Do some preliminary shopping research before you leave home. Make a list of items you most want to buy, especially those that are area specialties. Make a gift list. Identify whom you need gifts for and how much you want to spend, then pick up the items along the way.

Tuck plastic or string bags into your carryall or purse when you go shopping. In many places customers are expected to provide their own bags. Pack an extra flat fabric bag in the bottom of your suitcase. On your homebound trip, put all of your purchases in it. It will ease your way through customs.

Keep a log of all your purchases and include what you paid in foreign currency and the equivalent in U. S dollars. This will make it easier to fill out your customs forms. Take along a pocket calculator for shopping and calculating exchange rates. If you pay by credit card, you're taking a gamble. You will be billed at the exchange rate on the day the charge clears in your home country, not the rate at the time of purchase.

Your duty-free allowance only applies to items you carry home with you. All items mailed home are subject to duty, unless the package is marked "unsolicited gift" and is less than $50 in value. Any small items purchased abroad should be mailed personally to your home address or carried in your luggage. This will limit the number of misaddressed packages, non receipt of merchandise, or receipt of wrong merchandise. If you do mail a
purchase, be sure to ask about insurance. Mailing forms are available in Australian post offices.

Coat pockets, handbags, and hip pockets are particularly susceptible to theft. Carry your belongings in a secure manner. Women should carry shoulder bags tucked under the arm and held securely by the strap. Men should put their wallets in their front trouser pockets or use money belts or money socks instead of hip pockets. A wallet wrapped in rubber bands is more difficult to remove undetected. Be especially cautions in a large crowd - in the subway, marketplace, at a festival, or if surrounded by groups of children. Do not make it easy for thieves to pick your pocket!

The following general information is for your travel by air. It is important to realize specific rules may differ from airline to airline. For domestic travel, an airline may provide all its contract terms on or with your ticket. Some may elect to "incorporate terms by reference." This means your ticket does not explain all the terms. Airlines must make available to you the full text of their contract of carriage if you ask. They will mail you a copy free.

For international travel, the detailed requirements for disclosing contract terms do not apply. Airlines file "tariff rules" with the government and passengers are generally bound by these rules. Airline agents must answer your questions about information in the tariff, or if necessary help you locate specific tariff rules. You have a right to know about domestic or international terms of the contract of carriage and you should not be afraid to ask questions.

When making a reservation, always ask about fees or penalties for changing or canceling a reservation or a paid ticket. There may be a variety of ticket prices with varying penalties and conditions. Choose the one that best fits your needs.

If a flight is cancelled, ask the airline representative to seat you on the next available flight. Always check the ticket options available on the flight you choose and the options available on alternate flights.

Read the disclosure statement on the back of your ticket. It explains your rights and responsibilities as a passenger, as well as the airline's liability for overbooking seats and for losing or damaging luggage.

When flights are overbooked, airline representatives are required to ask for volunteers to give up their reservations in exchange for payment of the airline's choosing. If you volunteer, be sure to get any compensation arrangements in writing.

If you are "bumped" or involuntarily reassigned to a later flight, the airline must provide you with a written statement of your rights and entitled compensation. The company rules for compensation are available at all airport ticket counters and boarding locations.

If your luggage is lost or damaged in flight, you are entitled to the fair market value of your belongings--up to $1,250 per passenger for checked and $400 for unchecked baggage.

Many airlines offer "excessive value" insurance for luggage above the $1,250 limit. Read the contract terms carefully to figure out exactly what is covered and under what circumstances you are eligible for compensation.

Remember that flying, according to statistics, is 20 times safer than driving in a car. You can reduce risks and your concern if you schedule nonstop flights as 80% of all accidents occur during takeoffs and landings. Schedule your flights so they avoid peak traffic hours at airports. Fly early in the day as you may get a fresh crew. Choose a major carrier over smaller commuter airlines. Avoid airlines that have the lowest-priced tickets as they may be cost cutting. Choose the safest seat, an aisle seat near an emergency exit, over a wing or in the rear of the plane. Don't wear high heels. Wear cotton or wool clothing and not synthetics. Avoid traveling during thunderstorms or during snowy or icy conditions.

When you are in the air, read the safety briefing card at your seat. Study the diagram of how the oxygen mask works. Wear your seat belt at all times. Keep carry-on baggage to a minimum. Avoid caffeine, sugar, and alcohol before and during the flight. Meet the crew, if you can, and ask questions--even silly ones. Walk around the cabin and talk to other flyers. Think positive thoughts. Take deep breaths, lean back, relax, and avoid upsetting ideas.

Delays occur because of bad weather, "bunched" flights, limited airport capacities, not enough air-traffic controllers, and mechanical failure. Airlines are under no obligation to get ticketed passengers to their destinations at any scheduled time. Neither do they need to compensate you for missed cruises, tours, and connections... and is a good reason to make sure you have adequate travel insurance.

• Before you leave for the airport, call to see if the flight is on time.
• Allow an hour to make a domestic connecting flight and more time in cities with congested airports.
• If your flight is cancelled or seriously delayed and you have an emergency such as a family illness, cruise ship departures, etc., tell the airline's counter representative, who will try to help.
• When a flight is cancelled or going to be delayed for several hours, ask the airline to place you on the next available flight. They may put you on a competitor's flight if they have nothing scheduled. Ask the airline to endorse your ticket to the new carrier; this could save you a fare increase.
• Check with airline staff to find out what services they will provide. Ask about meals and phone calls. Request a meal voucher if a delay extends through a mealtime. If the delay extends past 1 a.m. request a hotel voucher. Airlines will not provide meal or hotel vouchers at the origin of a flight.
• Avoid traveling at peak times.
• Be prepared for delays--they will occur... Stay calm... Getting upset doesn't help.

Most airlines overbook their scheduled flights to a certain extent and sometimes require passengers to be "bumped"--left behind. Airlines ask for volunteers to give up their seats and they receive compensation for doing so. If you are not in a rush you can sell back your seat. Before you do, find out what airline can confirm your seat, and what amenities such as free meals, hotel rooms, telegrams, or transportation will be provided. Airlines may bargain with you.

Make sure all your carry?on luggage will fit under the seat in front of you.

• Be careful about what you put into the storage bins over your seat. Their doors may pop open during an accident or even a hard landing. Bins are intended to hold coats, blankets, pillows, not hard suitcases or packages.
• Always keep your seat belt fastened and know how it works.
• Pay attention to the safety briefing explaining how to use the emergency procedures.
• Review the safety information on the plastic card in the seat pocket.
• Look for the closest emergency exit and have a second in mind.
• Stay in your seat with your seat belt buckled until the plane comes to a complete halt at the departure gate.

Stay calm.

• Listen to crew members and do exactly what they say.
• Before you try to open any emergency exit yourself, look outside the window. If you see a fire, don't open it or the fire may spread into the cabin. Try to use your alternate escape route.
• Remember, smoke rises, so try to stay down if there is smoke in the cabin. If you have a cloth, put it over your nose and mouth.

First, talk to the airline's Customer Service Representative at the airport. If you can't resolve the problem and want to file a complaint, it's best to write the airline's consumer office. Include your daytime phone number, flight numbers, dates, and times. State what happened and who was involved. Send copies of all tickets, stubs, or other receipts. State what you expect from the carrier to make amends. Be reasonable. The airlines will treat your complaint seriously.