – Travel that ensures that there is high availability in destinations, accommodations, attractions, products, and services to all people.

Accessible Travel – Travel that ensures that there is high availability in destinations, accommodations, attractions, products, and services to all people.

Actual Time of Arrival – Literally, the actual time of arrival. As opposed to the ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival).

Add-on – an option, usually at extra cost, added to travel arrangements.

Adjoining rooms – Two hotel or accommodation rooms that have a door connecting them from the inside, allowing the guests to combine the two rooms into one larger room.

Adoption Rate – the percentage of tickets issued through an online booking system compared to the traditional booking channel of agent-assisted reservations.

ADT – Atlantic Daylight Time; Alaska Daylight Time. Advance Purchase Fare – airfare that requires the traveler to purchase the ticket a minimum number of days prior to departure.

Advance Purchase Requirement – APR, or Advance Purchase Requirement, is the requirement that a ticket must be purchased a minimum number of days before the flight departs.

Adventure tour – A tour designed around an adventurous activity such as rafting, hiking, or mountain climbing.

Adventure travel – adventure travel is category of travel involving exploration or travel with perceived (and possibly actual) risk, and potentially requiring specialized skills and physical exertion.

Adventure Traveler – Adventure travelers travel to destinations with the specific purpose of active physical participation and exploration of new experiences.

Affinity Card – These are credit or debit cards issued by a banking institution in partnership and co-branded with a particular frequent traveler program.

Affinity group – A group of people that share a common hobby, interest, or activity, or that are united through regular participation in shared outings. Also see preformed group.

Aft – toward the rear of a ship.

After-departure charge – Charges that do not appear on the guest’s bill at checkout such as telephone or dining charges.

Agent – A person who has the power to act as the representative for another person.  Most frequently in travel, a specific kind of agent such as a travel agent.

AIO variables – Activities, interests, and opinions-used to measure and categorize customer lifestyles.

Air mile – a distance of approx. 6076 feet.

Air Traffic Control – Usually refers to the control tower at the airport, but may also be a control center somewhere else in charge of controlling a large area of sky.

Air Travel Card – a credit card sponsored by the airlines, for the purchase of air travel only.

Air Travel – air travel is the action or process of making a journey by aircraft.

Air/sea – a term referring to tickets, trips, fares, etc. that include both air and land-based travel arrangements, such as a cruise package with air included.

Aircraft – Generally speaking, any machine capable of flight. However, in the travel industry, these often mean airplanes.

Airline Alliance – These are agreements of cooperation between groups of airlines. Alliances offer airlines more flexibility and larger networks.

Airline fare – Price charged for an airline ticket. Several types of fares exist and can change with market conditions.

Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) – An organization that provides a method of approving authorized agency locations for the sale of transportation and cost-effective procedures for processing records and funds of such sales to carrier customers.

Airport access fee – a fee paid by the car rental companies to the airport authority, for the use of shuttle vehicles, etc. – usually passed on to the consumer.

Airport transfer – a transport service to/from an airport to hotel, etc., normally prepaid as part of a package tour, but available separately as well.

Air-Sea – A cruise or travel package in which one or more transportation elements are provided by air and one or more by sea. The package is usually combined with local lodging.

All Inclusive – sold for one price that includes charges and fees that are often added separately.

All-inclusive package – A tour package in which most travel elements are purchased for set price. Also called an all-expense package.

Alternative Tourism – Travel that is not conventional in nature, though that is hard to define. It can be a niche kind of tourism.

Alternative Travel – Travel that is not conventional in nature, though that is hard to define. It can be a niche kind of tourism.

Alumni tour – A tour created for customers who have previously traveled with a tour operator. Also called a reunion tour.

Ambassador – The head of a state’s diplomatic mission in another state, usually with offices inside the main embassy.

Amenities – a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place

Amenity package – A cluster of special features, such as complimentary shore excursions, bar or boutique credit, or wine at dinner offered to clients on a given tour or cruise, usually as a bonus or extra feature. Usually used to induce clients to book through a particular travel agency or organization.

Amenity – The facilities and features of a property, usually cruise ship, airline or destination accommodation.

American plan – a hotel’s meal plan that usually includes all three meals each day.

AMEX – American Express (AX).

Amidships – toward the middle of a ship – usually the most stable part of the vessel.

Anniversary travel – a type of milestone travel celebrating a date that is remembered or celebrated because a special or notable event occurred on that date in a previous year, such as a wedding anniversary.

Antebellum – describes a building and/or period of time prior to the Civil War, such as an antebellum mansion on a cotton plantation in the southern US.

APEX – an airline term meaning “advance purchase excursion fare” – normally the least expensive fares.

Apron – The area surrounding the gate areas of a terminal, generally used for parking and maintenance of planes.

ARC – Airline Reporting Corporation- the agency that regulates ticket sales and reports to the airlines for travel agencies.

Archipelago – An archipelago is a grouping of islands, essentially. Indonesia and Japan are both archipelago countries.

ARTA – Association of Retail Travel Agents – professional trade group of travel agents only.

ASC Fee – Administrative Service Charge.  Usually it’s the same as the change fee, or the fee to exchange the ticket for future travel.

AST – Atlantic (or Alaska) Standard Time.

ASTA – American Society of Travel Agents – trade group consisting of travel agencies, travel agents, and allied members (suppliers, etc.).

ATO – Airline Ticket Office – becoming rarer these days, as carriers continue to reduce customer service.

Attractions – An item or specific interest to travelers, such as natural wonders, manmade facilities and structures, entertainment, and activities.

Autobahn – high-speed equivalent to the US interstate highway system, in Germany and a few other European countries.

Availability – The total number of seats allowed to be sold at a particular rate.

Average room rate – The total guest room revenue for a given period divided by the number of rooms occupied for the same period.

B&B – A bed and breakfast home or guest house that a proprietor has converted into accommodation(s) for the public. Each room becomes a separate unit for rent and typically breakfast and/or other meals are served as part of the fare.

Babymoon – A relaxing and romantic vacation or getaway taken by parents-to-be before their baby is born.

Back to back – A term used to describe tours operating on a consistent, continuing basis. For instance, a motor coach arriving in a city from a cross-country tour may conclude the first tour upon arrival, then transport a second group back along the same route to the origination city of the first tour.

Back-to-back ticket(ing) – an against-the-rules practice whereby an air ticket is issued round-trip with only one portion to be used. Another is then issued roundtrip, again with only one portion to be used. In effect, this amounts to using one ticket for the outbound part of a trip, and the other for the return. The normal Saturday night stay requirement is then avoided – useful only when two roundtrip tickets are less than the cost of a single ticket with no Saturday night stayover.

Baggage Allowance – The amount of baggage a passenger may transport without having to pay extra charges, determined by carrier.

Baggage handler – See porter.

Baggage master – The person who controls baggage handling on a ship.

Balcony – sometimes called a verandah – an outside “porch ” that is usually private, just outside your ship’s cabin. Great for relaxing and port arrivals!

Barge cruising – pleasure cruising along a canal system, such as in upstate New York or in Europe, in converted barges or new ships that resemble them.

Base fare – the basic price of an airline ticket, before ANY taxes, surcharges, airport fees, etc.

Base – Flight crew term for their home airport; where the flights originate from and terminate at.

Beam – a ship’s width at its widest point; determines whether or not a vessel can pass through the Panama Canal.

Bed and breakfast (B&B) – Overnight accommodations usually in a private home or boarding house, often with a full American-style or Continental breakfast included in one rate.

Bell captain – The person in charge of luggage at a hotel.

Bellboy – Also called “Bellboy” or “Bellman,” a person that is hired by the hotel to assist guests, such as with luggage, running errands, etc.

Bellman – a person who carries one’s luggage to a hotel room.

Benelux – term for the countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Berth – usually refers to the bed in a ship’s cabin; also the space at which a ship is docked.

Bespoke tour – a tour that is customized, personalized and tailor-made for the traveler.

Biking Trips and tours – Bicycle trips and touring means self-contained cycling trips or pleasure, adventure and autonomy rather than sport, commuting or exercise. Touring can range from single to multi-day trips, getaways or vacations.

Birthday travel – a type of milestone travel celebrating a birthday, quite often marking decade birthday milestones such as 40 th , 50 th , 60 th , 70 th etc. birthdays.

Blackout dates – Specific dates in which special fares or promotions do not apply. Typically exist around holidays or special events.

Block – A number of rooms, seats, or space reserved in advance, usually by wholesalers, tour operators, or receptive operators who intend to sell them as components of tour packages.

Blocked space – seats, rooms, and/or cabins held on airlines, in hotels, or aboard ships. Usually held speculatively and made available at reduced rates.

Boarding pass – a receipt with a seat number, now issued only at check-in at the airport. A ticket is not valid unless a boarding pass has been issued. A Boarding Pass is not a ticket, but allows you to board a plane or ship or other mode of transportation.

Boarding Pass – Bonded – protected or guaranteed by a bond, usually referring to the protection of passenger’s funds.

Booking form – A document which purchasers of tours must complete to give the operator full particulars about who is buying the tour. It states exactly what is being purchased (including options) and must be signed as acknowledgment that the liability clause has been read and understood.

Boutique Hotel – A boutique hotel is a type of hotel, usually smaller and more intimate than a chain hotel, which conforms to a niche.

Bow – Bow is a directional term. Front of a ship or the nose of an aircraft; specifically, the foremost point of the hull of the craft.

Breakage – Expenses budgeted for a tour but not used or expended, thus resulting in additional profit to the tour operator. Examples include meals budgeted but not consumed, currency fluctuations in favor of the tour operator, or the tour selling to much larger numbers of passengers than expected.

Break-even point (BEP) – The point at which revenues and expenses are the same. For example, the BEP is the number of products (or seats, cabins, tickets, etc.) that must be sold for a company to break even. The BEP is calculated as fixed costs divided by the selling price less variable costs. See reasonable number.

Break-even pricing – Pricing a product based on a forecast of the break-even point and the cost of achieving the break-even point.

Bridge – the navigational center of a ship.

Bucket list destinations – Bucket list travel is a list of destinations a person wants to travel to and experience before reaching a certain age or dying.

Bulk contract – An agreement whereby an airline sells large blocks of seats at a discount for resale by a third party.

