Formica Dining Tables

USA PRACTICES

For v e avoid having to search through my old posts and not to repeat myself in the following, here is a compilation of some general advice gathered during more than 40 years of practice. Alphabetical order, they we are very personal.

If they help you prepare your next stay in America, I would be delighted. It's a bit long, but it is perhaps worth ...

I'm open to any suggestions or corrections that you bring me and try to keep this information up to date ... because I ' I fully intend to continue my discovery of this vast country.

Feel free to ask me questions, I will answer to the best of my knowledge.


MOTOR

We do not consider it prudent to rent a car when we arrived after a long flight except to escape a city we know well, and in this case we do very few miles ... but also because we have more 20 years!

The cars are all automatic. At least the model classified "Economy" will be a Hyundai Accent 5 Door Chev Aveo or a very comfortable, but if the agency no longer, you will be upgraded free of charge. But do not dream, you will surely not what model it!

When you book in advance, they arrange to have the vehicle you requested, you are penalizing the possibility of being upgraded. But without reservation, if you choose Hertz, it will be very random. In big cities, they have no stock.

Regarding the optional insurance, if your Visa Premier or Gold MasterCard provides you to purchase some additional insurance as the CDW / LDW (damage waiver) For example, why not add a few dollars more for DSL (also known as SLI in other renters) who is the "liability" is not covered by these cards. I would even say it is indispensable. Some rental companies offer a "package" all inclusive (all rental + additional insurance, various taxes, etc..) Which is cheaper than leasing over DSL in the cheapest of its competitors. What we sometimes prefer to Enterprise Hertz, Alamo or Dollar. Remember to compare prices in all situations, it takes time, but makes you realize substantial savings!

careful, some landlords prohibit the entry of the vehicle in some states, some cities (New York, often), some sites (unless 4 x 4), or some countries (Mexico)

sure the trunk is covered so you can leave your luggage out of sight. Otherwise get a new vehicle.

In the west, it is sometimes difficult to balance the steps. Cities may receive us for the night are relatively distant from each other. Routes without visiting tourist are long, but Fortunately, the landscape is always up.


CONDUCT

Driving licenses:

If you have a French driver's license: it is valid for the first three months of your stay. This is great because the permit issued by immigration as tourism is only 3 mois.Si you have an international driver's license: it is valid for one year if you are just passing through. If however you are resident, it is only during the first three months of your stay.

Attention Florida International Driver's Permit is required.
To my knowledge this is the only state that requires it. The possession of an "pink" and the international permit is mandatory for anyone wanting to drive for the vacationing or business in this state. Otherwise, international license, you are deemed driving without a license.
You can get a free license to establish International (for 3 years) in the prefecture of your home, providing your national license, provided it is recent - small format * - proof of identity, two recent photographs. Possibly provide proof of address (discharges, water bill, electricity, lease ...) In some prefectures its issuance is immediate.
* if this is not the case, you will need to estab lish a new license, and then do the steps above. Anticipate delays accordingly!
For more information, visit the web portal www.servicepublic.fr

rules of conduct and outstanding:

Speed Limit:

Limitations speed must be respected scrupulously. The police are very vigilant and severe penalties for speeding and dangerous behavior (driving while intoxicated, failure to observe the signs ...). If a police car following you, flashing lights in action, stop as soon as possible, keep your hands on the wheel, stop the engine and stay in the car until the police officer comes your way.
Speed limits vary from state to state.
In general, the speed limit is 55 mph (88 kph) on roads and 65 mph (104 km / h) at 85 mph (136 km / h) on the interstates (motorways). In town, it varies from 20 to 40 mph (32-64 kph). We must therefore monitor panels.

Security:

Wearing seat belts is mandatory. Your rental car will remind you loudly.

stoplight

Traffic lights are located after the intersection, and not before as in Europe. You must stop at the white line painted on the road before the crossing. One can, in principle, turn right on red (after scoring a pause) in many states. Otherwise, a sign stating "No turn red." A flashing light indicates orange vehicles to slow down. Where is the red light is flashing, it equates to a stop: it must make a complete stop before proceeding.

