Travel: Preparation can help ease flight delays

Flight delays can take air travelers by surprise and can't always be avoided. However, there are some steps you can take in advance to minimize the risk that you will be delayed:

before you leave. On the day you are scheduled to travel, call before you leave your home or office to check the status of the flight. If there is a delay, you can spend the time in more productive ways than sitting in an airport lounge.

Arrive at the airport early. Always arrive at the airport at least one hour before a domestic flight is scheduled to depart, and two hours before an international flight. When flights are delayed, all aspects of the airport check-in process take longer.

Fly early in the day. By departing first thing in the morning, you are more likely to take off and arrive on time. Early departures give you the advantage of boarding a plane that has been at the airport overnight, rather than waiting for a plane that may be delayed by bad weather elsewhere.

a non-stop flight. Non-stops are more likely to be on time because every stop increases the risk of delay. Be aware that direct flights are not the same as non-stops. Direct flights make one or more stops, though you won't have to change planes.

Surviving a delay with kids

If you do experience an air travel delay, it can be a bit more stressful if you are traveling with children. Here are some tips for waiting it out with the children:

about a play area. More airports, especially those in major cities, are creating child play areas. The kids will be entertained and they can work off some excess energy before they board the plane.

Pack extra essentials for a baby. The rule of "travel light" has to be bent when traveling with children, especially infants. Be sure that you have enough diapers, baby food, formula and snacks with you to make it through a flight delay.

cards, will travel. A deck of playing cards should be a permanent item on the carry-on packing list of anyone who travels with children. An airport delay is a great time to teach little ones to play simple games and show older kids the more challenging games that you enjoy.

some surprises. If a delay gets too long, it may call for extreme measures. Pack some small but desirable gifts such as new storybooks for small children and new CDs or electronic games for older siblings. Such treasures are almost guaranteed to distract the kids at least for a while.

Safety in the snow

Since snowboarding became a popular winter sport several years ago, many downhill skiers have worried that fast-moving snowboarders pose a safety risk. However, skiers actually pose more of a risk to snowboarders, according to Dr. Jasper Shealy, chairman of the department of industrial engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology. At a recent meeting, he told the Eastern Ski Writers Association that snowboarders are more likely to be hit by out-of-control skiers than the other way around.

(Marvin McDaniel, CTC, is president of Carlson Wagonlit Travel/Carlson Travel Network.)