Bulk fare – A reduced fare for purchases of a large number of tickets.

Bulkhead Seat – Seats located directly behind a bulkhead wall separator. As these seats don’t have the benefit of a seatback in front of them.

Bulkhead – A partitioning wall, usually referring to one within the cabin of an aircraft, or perhaps on another mode of transportation.

Bumping – the airline practice of denying boarding to confirmed passengers who hold tickets on a specific flight, due to an oversold condition. The carrier will ask for volunteers to take later flights, and will normally provide some sort of compensation in the form of vouchers or tickets for future travel. Rules for when compensation must be provided are complicated; ask the ticket agent for a copy of that carrier’s rules, as each has their own set of guidelines.

Business class – While amenities vary based on the airline, business class generally falls between first class and coach.

Cabin – the passenger area on an aircraft; the stateroom aboard a cruise ship.

Cabin Crew – The collective group of flight attendants and the purser as a whole. The cabin crew is responsible primarily for handling the duties within the cabin.

Cabin steward – the person responsible for maintaining/cleaning the cabins aboard ship.

Cabin-(Aircraft) – The section of the aircraft in which passengers travel.

Cabin – A sleeping room on a ship.

Cancellation penalty – the monetary penalty due when travel plans are cancelled, usually after final payment has been made.

Cape – A small version of a peninsula, usually long and narrow, that juts far out into a body of water.

Captain – (Aircraft-The captain is the pilot in command (PIC), which is the person in the cockpit sitting on the left with 4 stripes on their shoulder.

Card mill – a “business “that sells potentially fake travel agent ID cards, usually in a sort of pyramid scheme, whereby the buyer intends only to partake of any legitimate agent benefits.

Carrier – generic term for any company that transports passengers and/or freight.

Carry-on – currently, there are no uniformly enforced airline restrictions concerning carry-on luggage.

Cashless cruising – a term that applies to the system of onboard payment used for most all cruises; the final bill for any such purchases is presented against a credit card or cash deposit given upon check-in. The final statement itemizes the purchases of all passengers in a cabin, such as drinks, shore tours, etc.

Casual research – A form of marketing research that is used to test cause-and-effect relationships between a marketing program and customers.

Cay – pronounced “key” – term for a small island, used primarily in the Caribbean, such as Princess Cay.

Celebrity Travel – celebrity and high net worth travel is an ultra-luxurious travel category describing the highly demanding travel requirements of celebrity and high net worth travelers characterized by the ultra-luxurious travel modalities and destinations with attention to privacy, security and confidentiality.

Certified Tour Professional (CTP) – A designation conferred upon tour professionals who have completed a prescribed course of academic study, professional service, tour employment, and evaluation requirements. The CTP program is administered by the National Tour Association (Lexington, KY) and is open to individuals employed in any segment of the tourism industry.

Certified Travel Associate – (CTA) – a travel professional certified by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents, who has passed a series of rigorous tests, assuring the traveling public of professional competence.

Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) – A designation attesting to professional competence as a travel agent. It is conferred upon travel professionals with five or more years of industry experience who compete a two-year graduate-level travel management program administered by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (Wellesley, MA).

Certified Travel Industry Specialist (CTIS) – A designation conferred upon American Bus Association member company employees who successfully complete five correspondence courses (three) required and two electives and written evaluation of eight marketplace seminars.

Chain-ratio method – A method for forecasting market demand by multiplying a base market figure by a series of consumption constraints.

Chamber of commerce – A DMO that operates at the local level and is comprised of businesses that are not necessarily associated with the tourism industry.

Chancery – The physical building that houses an embassy and its diplomatic delegation.

Change of equipment – when a flight, with a single flight number, lands and changes the type of airplane used before continuing on to its destination.  Sometimes referred to as a change of gauge.

Charter service – The transportation of preformed groups (organized by someone other than the carrier), which have the exclusive use of the vehicle.

Charter – To hire the exclusive use of any aircraft, motorcoach, or other vehicle.

Chauffer driven tours – a chauffeur tour is a tour driven by a chauffeur employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.

Chunnel – slang for the tunnel beneath the English Channel, from England to France, through which the Eurostar train passes.

Circle itinerary – A travel routing design that overnights in different locations and returns to the point of departure without retracing the travel route.

Circle trip – any trip that involves more than a single destination, but which returns to the initial point of departure.

City guide – A tour guide who points out and comments on the highlights of a city, usually from a motor coach or van.

City Pair – The departure and destination points of an air or rail journey.

City tour – A sightseeing trip through a city, usually lasting a half day or a full day, during which a guide points out the city’s highlights.

Class of Service – The inventory in which a passenger is booked according to the fare purchased. (E.g. a full fare coach class cabin is usually Y class of service)

CLIA – Cruise Lines International Association, located in New York City, NY.

Client list – A printout of the names of all tour participants.

Client mix – Objectives set by companies to achieve percentages of customers from different market segments.

Closed-end question – A question for which the answers are provided for the respondent, who chooses only from those answers.

Closeout – Finalization of a tour, cruise, or similar group travel project after which time no further clients are accepted. Any unsold air or hotel space is released, and final lists and payments are sent to all suppliers.

Coach – the “economy ” section of an aircraft, which may have literally scores of different fares for the same flight.

Collision damage waiver-(CDW) – Optional insurance provided by car rental companies that eliminates all responsibility of the driver in case of an accident. Car rental insurance covering any damage to a rental vehicle (CDW) many credit card companies cover their clients in this area if they use that card to pay for the rental. Check with you credit card company to see if you are covered and to what extent.

Commission – Money paid to a travel agency or ARC number by suppliers for generating bookings.

Commission cap – The limit placed on commissions paid to travel agents for the sale of air tickets, regardless of their price; designed to allow airlines to increase their profits at the expense of their primary distribution system – the travel agents.

Commissionable tour – A tour available through retail and wholesale travel agencies which provides for a payment of an agreed-upon sales commission to the retailer or wholesale seller.

Common carrier – Any person or organization that offers transportation for a fee.

Commuter – term referring to the small, regional airlines, sometimes called puddle-jumpers.

Comp policy – Arrangements for free tickets, rooms, meals, etc.

Complimentaries (comps) – Items provided free of charge, such as rooms, meals, tickets, airfare, gifts, souvenirs, etc.

Computerized reservation system (CRS) – An automated system used by travel agents that contains pricing, availability and product descriptions for hotels, car rentals, cruises, and air transportation.

Concierge – a hotel employee who provides additional advice, recommendations, and other services to guests, such as restaurant reservations. An employee of the hotel whose primary task is to serve as the liaison between the hotel and non-hotel attractions, facilities, services, and the guest.

Concierge Level – special service level normally offered at higher grade hotels that provide the guest additional amenities and information, typically at a higher rate.

Conditions – The section or clause of a transportation or tour contract that specifies what is not offered and that may spell out the circumstances under which the contract may be invalidated (in whole or in part).

Configuration – The interior arrangement of a vehicle, particularly an airplane. The same airplane, for example, may be configured for 190 coach-class passengers, or it may hold 12 first-class passengers and 170 coach passengers, or any other combination within its capacity.

Confirmed reservation – An oral or written statement by a supplier that he has received and will honor a reservation. Oral confirmation have virtually no legal weight. Even written or faxed confirmations have specified or implied limitations. For example, a hotel is usually not obliged to honor a reservation if a guest arrives after 6 p.m., unless late arrival has been guaranteed.

Confluence – A confluence, also known as a conflux, is the meeting point of two flowing bodies of water, such as streams or rivers; the place where they come together.

Conflux – A confluence, also known as a conflux, is the meeting point of two flowing bodies of water, such as streams or rivers; the place where they come together.

Connecting Flight – A flight that makes a stop at an intermediate point where travelers must change planes in order to connect to another flight to reach their destination. (I.e. San Francisco to Chicago and Chicago to New York).

Connecting room – Two rooms that are connected to each other by a door.

Consolidation – Cancellation by a charter tour operator of one more flights associated with a specific charter departure or departure period, with the transfer of passengers to another charter flight or flights to depart on or near the same day. Also, selling the same tour with identical departure dates through a number of wholesalers, cooperatives, or other outlets in order to increase sales and reduce the possibility of tour cancellations.

Consolidator – A wholesaler who purchases airline tickets in bulk and re-sells them to individuals and travel agencies at a discounted rate. These fares tend to have complex restrictions, but can be cheaper than buying direct from the airline. Consolidator fares are found to have the most savings on international flights.

Consortium – A collection of organizations made up of independently owned and managed agencies who band together to increase their buying power.

Consulate – Essentially a satellite office of the embassy, but its roles are limited in scope.

Consul – Head diplomat of the consulate.

Consumer protection plan – A plan offered by a company and/or association that protects the customer’s deposits and payments from loss in the event of company bankruptcy.

Consumer – The actual user of a product or service. See also customer.

Consumption constraints – Issues that limit the number of people in a market who will purchase a product.

Continental breakfast – At a minimum, a beverage (coffee, tea, or milk) and rolls and toast, with fruit juice sometimes included.

Continent – Large landmasses that the world is divided into, by convention, although it is generally-accepted that there are seven.

Contract – A legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties.

Control Tower – Often referred to as simply the tower, the people in the Control Tower oversee aircraft movements at the airport, including ground traffic.

Convenience sample – A collection of research subjects who are the easiest for the researcher to select.

Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) – A nonprofit DMO that operates at the county and city level. A CVB typically encourages groups to hold meetings, conventions, and trade shows in its city.

Co-op tour – Selling a tour through a number of wholesalers, cooperatives, or other outlets in order to increase sales and reduce the possibility of tour cancellations.

Cooperative (co-op) advertising – An agreement between two parties to share the cost of placing an advertisement.

Corporate agency – A travel agency that usually caters to medium-large sized businesses.

Corporate Rate – a hotel rate that is designed to appeal to the needs of the business traveler. It is not necessarily a discounted rate or the minimum rate offered by the hotel. Corporate rates normally guarantee the best available room at a fixed cost for a specific period of time, typically outlined in a contract between the hotel and company.

Corporate Travel – Corporate Travel is travel arranged by a business for business purposes. A division or department of a travel agency devoted to such travel.

Costing – The process of itemizing and calculating all the costs the tour operator will pay on a given tour.

Cost-plus pricing – See markup pricing.

Couchette – the sleeping compartment of a train that can contain up to 6 beds.

Coupon – See voucher.

Cruise Tour – A land and sea vacation, which combines a cruise with a multi-night land tour to inland destinations that the ship can’t reach.

Cruise – A cruise is a voyage on a ship or boat taken for pleasure or as a vacation and usually docking at several port destinations.

CST – Central Standard Time.

CTA – Certified Travel Associate.

CTC – Certified Travel Counselor – the ultimate in travel professionals, CTC certification can be compared to the “Master’s Degree “of the industry.

Cuisin e – a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes associated with a specific culture or geographic region.

Culinary Tourism – Culinary tourism is defined as the pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences. By combining travel with these edible experiences, culinary tourism offers both locals and tourists alike an authentic taste of a specific culture or geographic region.

Cultural Tourism – Cultural tourism is the category or tourism concerned with a country or region’s culture, specifically the lifestyle of the people in those geographical areas, the history of those people, their art, architecture, religion(s), and other elements that helped shape their way of life.

Cultural Travel – This is travel with regard to a region’s culture and history.

Culture – Similar shared traits or characteristics unique to an ethnic group, region, or nation.

Custom tour – A travel package created specifically for a preformed group or niche market.

Customer – The buyer of a product or service. See consumer.

Customized tours – a customized tour is a tour category where an independent travel plan is designed and arranged just for the traveler’s needs, goals and desires. This type of travel includes private airport/hotel transfers, hotels, internal airfare, trains, cruises, performances, events, activities and privately guided tours.

Customs – The common term for U.S. Customs Service, the federal agency charged with collecting duty on specified items imported into the country. The agency also restricts the entry of forbidden items.

CVB – Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (generic term).

Database – A computerized, organized collection of individual customer information.

Day rate – Also called a day room. A reduced rate granted for the use of a guest room during the daytime, not overnight occupancy. Usually provided on a tour when a very late-night departure is scheduled.

Day tour – An escorted or unescorted tour that lasts less than 24 hours and usually departs and returns on the same day. See sightseeing tour.

Deadheading – Making a trip or a segment of a trip without passengers, such as driving an empty motor coach somewhere.

Debark – to get off an airplane or passenger ship.

Deck – the floor area of a ship. Some cruise liners have as many as 11 to 14 decks or more.

Deck plan – the drawing representing the location of the decks, public rooms, cabins, etc. of a cruise ship.

Demand generators – Strategies and programs developed by DMOs and suppliers to generate destination demand. Examples include festivals, events, cultural tours, and consumer promotion.

Demands – A consumer’s wants backed by the ability to purchase.

Demographics – Population measures, such as age, gender, income, education, race/ethnicity, religion, marital status, household size, and occupation.

Denied-boarding compensation – that payment and/or voucher given those bumped from a flight; may be somewhat negotiable – always ask! See “bumping”.

Department of State – the US government agency that, among other things, issues cautions and warnings concerning travel to many points worldwide. Connect to the Department of State for the latest updates for the areas you are interested in.

Departure point – The location or destination from which a tour officially begins.

Departure tax – Fee collected from a traveler by the host country at the time of departure.

Deplane -To disembark, or get off, a plane.

Deposit policy – A specified amount or a percentage of the total bill due on a specified date prior to arrival.

Deposit – An advance payment required to obtain and confirm space.

Descriptive research – a form of marketing research that is used to provide detailed answers about customer markets.

Destination alliance – A DMO that operates as a for-profit association of select suppliers who form a paid-membership network to promote their services to travelers.

Destination management company (DMC) – A for-profit company that operates similar to a CVB by providing planning and execution services for the convention and meeting market.

Destination marketing organization (DMO) – An organization that promotes a location (city, region, state province, country) as a travel destination.

Destination Weddings – a destination wedding a category of travel where couples celebrate their marriage at a destination of their choosing away from home.

Destination – The geographic place to which a traveler is going.

Dine-around-plan – A meal plan, usually prepaid, that allows one to dine at various restaurants in an area.

Direct access – Refers to a travel agent’s ability to get directly into an airlines database to get true last-seat availability and correct pricing – a big difference between internet fare ” quotes ” and an agent’s CRS ( Computer Reservations System ).

Direct Flight – A flight that goes from a traveler’s origin to their final destination with one or more intermediate stops. No change in aircraft occurs. (I.e. San Francisco to New York with a stop in Chicago)

Direct marketing – Sales and marketing communication that feature direct interaction between a company and its customers without any distribution intermediaries.

Disaster Tourism – Travel when tourists go to an area that may be or may have been affected by natural disasters, civil strife, or warfare.

Disclaimer – a legal document that advises clients that a travel agent acts only as a middleman in the sale of travel products; any liability ultimately lies with the supplier, i.e. airline, hotel, car rental company, tour operator, railway, etc.

DMC – Destination Management Company

Docent – A tour guide who works free of charge at a museum.

Domestic fare – a fare charged for travel within a country.

Double booking – a not-nice practice of holding reservations to the same destination for the same times/days, on the same carriers but through different travel agencies, when only one reservation will ultimately be used.

Double Double – A room with two double beds.

Double occupancy – the way in which almost all cruise fares and tour packages are quoted, that is, based on two people traveling together. Most hotel rooms are quoted based on two adults to a room.

Double-occupancy rate – The price per person for a room to be shared with another person; the rate most frequently quoted in tour brochures.

Double-room rate – The full price of a room for two people (twice the double-occupancy rate.)

Downgrade – To move to a lesser level of accommodations or a lower class of service.

Driver guided tours – A driver guided tour is a tour guided by an individual that operates a vehicle while providing commentary in a front-line position who leads participants (individual or groups) on tours, ensures that itineraries are followed, provides commentary in an informative and entertaining manner, and creates positive experiences for tour participants.

Driver-guide – A tour guide who does double duty by driving a vehicle while narrating.

Drop-off charge – the fee added to a car rental when the vehicle is returned to a city other than where it was originally rented. In some states, there is no drop off fee most of the time, such as in Florida.

Duty-free imports – Item amounts and categories specified by a government that are fee of tax or duty charges when brought into the country.

Early Check-In – A perk that allows a guest to check in at an earlier time than the standard check-in time.

Eco/Sustainable Tourism – Eco or Sustainable Tourism is tourism directed toward exotic, often threatened, natural environments, especially to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife.

Eco-Conscious Travel – Though often interchangeable, being “eco-conscious” literally means that one is simply aware of their environmental impact.

Eco-Friendly Travel – Though often interchangeable, being “eco-conscious” literally means that one is simply aware of their environmental impact.

Economic impact study – Research into the dollars generated by an industry and how these dollars impact the economy through direct spending and the indirect impact of additional job creation and the generation of income and tax revenue.

Ecotour – A tour designed to focus on preserving the environment, or to environmentally sensitive areas.

Ecotourism – Tourism directed at exotic and/or endangered destinations while fostering an environmental understanding and conservation.

Educational tour – A tour designed around an educational activity, such as studying art.

Elder hostel – hostel catering to seniors – see “hostel”.

Electronic ticket – a “paperless” airline ticket allowing one to check-in and fly with just proper photo ID. What may look like a ticket is actually just a paper passenger receipt. E-tickets cannot be lost, or used by anyone else, so they are safer than standard paper tickets, which may soon become extinct. One drawback is that e-tickets on one carrier cannot be honored by another, so in a cancelled-flight snafu, the original carrier must print hard copy tickets before another airline can accept them. This presents major paperwork problems for the affected carrier.

Embark – to board a plane or cruise ship.

End suite – in the hotel industry, indicates that a certain feature(s) is directly in the room, or adjacent to that room.

English breakfast – basic meal of cereal, juice, eggs, meats, and other beverages. Common with most hotels in the UK/Great Britain.

Environmental scanning – The process of monitoring important forces in the business environment for trends and changes that may impact a company.

Errors and Omissions Insurance – Insurance coverage equivalent to malpractice insurance, protecting an agent’s or operator’s staff if an act of negligence, an error, or an omission occurs that causes a client great hardship or expense.

Escort – See tour director.

Escorted group tour – A group tour that features a tour director who travels with the group throughout the trip to provide sightseeing commentary and coordinate all group movement and activities.

Escrow accounts – Funds placed in the custody of licensed financial institutions for safekeeping. Many contracts in travel require that agents and tour operators maintain customers’ deposits and prepayments in escrow accounts.

ES T – Eastern Standard Time.

Estimated Time of Arrival – Literally, the estimated time of the transport’s arrival. As opposed to the ATA (Actual Time of Arrival), the ETA is the time that the flight or transport arrives.

Estuary – A body of water connecting a flowing river and a larger body, such as a sea or ocean. Because it is the transition point.

ETA – estimated time of arrival.

ETD – estimated time of departure.

Ethnicity – A term that groups people together with a similar cultural identity; unlike terms such as nationality, ethnicity is more ambiguous.

Ethno-Tourism – Focusing on exploration of indigenous populations and their respective culture and traditions.

E-Ticket – Regarding transportation, especially on airlines, an electronic ticket, or e-ticket, is the digital version of a paper ticket, issued via email.

Eurailpass – a special fare ticket that allows either unlimited train travel, or travel for a certain number of days/weeks, in many European countries (except in Britain, where the Britrailpass offers similar travel in England, Scotland, and Wales).

European pla n – a rate at a hotel that includes no meals.

Exchange order – See voucher.

Exclusive fare – Discounted airfares offered by travel consolidators.

Excursion – a side trip from a main destination, usually at added cost and optional.

Excursion Fare – special airline fares with restrictions such as minimum and maximum stays.

Exotic Travel – Exotic travel refers to a category of travel that is strikingly, excitingly and mysteriously different or unusual.  Exotic travel is travel that is completely different than what a traveler is accustomed to and is highly subjective in nature.

Experiential Travel – Experiential travel is also known as immersion travel and is a form of tourism in which people focus on experiencing a country, city or particular place by connecting to its history, people and culture.

Exploratory research – A form of marketing research that’s used to obtain preliminary information and clues. It is most often used when the marketing problem is ambiguous.

Extension – A fully arranged sub-tour offered optionally at extra cost to buyers of a tour or cruise.

Extensions may occur before, during, or after the basic travel program.

FAM (familiarization) tour – A free or reduced-rate trip offered to travel professionals to acquaint them with what a destination, attraction, or supplier has to offer.

Familiarity Tour – A familiarity tour as used in the travel industry it is a tour of a travel destination, travel accommodation, travel activity or travel mode (airline, cruise, ground transportation) to familiarize a travel advisor and provide knowledge and direct experience with the product or service so they can better serve their clients.

Family plan – offered by most hotels, allow children to stay in the same room as parents, at no additional charge. Age requirements vary between hotels.

Family Vacation – a family vacation is a travel category referring to travel involving family members. It is also commonly referred to as multi-generational travel.

Familymoon – A neologism term used to describe a type of honeymoon a newlywed couple can make along with their children from previous relationships.

Fare Aggregator – Fare aggregators’ redirect the users to an airline, cruise, hotel, or car rental site or online travel agent for the final purchase of a ticket. Aggregators’ business models include getting feeds from major OTAs, then displaying to the users all of the results on one screen. The OTA then fulfills the ticket. Aggregators generate revenues through advertising and charging OTAs for referring clients.

Fare Basis – the letters and numbers assigned to a specific fare like an identification number.

Fare basis (code) – The code that determines the price of an airline ticket.

Final Boarding Call – Last call to board before the jet bridge closes and the flight departs, leaving late passengers stranded.

First class – The class which offers the most premium service. Enhanced seating, meal selection, and drink offerings staples of this services.

First Officer – Pilot who is second in command. The pilot in the cockpit sitting on the right with 3 stripes.

Fishing Trips and tours – a fishing trip or fishing tour is a travel tour category where groups of fisherman are provided guided tours and typically lodging with the overall purpose of catching fish.

FIT – foreign independent tour – actually used generically now for a travel package put together by a travel agent from separate components such as car, hotel and airfare, adjusted exactly as the traveler wishes. May include city tours, theater tickets, and other “independent ” options, and may also include custom mapping/routing to accomplish the client’s goals. It now is more commonly used as an acronym for Flexible Independent Travel.  It describes a type of travel or tourism that does not incorporate a packaged tour but is nonetheless customized by a travel-selling professional.

Fjord – a narrow inlet from the ocean, usually bounded by cliffs, and with spectacular scenery. Most are located in Alaska, Norway, and New Zealand.

Flight Attendant – Commonly referred to as stewards/stewardesses and air hosts/hostesses, flight attendants are available to ensure the safety and comfort of the passengers of an aircraft.

Flight Crew – Sometimes called the aircrew, the flight crew consists of everyone hired by the airlines on a flight, including pilots, pursers, and flight attendants.

Fly/drive tour – An F.I.T. package that always includes air travel and a rental car and sometimes other travel components.

Fly-drive package – a travel package featuring airfare, rental car, and perhaps hotels. Usually less expensive than booking each separately.

Folio – An itemized record of a guest’s charges and credits which is maintained in the front office until departure. Also referred to as a guest bill or guest statement.

Fore – Directional term. Towards the front of the craft, lengthwise, such as the bow of a ship or the nose of a plane. Opposite of aft.

Frequent Flier Program – A program that a traveler can enroll in that earns them rewards such as free flights on a particular airline for being a loyal customer of that airline.

Frequent Flier – One who flies frequently.

Frequent Independent travel (F.I.T.) – A custom-designed, prepaid travel package with many

Full house – A hotel with all guest rooms occupied.

Full service hotel – a hotel with restaurant facilities.

Function room – A special room that is used primarily for private parties, banquets, and meetings. Also called banquet rooms.

Funnel flight – a flight, such as on a regional or commuter carrier that “feeds “larger planes which continue on to other destinations. Also, the use of a single flight number for an itinerary that really involves a connection with two separate flight numbers, thus making the itinerary appear to be a direct flight with a change of aircraft as opposed to a connection. Just call it a connection and be done with it.

Fuselage – The aircraft’s main body section, the cylindrical, central piece that contains the cabin and holds the crew and cargo.

Galley – The kitchen/kitchenette area of a plane or train or ship. On a plane, the galley may be a small affair with a simple arrangement and a few carts.

Gate-Airport – The specific area in an airport where passengers board a plane for a flight. Gates are located in concourses.

Gateway – City, airport, or area from which a flight or tour departs.

GDS – Global Distribution Systems – A system containing information about availability, prices, and related services for Airlines, Car Companies, Hotel Companies, Rail Companies, etc. and through which reservations can be made and tickets can be issued. A GDS also makes some or all of these functions available to subscribing travel agents, booking engines, and airlines. The GDS leaders are Amadeus, Apollo/Galileo/Worldspan, Sabre.

Geotourism – this is “tourism that sustains or enhances the distinctive geographical character of a place.

Global distribution system (GDS) – An international computer reservation system that accesses many databases of suppliers, airlines, etc. in different countries, such as Sabre.

Graduation travel – graduation travel is a milestone category of travel which refers to travel celebrating a graduation typically from high school or college.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) – solar based time in Greenwich, England, fun which time in all other time zones in the world is based.

Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) – a measurement of the enclosed space in a ship. Cruise ships in the 70,000 ton range are considered “superliners”.

Ground operator – See receptive operator.

Group – several persons, usually 10 or more, traveling together. Group travel is often available at discounted rates.

Group leader – An individual who has been given the responsibility of coordinating tour and travel arrangements for a group. The group leader may act as a liaison to a tour operator or may develop a tour independently (and sometimes serve as the tour director).

Group Rate – A negotiated rate on travel, perhaps a stay or vacation plan, that incentivizes for a large crowd or group that books together.

Group tour – A travel package for an assembly of travelers that has a common itinerary, travel date, and transportation. Group tours are usually prearranged, prepaid, and include transportation, lodging, dining, and attraction admissions. See also escorted group tour.

Group Travel – group travel refers to a category of travel with a group arranged by an outside company or organization or travel with a group of friends and family that you have organized yourself. Some groups are small, private and escorted, while others large.

GST – Goods and Services Tax, such as levied in Canadian Provinces.

Guaranteed share – a cruise term that promises that a companion will be found for a single passenger, at a special rate. That rate will be honored even if the cruise line is unable to find a cabin mate. The rate is usually the going double-rate at that time, and is much less than the single person rate for that cabin.

Guaranteed tour – A tour guaranteed to operate unless canceled before an established cutoff date (usually 60 days prior to departure).

Guest account – See folio.

Guest houses – a guest house is a private house offering accommodations to paying guests.

Guest ranch – a guest ranch, also known as a dude ranch, is a type of ranch oriented towards visitors or tourism. It is considered a form of agritourism.

Guide or guide service – A person or company qualified to conduct tours of specific localities or attractions.

Guided tour – A local sightseeing trip conducted by a guide.

Half pension – a hotel rate that includes breakfast and one other meal, usually dinner. Sometimes called Modified American Plan (MAP) or demi-pension.

Hard-copy – a printed version of a document, such as an airline ticket or hotel voucher.

Head tax – Fee charged for arriving and departing passengers in some foreign countries.

Hidden-city ticketing – another airline no-no; buying a ticket from A to C with a stop in B. The passenger gets off at B, which was the intended destination anyway. The ticket is purchased because the fare from A to C is LESS than A to B.

High season – the time of year when a destination gets the greatest crowds, and thus can increase hotel and rental car rates, etc. As an example, summertime is high season for travel to Europe (just check the airfares!).

High season – See peak season.

Hiking Trips and tours – a hiking trip or hiking tour is a category of travel vacation or getaway where the traveler is walking or hiking as the major mode of transportation.

Honeymoon Travel – Honeymoon travel is a category of travel where a newly married couple travels while celebrating their marriage.

Hosted group tour – A group tour that features a representative (the host) of the tour operator, destination, or other tour provider, who interacts with the group only for a few hours a day to provide information and arrange for transportation. The host usually does not accompany the group as it travels.

Hostel – an inexpensive accommodation, usually dormitory style, popular with the student crowd – thus the term “youth hostel”.

Hotel – a hotel is an establishment providing accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists.

House – A synonym used for hotel.

Hub – an airport or city in which an airline has a major presence and many flights to other destinations. As an example, Delta has a hub in Atlanta. Many carriers use the hub-and-spoke system to maximize profits by keeping the aircraft in the air as much as possible. Flights to the hub are many, and from there flights too many other destinations are scheduled.

Hub-and-spoke itinerary – A travel routing design that uses a central destination as the departure and return point for day trips to outlying destinations and attractions.

Hurricane season – in the Caribbean primarily, and the Southeastern US, a period from June through October during which such storms are likely to occur.

IATA – International airline industry trade group, headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with executive offices in Geneva, Switzerland.

IATAN – International Airlines Travel Agent Network – administers the IATAN card, the only widely accepted form of legitimate travel agent identification.

In season – meaning only available at certain times of the year.

In transit – en route; in the process of traveling.

Inbound operator – A receptive operator that usually serves groups arriving from another country.

Inbound tour – A tour for groups of travelers whose trip originates in another location, usually another country.

Incentive or incentive commission – See override.

Incentive tour – A trip offered as a prize, particularly to stimulate the productivity of employees or sales agents.

Incentive trave l – travel as a reward for an employee’s outstanding performance.

Incidental Charge – Items and services billed to a room after their use, such as movies, phone calls, etc.

Incidentals – Charges incurred by the participants of a tour, but which are not included in the tour price.

Inclusive tour – a package tour that bundles transportation, accommodations, transfers, sightseeing, possibly some meals, etc.

Inclusive tour – See all-inclusive package.

Independent tour – A travel package in which a tour operator is involved only with the planning, marketing, and selling of the package, but is not involved with the passengers while the tour is in progress.

In-flight Service – Entertainment (movies, television, etc.), meals, beverages and other items made available during a flight for the convenience of the passenger.

Inside cabin – a stateroom aboard ship that has no window. Sometimes smaller, but at times the same size as an outside cabin.

Intercontinental – Having to do with two continents. In travel, transit from one continent to another. Not to be confused with transcontinental.

interline connection – a flight on one airline that connects to a flight on another carrier – these tickets are usually more expensive than flying all on one carrier but may be the only way to get to a destination in some cases.

Intermodal tour – A tour that uses several forms of transportation, such as a plane, motorcoach, cruise ship, and train.

International Air Transport Association – International airline industry trade group, headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with executive offices in Geneva, Switzerland.

International Date Line – at 180 degrees longitude, the date on one side of this imaginary line, running from the north to the South Pole, is different from the other. The line runs through the Pacific Ocean, and because of it, it is possible to leave one destination on one day, and arrive in another the day before

International Rate Desk – Utilizes all available resources to ensure the lowest fare for your selected itinerary, including splitting tickets, consolidator fares, and available discounts.

Involvement device – An element of direct mail that gets the reader involved in the process of evaluating and/or responding to the solicitation.

Itinerary – A list of a tour’s or entire trip’s schedule and major travel elements.

Jet Bridge – An enclosed, movable connector which extends from a terminal gate to a plane, allowing passengers to board and disembark without having to go outside.

Jet lag – an upset of one’s biological clock, due to travel across many time zones; not all folks are affected by it.

Jones Act – a law dating back to 1886, that forbids foreign-flagged ships from carrying passengers between US ports with no foreign port stops in-between.

Judgment sample – A sample based on the researcher’s choice of subjects for a study.

Jump Seat – A flight term referring to an auxiliary (extra) seat for persons who are not operating the aircraft, such as the cabin crew or perhaps a trainee.

Kilometer – a measure of distance used in almost all other countries, at about 5/8 mile.

King room – a hotel room with a king bed.

Knot – a nautical measure of speed equaling approx. 1.5 mph. A ship traveling at 15 knots is traveling at about 22 mph.

Kph – kilometers-per-hour – land speed measurement in most other countries. 60 kph equals approx. 36 miles-per-hour.

Land arrangements – all the details of a land portion of a trip (hotel, car, tours, sightseeing, etc.).

Land Destinations – A land destination or travel destination is a place to which one is journeying, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure, adventure and amusement.

Land operator – See receptive operator.

Land Transfers – travel by train, bus, limo or taxi to and from an accommodation, plane or cruise ship.

Land-only – a rate that does NOT include airfare; usually includes most other land-based charges such as accommodations, transfers, taxes, and perhaps other optional items like theme park tickets, rental care, etc.

Last-seat availability – the ability of a travel agent to get, literally, the ” last seat ” for you on a particular flight, either at a certain fare or actually the last remaining seat on an aircraft. See “direct access”.

Late booking fee – a fee due if travel arrangement are made at the last minute. Normally covers express delivery of documents and other last-minute arrangements that may have to be made by a tour operator.

Late Checkout – A more exclusive perk for some guests that allow a few extra hours to check out from the normal hours.

Latitude – imaginary horizontal lines of angular distance, measured in degrees north or south of the equator.

Layover – a period of time spent during a trip, sometimes overnight, while waiting for a transportation connection – usually a change of planes.

Layover – The period of time spent between connecting flights.

LDW – loss damage waiver – additional insurance pertaining to car rentals, covering theft and vandalism in addition to accident damage.

Lead-in price – the lowest available price for a travel product, often pertaining to cabins on a cruise ship. Usually, there are only a few staterooms available on board each cruise liner in this category, but often better accommodations are only slightly higher in price. Rock-bottom price shoppers normally insist on these rates, though they sell out quickly.

Leeward – the side of a ship or an island that is located opposite from the direction of the prevailing wind -the “Leeward Islands” in the Caribbean for example.

Leg – Portion of a journey between two scheduled stops.

Leisure travel – Usually signifies traveling for relaxation, vacation, or to visit friends/family. Travel for pleasure as opposed to business.

Letter of agreement – A letter from the buyer to the supplier accepting the terms of the proposal. This may also be the supplier’s first proposal that has been initialed by the buyer.

Lido deck – usually the deck on a cruise ship that surrounds the pool area.

Limited service hotel – a hotel property without a restaurant.

List broker – A seller of mail lists for direct marketing.

Load factor – The number of passengers traveling on a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft compared to the number of available seats or cabins.

Locater map – A map of an area or a city, showing locations of attractions and hotels.

Lodging – Any establishment that provides shelter and overnight accommodations to travelers.

Logistics – Management of the details of an operation.

Low season – the period when a destination experiences its lowest prices and the fewest number of guests.

Low season – See off peak.

Lower (bed) – in a cruise stateroom, the bed(s) on the floor as opposed to the higher bunks (uppers), if any. On many ships, two lowers can be arranged to make a king or queen bed.

Lowest available fare – the current, lowest airfare available for purchase right then.

Lowest available fare – The most inexpensive flight currently available.

Lowest fare – the lowest published airfare between two cities; may not have seats available at that fare, as the airlines usually have a limited number of those seats on any given flight.

Luxury class – the most expensive, high-class accommodations or category of fare.

Luxury Cruise – Luxury cruises are the most comfortable and convenient way to see the world. Ships are usually smaller in size so the ratio of crew and staff to guests is generally higher than other cruise ships offering that premium service and attention to detail to be expected of exquisite vacations.

Luxury Ocean Cruise – a luxury ocean cruise is an ocean cruise on a luxury cruise ship or luxury cruise liner or passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship’s amenities are a part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way.

Luxury River Cruise – a luxury river cruise is a river cruise on a luxury cruise ship or luxury passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship’s amenities are a part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way.

Luxury travel – while luxury travel is completely subjective to the traveler, it can be loosely defined at travel that constitutes the state of great comfort and extravagant living.

Luxury vacations – a luxury vacation is a vacation that encompasses a state of great comfort and extravagant living.

Macro-environment – The broad forces in society and the business world that impact most companies.

Management Company – A firm that owns several lodging properties.

Manifest – Final official listing of all passengers and/or cargo aboard a transportation vehicle or vessel.

Market demand – The amount of a specific product or service that may be purchased during a certain period of time in a particular geographic area.

Market forecast – The realistic demand within a given time period for the products produced by all companies within a certain industry or product category.

Market – All existing and potential customers for a product or service.

Marketing mix – The 4 Ps of marketing- product, price, promotion, place (distribution).

Marketing plan – A written report that details marketing objectives for a product or service, and recommends strategies for achieving these objectives.

Marketing research – The function that links the consumer, customer, and public to the marketer through the systematic gathering and analyzing of information.

Markup pricing – Pricing a product by adding a standard markup to costs. Also called cost-plus pricing.

Markup – A percentage added to the cost of a product to achieve a selling price.

Master account – The guest account for a particular group or function that will be paid by the sponsoring organization. See folio.

Maximum stay – The longest period of time a traveler can stay at a particular destination and still qualify for the promotion or discounted fare.

Media – Communications channel such as broadcast (radio, TV), print (newspapers, magazines, direct mail), outdoor (billboards), and multimedia (Internet).

Meet-and-greet service – A pre-purchased service for meeting and greeting clients upon arrival in a city, usually at the airport, pier, or rail station, and assisting clients with entrance formalities, collecting baggage, and obtaining transportation.

Meeting/conference tour – A tour designed around a specific meeting or conference for the participants.

Microenvironment – Those forces close to a company that impact operations and marketing programs.

Midships – Directional term. Amidships, sometimes termed midships, is the center of the vessel or aircraft.

Minimum connect time – defined as the minimum time necessary between connecting flights – 30 minutes domestically, usually – ideally, at least an hour. The shortest time required in order to successfully transfer to a connecting flight. It is recommended to select a connecting flight that exceeds the minimum connection time.

Mission statement – The concise description of what an organization is, its purpose, and what it intends to accomplish.

Modified American plan (MAP) – meal plan that includes two daily meals, usually breakfast and dinner.

Motorcoach tour operators – Tour operators that own their own motorcoaches.

Motorcoach Tour – A tour that features the motorcoach as the form of transportation to and from destinations.

Motorcoach – A large, comfortable bus that can transport travelers and their luggage long distances.

MST – Mountain Standard Time.

Multi-day tour – A travel package of two or more days. Most multi-day tours are escorted, all-inclusive packages.

Multigenerational Travel – multigenerational travel is a travel category referring to travel with parents, siblings, kids, grandkids, and assorted family members with the goal to broaden horizons, provide opportunities to reconnect and provide an enriching assortment of shared experiences.

Murder-mystery tour – A tour that features a staged “murder” and involves travelers in solving the crime.

Mystery tour – A journey to unpublicized destinations in which tour takers aren’t told where they will be going until en route or upon arrival.

NACTA – National Association of Career Travel Agents – trade group representing primarily independent and home-based agents, now part of ASTA.

National tourism organization (NTO) – A federal-government-level DMO that promotes country as a travel destination.

Nautical Mile – Unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude. Air-Sea distance measurement of approx. 1.1 statute miles.

Negotiated Rate – A discounted rate offered to a company based on the volume of business you agree to provide the selected vendor.

Net fare, net rate – Implies the commission has already been added to the price of the fare.

Net wholesale rate – A rate usually slightly lower than the wholesale rate, applicable to groups of individuals when a hotel is specifically mentioned in a tour brochure. The rate is marked up by wholesale sellers of tours to cover distribution and promotion costs.

Niche market – A highly specialized segment of the travel market, such as an affinity group with a unique special interest.

No show – a passenger who doesn’t show for a flight, hotel, or rental car booking. A guest with confirmed reservations who does not arrive and whose reservation was not canceled.

Non Stop Flight – Do not land in between your departure and arrival destinations. (I.e. San Francisco to New York)

Non-Changeable Ticket – A ticket that cannot be exchanged for a different route or flight once it’s been purchased.

Non-refundable – a fare that cannot be refunded either in cash or via a credit card credit; very seldom is there an exception.

Non-Refundable Ticket – A ticket that cannot be returned for cash or credit once it’s been purchased, but may be changeable for a fee.

Nonstop – A flight that travels directly to its destination without connections or layovers.

Non-transferable – A ticket that can only be used by the person who was originally scheduled to fly at the time of purchase.

NTSB – National Transportation Safety Board; investigates accidents and other incidents related to public transportation.

Objective and task method – A process for creating a promotion budget that sets objectives first, then defines the tasks needed to achieve those objectives, and then commits funds necessary to perform the tasks.

Occupancy rate – the percent of hotel rooms expected to be filled during a specific time period.

Occupancy – The percentage of available rooms occupied for a given period. It is computed by dividing the number of rooms occupied for a period by the number of rooms available for the same period.

Ocean view cabin – a cabin aboard a cruise ship with a window, such as a porthole or picture-window, and perhaps a balcony/verandah.

OCV – ocean view, usually in reference to a hotel room.

Offline connection – a change of aircraft also involving a change of carriers.

Off-peak – A less expensive time to travel as result of lower consumer volume during these periods.

On-site guide – A tour guide who conducts tours of one or several hours’ duration at a specific building, attraction, or site.

Onsite – An on-site is an expert travel provider that lives in the country they serve and has firsthand knowledge and long-standing relationships with all aspect of travel in their country.

Open jaw – a trip in during which there is no travel by air between two cities, such as a flight to Washington DC, then travel by rental car to Charlotte, NC, then a return by air from Charlotte back to the original departure city.

Open return – an air ticket with no return date specified. Rarely done these days, usually quite expensive and not allowed on most discounted fares.

Open-end question – A question that allows the respondent to provide a free-response answer.

Open-jaw itinerary – A travel routing design that departs from one location and returns to another. For example, travelers may fly into one city and depart from another one. Or a traveler may purchase round-trip transportation from the point of origin to one destination, at which another form of transportation is used to reach a second destination, where the traveler resumes the initial form of transportation to return to the point of origin.

Operations – Performing the practical work of operating a tour or travel program.

Operator – a company providing transportation or travel related services (airline, cruise line, railway, hotel, car Rental Company, etc.).

Operator – See Tour Operator.

Option date – drop dead date on which a reservation must be deposited or cancellation will result.

Optionals – Optional tour features that are not included in the base tour price, such as sightseeing excursions or special activities.

OTA – Online travel agencies, examples include Priceline, Expedia and Orbitz

Outbound – the departure leg of a journey.

Outbound operator – A company that takes groups from a given city or country to another city or country.

Outbound tour – A tour that takes travelers out of the area, usually from a domestic city to another country.

Outside cabin – see “ocean view ” cabin.

Outside salesperson – job description of a travel agency employee who sells travel but is not based primarily in the agency location most of the time.

Overbook – Accepting reservations for more space than is available.

Overbooking – the practice of selling more airline seats than are available on a specific flight, to make up for no-shows. Usually backfires on the carrier and at times can create much consumer ill-will. Requires passengers to be “bumped” – not always voluntarily. To some extent, happens in the hotel industry as well.

Overhead – Those fixed costs involved in regular operations, such as rent, insurance, management salaries, and utilities.

Override – A commission over and above the normal base commission percentage.

Packaged travel – A package in combination of two or more types of tour components into a product which is produced, assembled, promoted and sold as a package by a tour operator for an all-inclusive price.

Passenger facility charge (PFC) – a fee for the use of many airports, added in to the cost of an air ticket – another name for an additional tax on travelers.

Passenger name record (PNR) – The official name of one’s reservation in a computer reservation system (CRS).

Passenger vessel – Ships, yachts, ferries, boats, etc.

Passport/visa service – a service that will take your passport and hand carry, if necessary, to the appropriate embassy in order to expedite a visa. Can be expensive if you have waited until the last minute to obtain a travel visa.

Patronage Program – A program that rewards the customer for loyalty and repeat purchase, such as frequent-flyer programs.

Peak season – A destination’s high season when demand is strong. Also called the high season.

Peninsula – A piece of land that is connected to a mainland or larger piece of land on only one side, while the other sides are surrounded by water.

Per Diem – “by the day;” in the cruise industry, the per-day cost of a cruise, per person.

Per-capita costs – Per-person costs.

Per-capita tour – See scheduled tour.

Perceived value – The ratio of perceived benefits to perceived price.

Personal effects coverage – Additional car rental insurance covering loss of personal property from the rented vehicle.

Point-to-point – refers to the fares between two cities; the service between two cities without additional segments or any continuation.

Port – the place where a ship docks; a place visited by cruise ship; the left side of a vessel.

Port charges/taxes – fees levied by local authorities upon the cruise lines for each passenger visiting a port of call, normally added to the total cruise fare.

Port of Debarkation – Port of Debarkation is the geographic point where personnel arrive on a cruise vessel

Port of Embarkation – Port of Embarkation is the geographic point where personnel depart on a cruise vessel

Port of entry – Destination providing customs and immigration services.

Port-Directional – When facing forward, the side of the ship or aircraft that is on the left.

Porter – A person who handles luggage at an airport, train station, etc.; also called skycap or baggage handler.

Porthole – usually a round, sealed window in a shipboard stateroom.

Posada – a small country hotel (Spanish).

Positioning strategy – The development of a clear, unique, and attractive image for a company and/or product in the minds of target customers.

Positive space – space aboard a ship or aircraft that can be confirmed ahead of time.

Post-Cruise Vacation – a post-cruise vacation is a vacation or getaway prior to a cruise in the town or region of the port of debarkation of the cruise.

PPDO – per person, double occupancy. Most tours and cruises are quoted this way; the average cost to stay in a particular location per day.

Pre- and post-trip tour – An optional extension or side trip package before and/or after a meeting, gathering, or convention.

Pre-Cruise Vacation – a vacation or getaway prior to a cruise in the town or region of the port of embarkation of the cruise.

Pre-deduct commission – When a distributor such as a travel agent takes up front the commission on a sale and sends the supplier the balance of the sales price.

Preferred Supplier – The selection of specific supplier(s) for priority promotion to customers and/or integration in travel packages in exchange for reduced rates and/or higher commission.

Preferred Vendor – The vendor(s) a company specifies as their first choice for travelers.

Preformed group – A pre-existing collection of travelers, such as affinity groups and travel clubs, whose members share a common interest or organizational affiliation.

Prepaid ticket advice – a form used when purchasing an air ticket to be picked up and used by someone else at another airport. E-tickets have reduced the need for this greatly.

Primary research – The collection of data specifically to solve the marketing problem at hand.

Prix fixe – meals offered at a fixed price, usually fairly low, consisting of several courses with no substitutions allowed. Common in Europe.

Profit margin – A dollar value that represents the markup of a product’s price over its costs.

Promotion mix – Promotion tools including advertising, direct marketing, sales promotion, and public relations.

Promotional group tour – A travel package composed of tour elements that match the specific needs and wants of niche customers who aren’t part of an organized or preformed group.

Promotional partnership – The combination of two or more companies to offer special incentives to customers.

Prop – referring to propeller-driven aircraft.

Property – A specific lodging structure, such as a hotel, and the ground on which it is built.

Property – A general term that may be used by a place of accommodation that denotes the facility.

Protection overbooking – The practice of blocking space that will likely be in excess of what will actually be needed.

Pseudo-agent – someone claiming to be a travel agent who really isn’t.  They often produce bogus ID cards, and can disappear when problems arise!

PST – Pacific Standard Time.

Psychographics – Measures of a person’s lifestyle. See also AIO variables.

Public relations (PR) – A management function that determines the attitudes and opinions of an organization’s publics, identifies its policies with the interests of its publics, and formulates and executes a program of action to earn public understanding and goodwill.

Public tours – See scheduled tour.

Published fare – an airfare that is listed in the carrier’s tariff.

Pull strategy – A marketing approach that creates demand at the customer level by generating awareness, interest, and desire so customers pull a product through a distribution channel by demanding it.

Purser – aboard ship, the person responsible for providing a wide array of services such as information, making change, stamps, etc. Found at the purser’s desk.

Purser-(Airline) – On a flight, the purser is the head flight attendant, responsible for overseeing the attendants and making sure travelers’ needs are met.

Push strategy – A marketing approach that creates demand at the distributor level by providing resellers with an incentive to push (sell) a product to end consumers.

Quad – a room suitable for four persons.

Quay – a pier – pronounced the same as “key”.

Query – The process of sorting and retrieving information from a database.

Quid – a monetary term for a British pound sterling.

Quota sample – A research sample that involves forming groups based on certain characteristics. A random sample can then be selected form the quota segments.

Rack rate – The published (brochure) rate for a travel component. The price of a hotel prior to discount.

Rate desk – the office of an air carrier that calculates fares for passengers and travel agents.

Reach – The measure of how many people in a market will be exposed to a certain advertisement via a specific medium.

Reasonable number – A forecast of the break-even point for a tour.

Rebate (ing) – the practice of returning part of an agency’s commission on a scale back to the client in the form of a rebate or “discount.” The trade-off is usually little or no personal/customer service. This is practiced often by “800 ” number travel sellers and others who deal in huge volume.

Receptive operator – A local tour company that specializes in services for incoming visitors, often for tour operator groups.

Reconfirm – to double-check a reservation.

Record locator – The number assigned to a reservation in the airlines number. This number is unique, as it will never be assigned again.

Record locator – the number assigned to one’s reservation in an airline’s computer system.

Red-eye flight – An overnight flight that leaves at night and arrives early the next morning.

Referral agent/agency – an ” agent ” that refers business to a travel agency in return for a commission or fee – often as part of a card mill operation

Registry – the formal registration of a ship’s ownership, and the country it is registered in (such as Panama, Liberia, Norway, etc.).

Reissue – the generation of a new ticket that is exchanged for another, due to a change of plans, dates, flights, etc. May involve additional fare, penalties and fees.

Relationship marketing – The process of building and nurturing ongoing, solid relationship with customers.

Repositionin g – the moving of a cruise ship to another home port for all of part of a season, such as the repositioning of ships to Alaska for the summer. Often these cruises are excellent bargains, but will involve one-way airfare home from the port of debarkation.

Res – short for “reservation”.

Research constraints – Those issues, such as cost and timing that will limit the scope of marketing research.

Reseller – See retailer and wholesaler.

Reservation fee – A customer payment for a certain percentage of the travel package price that’s made immediately after booking.

Responsible Tourism – Travel that extends beyond being merely environmentally responsible, to being culturally-conscious and economically-aware, locally.

Retail price – The actual price a customer pays for a travel element or tour.

Retail tour – See scheduled tour.

Retailer – A middleman, such as a travel agent, who sells directly to the customer.

Retirement travel – retirement travel is a category of travel referring to when a traveler is has retired from a career and commences to travel.  Travel done after retirement age.

Rollaway – a cot or other bedding that can be added to a hotel room to accommodate another guest. There is often an extra charge for this.

Romantic Destinations – romance destination and romance travel is a category of travel that involves travel involving a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love and often refers to travel associated with a wedding, honeymoon, wedding anniversary, babymoon or another type of romantic getaway.

Room Night – In the hotel (hospitality) industry, a room night, room/night occupancy, is a measure of occupancy where a room is the unit of measure.

Room Occupancy – In the hotel (hospitality) industry, a room night, room/night occupancy, is a measure of occupancy where a room is the unit of measure.

Room rates – The various rates used by lodging properties to price rooms. These include- day rate (usually one half the regular rate for a room used by a guest during the day up to 5 p.m.-sometimes called a use rate), flat rate (a specific room rate for a group agreed upon by the hotel and group in advance), group rate (same as flat rate), net group rate ( a wholesale rate for group business to which an operator may add a markup if desired), net wholesale rate ( a rate usually lower than the group rate and applicable to groups or individuals when a hotel is specifically mentioned in a tour folder), and published rate ( a full rate available to or advertised to the public-also called the rack rate.)

Rooming list – A printout of the names of all tour participants that also lists special lodging requests and provides a spot for the hotel or cruise ship to fill in the passenger’s room number.

Round trip – A flight to a single destination and a return.

Run-of-house (ROH) – refers to a hotel room, the type of which is assigned at the discretion of the hotel shortly before you arrive. Usually, the rates are lower.

Run-of-ship – cabin is assigned at the last moment, giving the cruise line the ability to shift accommodations as needed. Usually, you are guaranteed a minimum category of cabin, and sometimes get an upgraded stateroom at no additional cost. Most upgrades are from inside-to-inside cabins, or from outside-to-outside but occasionally an inside-to-ocean view upgrade will occur. It is not always worth the gamble though.

Run-of-the-house rate – A flat rate for which a lodging property agrees to offer any of its available rooms to a group. Final assignment of the rooms is at the discretion of lodging management.

Sabre® – A computerized travel reservation system.

Safaris – Today the negative hunting connotations of the word ‘safari’ are being rapidly replaced by more modern associations with socially and environmentally responsible travel. Safari travel typically implies that the journey will include game viewing and some time spent in wilderness areas (game reserves and national parks). A traditional is usually focused on seeing wildlife, but safaris are definitely not limited to game viewing.  Safaris are now for admiring wildlife and birds in the wild, along with a host of other adventures. Safaris have largely developed into vacation trips that actually benefit the wildlife by supporting local conservation efforts and wildlife sanctuaries. As opposed to hunting the animals, visitors get to encounter them and help make a difference in protecting the species. Safari companies either actively contribute towards conservation projects or help generate tourism revenue which is used to manage wildlife projects and game reserves. The modern safari is also a socially responsible journey designed to interact ethically with local communities and have a positive impact on local economies. The cultural interactions offered by reputable safari operators do not exploit local people. The local communities benefit from sustainable tourism through employment and financial gains from selling goods and services.

Sales margin – A term used by resellers to describe profit as a percentage of sales revenue.

Sample – The portion of a population chosen to represent the population being studied for research.

Saturday night stay – A requirement by the airlines that your travel must involve a Saturday night stay over in order to obtain our lowest fare.

Saturday night stay – In order to receive a specialty fare, a Saturday stay over is sometimes required.

Scandals tour – A light-hearted history tour that shows locations where interesting scandals took place.

Scheduled carrier – An airline that offers regularly scheduled flights between destinations.

Scheduled flights – Air flights that are publicly scheduled and promoted by major airlines.

Scheduled tour – A tour that’s set in a tour operator’s regular schedule of tour departures and that’s often sold to the general public. Also called public tour or retail tour.

Sea bands – a product resembling a bracelet that is worn on the wrists and operates via acupressure.

Wearers claim that seasickness can be avoided by their use, thus eliminating the need for drugs such as Dramamine, etc.

Sea legs – the ability to move around on a ship without losing balance and without sea sickness.

Secondary information – Research data that was collected by another company or person and usually for a purpose that’s different than the research objectives and tasks at hand.

Sectioning system (GPS) – system of satellites that allows miniature radio receivers on earth to pinpoint one’s location within a few feet. Most cruise ships make use of this system to navigate the world’s oceans.

Segment – a “leg” or part of a journey, usually in reference to an air itinerary. One take-off and landing during air travel constitutes a “segment”.

Segment – One leg or portion of a trip. The segment begins when you board the plane and ends when you de-board the plane. (I.e. A connecting flight from San Francisco to New York through Chicago equals 2 segments)

Self-drive – a rental car (British term).

Service non comprise – in French, meaning “service not included”.

Shells – Preprinted brochures with photos, illustrations, and graphics but no text; also called slicks.

Shore excursio n – tours that are purchased as an option when visiting ports of call while on a cruise; can sometimes be bought before you cruise.

Shore excursion – A land tour, usually available at ports of call, sold by cruise lines or tour operators to cruise passengers.

Shoulder season – a period of time between high and low seasons, where prices at a destination are between their highest and lowest, and the crowds are thinner.

Shoulder season – Those periods between the peak and off season when destination demand is moderate.

Sightseeing companies – Organizations that provide local guided tours.

Sightseeing guide – See driver/guide.

Sightseeing tour – Short excursions of usually a few hours that focus on sightseeing and/or attraction visits.

Simple random sample – A sample that draws a group of respondents randomly from all members of the population.

Single Room – A room that is only guaranteed to comfortably accommodate one guest. May also be called a “Standard Room.”

Single Supplement – An additional charge added to a solo traveler, when prices were originally quoted for dual occupancy.

Sleeper – the sleeping compartment aboard a train.

Soft adventure – an outdoor travel experience that is not especially physically demanding, such as a canyon horseback trail ride or a hot-air balloon flight.

Sommelier – A wine professional, usually hired by the most upscale restaurants and establishments, on staff to primarily suggest wine and food pairing to patrons.

Spa – a resort area centered around a mineral springs, hot springs and the like, typically where one can find massage, hydrotherapy, exercise, steam baths, etc.

Special event tour – A travel package that features major happenings, such as concerts or sporting events, as the reason for the journey.

Special fare – Any fare that deviates from normal pricing (typically discounted).

Special interest tour – a tour catering to the needs of a specific interest, such as bird-watching, whale-watching, river rafting, mountain biking, rain forest exploration among many others.

Split itinerary – An itinerary in which part of the group does one thing while the other part does something else.

Split Ticket – Issuing multiple tickets for one round-trip journey. This is done to reduce the total cost of the entire reservation.

Sports Tourism – sports tourism refers to travel which involves either observing or participating in a sporting event staying apart from their usual environment.

Stabilizer – a device on most all cruise vessels, to reduce pitch and roll when at sea – the movement that can cause seasickness. Stabilizers are often pulled in at night in order to allow faster speeds when traveling between ports of call.

Standby – Referring to a passenger who does not have a confirmed seat on the intended flight.

Star Service – a critical guide describing in detail many hotel and cruise ship properties. Can be subjective, as it is based on someone’s opinion, but provides a travel agent with a non-commercial point-of-view.

Starboard – the right side of a ship.

Stateroom – A private cabin or compartment with sleeping accommodations on a ship or train.

Step-on guide – A tour guide who boards a motorcoach to give detailed, expert commentary about the city or area being visited.

Stern – the rear of a ship.

Stopover – a planned stayover in a city for a day or more, while enrooted to another destination. Sometimes adds significantly to the cost of an air ticket.

Strategic plan – A report that describes a company’s mission statement, goals, objectives and strategic actions.

Student visa – permission to enter a country, issued to a student, normally for the purpose of attending school in that country.

Subcontractor – A local operator who provides services for a wholesaler.

Suite – a hotel accommodation with more than one room, or sometimes a single room with distinct sleeping and living areas and often a kitchenette. A suite in a hotel or other public accommodation denotes a class of accommodations with more space and amenities than a typical accommodation room. Luxury or upscale accommodations often have a scaled range of suites progressively increasing in size, luxury and amenities starting with a junior suite and culminating in the largest and most luxurious suite which is often called a presidential or royal suite.

Supplier – any company that supplies travel and/or related services to the traveling public. The actual producer and seller of travel components.

Surface – travel over land that does not involve an aircraft.

SWOT analysis – A summary of a company’s strengths and weaknesses, and the environmental opportunities and threats that will most influence it.

T&E – Travel and Entertainment expenses.

Target market – The group of customers who will be the focus of a company’s marketing efforts.

Tariff – a schedule of prices/fares.

Telemarketing – Direct marketing via the telephone.

Tender – a small boat or ferry that carries passengers from an anchored cruise ship to the pier at a port of call. Many ships are too large for existing port facilities at some destinations, and so they anchor just off shore and “tender “their passengers in for their visit.

Terminal – A building where clients report for trips via train, plane, etc.; also called a depot or a station.

TGV – the term applied to the French high-speed train system.

Theme cruise – a cruise devoted to a specific interest, such as big bands, country western, Star Trek, exercise and weight-loss, cooking and cuisine, and many more. There is usually a theme cruise to suit just about any interest.

Theme tour – A tour that’s designed around a concept of specific interest to the tour takers, such as history or sports.

Through passenger – a passenger who is not disembarking at a particular stop while enrooted to the final destination.

Ticket stock – Blank airline tickets.

Tickler system – A method for monitoring reservations and payments that’s arranged by date and points out late payments so customers can be contacted.

Tiered override pla n – When commissions rise proportionately with a corresponding increase in sales.

Tiered pricing – When suppliers offer different prices to receptive operators, tour operators, and group leaders, so each party can earn a profit by marking up the supplier’s price while still offering a fair price to customers.

Tour broker – See tour operator.

Tour catalog – A publication by tour wholesalers listing their tour offerings. Catalogs are distributed to retail agents who make them available to their customers. Bookings by retail agents are commissionable.

Tour Company – A tour company or tour operator typically combines tour and travel components to create a packaged vacation. They advertise and produce brochures to promote their products, vacation and itineraries.

Tour conductor – the person who accompanies and is in charge of a tour, often on a motor coach tour. See tour director.

Tour departure – The date of the start by any individual or group of a tour program or, by extension, the entire operation of that single tour.

Tour director – Also called tour manager, tour conductor, and tour escort. The person who is responsible for a group on tour and for most aspects of a tour’s execution.

Tour escort – See tour director.

Tour guide – A person qualified (and often certified) to conduct tours of specific locations or attractions.

See also step-on guide, city guide, on-site guide, and docent.

Tour manager – See tour director.

Tour manual – A compendium of facts about a destination, tour procedures, forms, and other information that a tour operator gives to its tour directors.

Tour menu – A menu that limits group clients to two or three choices.

Tour operator – A person or company that contracts with suppliers to create and/or market a tour and/or subcontract their performance.

Tour order – A voucher given to the purchaser of a tour package that identifies the tour, the seller, and the fact that the tour is prepaid. The purchaser then uses this form as proof of payment and receives vouchers for meals, porterage, transfers, entrance fees, and other expenses. See also voucher.

Tour planner – A person who researches destinations and suppliers, negotiates contracts, and creates itineraries for travel packages.

Tour rate – See group rate.

Tour series – Multiple departures to the same destination throughout the year.

Tour – A prearranged, prepaid journey to one or more destinations that generally returns to the point of origin, is usually arranged with an itinerary of leisure activities, and includes at least two travel elements.

Tourism – The business of providing marketing services and facilities for leisure travelers.

Tourist card – a card issued to a visitor in lieu of a visa, usually for a short duration visit.

Tourist – This is the majority of adult travelers, when not vacationing. Tourists may be couples, families, or just a person or two who visit locations.

Tours – a tour is a journey for pleasure which includes the visiting of a number of places in sequence, especially with an organized group often led by a guide.

Tracking study – A survey of customers before and after implementing a promotion campaign to assess changes in consumer behavior.

Trans-canal – passing through the Panama Canal.

Transcon – Having to do with crossing a continent. For example, travel of this sort would be from one end of a continent to another.

Transcontinental – Having to do with crossing a continent. For example, travel of this sort would be from one end of a continent to another.

Transfer – Local transportation and porterage from one carrier terminal to another, from a terminal to a hotel, or from a hotel to an attraction.

Transient Occupancy Tax – Also known as a Bed Tax, it is a City or County tax added to the price of the room.

Transient – A person who stays in a place for just a short while; not a permanent resident, such as a visitor or tourist.

Transit visa – A visa allowing the holder to stop over in a country or make a travel connection or a brief visit.

Transportation – Any method of moving travelers from one point in a journey to another, such as air, ship, rail, and motor coach travel.

Travel advisor – a travel advisor simplifies the time-consuming and complicated process of planning travel for their customers in addition to providing consultation services and entire travel packages. They may book flights, cruises, rental cars and hotels, as well as resort stays and events. Agents cater to a wide demographic, serving both individuals and corporations. They may also concentrate in a special segment of travel; many advisors specialize in leisure, business or group travel, or destination-specific journeys.

Travel advisory – a travel warning issued by the US Department of State, indicating a special caution should be taken in a country due to political unrest, natural disaster, or other special situation. These can be obtained from any good travel agent, on any area you are considering visiting.

Travel agency – Usually used in the travel industry to refer to an ARC-appointed storefront retailer.

Travel agent – A person or firm qualified to arrange for lodging, meals, transportation, cruises, tours, and other travel elements, typically on a commission basis. A travel agent simplifies the time-consuming and complicated process of planning travel for their customers in addition to providing consultation services and entire travel packages. They may book flights, cruises, rental cars and hotels, as well as resort stays and events. Agents cater to a wide demographic, serving both individuals and corporations. They may also concentrate in a special segment of travel; many agents specialize in leisure, business or group travel, or destination-specific journeys.

Travel component – Transportation, lodging, dining, attractions, entertainment, guide services, and other travel elements offered as part of a travel package.

Travel Destination – a place to which one is journeying.

Travel Experience – A travel experience or experiential travel (also known as immersion travel) as it is commonly referred to, is a form of tourism in which people focus on experiencing a country, city or particular place by connecting to its history, people and culture.

Travel Institute – the primary educational and certification arm of the travel industry. Was formerly the “Institute of Certified Travel Agents” (ICTA), located in Wellesley, Mass.

Travel Insurance – Travel insurance is insurance that is intended to cover medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost luggage, flight accident and other losses incurred while traveling, either internationally or within one’s own country.

Travel Itinerary – a travel itinerary is a travel plan or organization of your travel and involves all of the details, times and dates concerning things like airline, cruises and train transportation confirmations, hotel, villa and accommodation reservations, rental car information, restaurant reservations and much more.

Travel Policy – A fluid internal document, pertinent to the company’s culture that outlines the guidelines for business travel and expenses within a company.

Travel rewards – Travel reward programs are often referred to as a loyalty rewards program, and they are generally a campaign devised to generate repeat customers for a particular company by offering a point gratification system for the customers’ business. They are also meant to provide customers with a “thank you” for their loyalty to a company’s product or service. That benefit is typically some sort of discount on certain items or services. Travel specialist – a travel specialist is a travel agent or travel advisor that concentrates in a special segment of travel; many travel agents or travel advisors specialize in leisure, group or business travel, or destination specific travel.

Travel Tours – a travel tour is a journey for pleasure which includes the visiting of a number of places in sequence, especially with an organized group often led by a guide.

Traveler – One who travels.

Travelogues – Many travel websites are online travelogues or travel journals, usually created by individual travelers and hosted by companies that generally provide their information to consumers for free. These companies generate revenue through advertising or by providing services to other businesses. This medium produces a wide variety of styles, often incorporating graphics, photography, maps, and other unique content.

Trip director – An escort for an incentive company. Larger companies reserve this title for the person who directs all personnel and activities for a particular incentive trip.

Trundle Bed – Bed that stores itself under another bed, usually on casters. Often found in smaller hotel rooms or in cramped transport accommodations.

Turn – Airline parlance. A flight that leaves base and returns back to base in the same day. Also known as a turnaround.

Turnaway – A potential reservation that couldn’t be satisfied because the tour (or hotel, ship, etc.) was fully booked.

Twenty-four hour time – used extensively in Europe and other countries, 1pm becomes 1300 hours, 4pm is 1500 hours, etc., up to 2359 ( 1159pm ). Midnight is then considered 2400 or “zero ” hours. 1-20am is then 0120 or “one hour, twenty minutes “and so on. Most schedules and timetables in the majority of other countries are listed in the 24-hour format.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites – a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place (such as a building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake, monument, or mountain) that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as being of special cultural or physical significance.

Unlimited mileage – No mileage restriction when renting a car.

Unrestricted fare – an airfare that has no special advance purchase, Saturday stay or certain days to travel requirements, and is usually refundable. Many full coach and most first-class fares are unrestricted. An airfare with no limitations. It is typically refundable and has no blackout days.

Upgrade – To move to a better accommodation or class of service.

USTOA – United States Tour Operators Association – a trade association which requires its members to be very financially stable and to have a million dollars or more in funds set aside for consumer protection against defaults. Visit www.ustoa.com for more information.

Value added tax (VAT) – a tax on goods in Europe, which under certain circumstances can be refunded.

Value season – similar to shoulder or low season, when pricing is lower. See off season.

Value – The relationship between the benefits associated with a product or service and the costs of obtaining the product or service. See also perceived value.

Value-added tax (VAT) – A type of tax system which adds a fixed percentage of taxation on products and services at each step of production or service delivery.

Value-based pricing – Pricing a product based on buyer perceptions of value rather than actual product costs.

Variable costs – Costs that change with sales or production levels.

Variance report – A summary of how much a company has gone above or below budget.

Verandah – a roofed-porch, such as connected to a cruise ship stateroom.

VIA rail – the Canadian railway system.

Villas – a large and luxurious country residence. A villa is a fancy vacation home. The word has been around ever since ancient Roman times to mean “country house for the elite.” In Italian, villa means “country house or farm.” Most villas include a large amount of land and often barns, garages, or other outbuildings as well.

VIP experiences – a VIP Experience is the most exclusive way to go behind the scenes or experience a travel destination, accommodation or mode of transportation.

Visa – usually a stamp in a passport allowing entry into a country for a specific purpose and a finite amount of time.

Visa service – a service that can expedite the processing of a visa, sometimes even at the last minute. A fee is charged that varies, depending on the nature of the service needed. Visas are usually stamped into the pages of a valid passport and are issued for varying reasons and periods of time. Not all countries require them, especially for United States Citizens.

Volume incentive – See override.

Volume purchase – The purchase of large quantities of a product or service.

Voucher – Documents that are exchanged for goods and service to substantiate payment that will be or already has been made.

Voyage – a voyage is a long journey involving travel by sea or in space.

Waitlist – A list of clients awaiting transportation or accommodations at times when they are not available. Waitlisted clients are confirmed as a result of subsequent cancellations.

Waiver – a written acknowledgement that a passenger has declined something, such as insurance coverage for a trip, for example. Also, the formal acknowledgement of the waiving or dismissal of a requirement, such as a waiver of a penalty for late booking, etc.

Waiver – A written acknowledgement that a passenger has declined something.

Walk-up – one who purchases an air ticket at the last moment, usually at the airport ticket counter.

Wants – Ways in which a person satisfies a basic need.

Wellness Travel – wellness travel is a category of travel for the purpose of promoting health and well-being through physical, psychological, or spiritual activities

Wet bar – the area of a hotel room that has a bar or other counter space with running water, used for the preparation of drinks.

Wholesale – Sale of travel products through an intermediary in exchange for a commission or fee generally at reduced tariffs.

Word-of-mouth promotion – Personal communication about a product or service from one customer to another.

World Travel Guide – a yearly publication that provides detailed information on most every country in the world, with entries on currency, transportation, climate, visa and passport requirements, sightseeing opportunities, etc. A primary book of knowledge for the professional travel agent.

Yield management – Calculating and analyzing the profits earned per customer.

World Travel Agency, LLC is owned and operated by Michael and Cheryl LaBaw. We are a husband and wife team dedicated to working together with our clients to insure they travel well. World Travel Agency, LLC is an independent affiliate of Andavo Travel, a Virtuoso® Member. Travel should be more than just a journey, it should be a series of unforgettable experiences. We work hard to ensure our clients’ trips are always stimulating, authentic and – above all else – fun... READ MORE

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