Crossings :

At one intersection, turn in principle left to the shortest. Also a car going the opposite direction and turning on the left must not be circumvented.
Moreover, we must avoid involvement in an intersection if you are not sure how to free the passage.

Carpool:

Some highways have lane carpool, called "carpool" for "HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle). You can take this route well marked if you are at least 2 or 3 (depending on the reference HOV2 or HOV3) in the car knowing that any abuse is punishable by heavy fines.
These pathways are generally much less congested and therefore much faster. But in some states it is necessary to register the program to be registered for carpooling (including Florida)

Parking

Parking is not always easy in major cities and thus often proves costly.
Never stop at a bus stop or a fire hydrant. The police do not mess with the "no parking" or "Tow Away Zone" and the impoundment is systematic and cost of collection). Observe also parking restrictions at certain hours or days (street cleaning, work ...)

Clean:

Do not dispose of waste through the window outside the environmental aspect, you would pay a heavy fine.

School Bus (yellow):

When school bus is stopped and he put his lights, it is imperative to stop before the crossing to let children.
If you follow it, do not double (in case of violation of this rule, the fine is very high).
The speed limit outside a school at the time of output classes is generally 15 mph (24 km / h). She is often reminded by flashing lights.

Fuel:

Traffic drives almost entirely to unleaded (unleaded). You can usually settle for regular unleaded, cheaper than super unleaded which is reserve for premium vehicles. There is also diesel, but at a price close to gasoline so that few cars use this type of fuel.
Gasoline is measured in gallons (1 gallon = 3.8 liters).
prices climbing every year, I do not tell you here.

Service Stations:

often a sign "Pay cashier first" indicates that we must pay in advance. It must then submit a credit card or cash in deposit box office ($ 20 is almost always sufficient) to fill up with petrol and return to the window to pay or recover its currency. You can also deposit a fixed sum in advance to stop and go you: pump stops automatically once your credit exhausted. Then you do not have to go to the checkout.
Sometimes we serve you and cleans the windshield (full serve) but the essence is usually slightly more expensive. It does not, however, tipping in a petrol station.
for automatic payment by credit card: put it in the slot in the direction indicated. The early withdrawal. Read the instructions on the screen: If asked "Debit" or "credit" to choose credit. Ticket: yes or no. Select fuel, take out the gun and some stations up its support. Take your ticket. Where things get complicated is when after you insert your card, we ask for your zip code. " Because you are not American, sometimes it works through 00000. Always try, otherwise go to the checkout.

Roadmaps:

Do not look in bookstores but in service stations. They are paying as well as in supermarkets.
Along the Interstates in the border states, there is often a "Visitor's Center where you can get free maps of the state and tourist brochures.

I still prepare my routes in advance using an old Road Atlas USA / Canada / Mexico RAND McNALLY giant model, bought at $ 3.96 in 95 K'Mart. And I refine with Google Map gives me mileage and travel time, saving me a magnifying glass and calculator.

Road Network

The road network is well designed but often in poor condition (broken roads ...).
It is composed of "highways", "expressways" freeways "that correspond to our national" business roads "or" Beltway "(bypasses) and" Interstates ", the equivalent of our highways. There is little
toll roads ("Toll Road" or "turnpike"). These are cheaper than in France.
Some large bridges are toll roads, tunnels and strategic.

Orientation:

The road crossings are marked with the initials JCT, meaning "Junction". The roads are designated by the letters U.S. followed by number and "N" for north (North), "S" for south (South), "E" for East (East), "W" for west (West). Rarely found on American roads an indication of destination, but rather the route number you want to borrow and management. This issue is par for the roads connecting east to west, and odd for roads from north to south.

Believe me, it is much easier to get lost in France and the United States!

Addresses:

Streets, often very long, are divided into blocks, each block being separated by a street. The No. 1530 may be located between the 15th and 16th block. We can pass immediately to 1600. Attention also marked N, S, E, or W before the street name can be "mounted" on several neighborhoods.
Good luck!

Trouble:

On a motorway, if you fall down, park on the hard shutdown and open the hood. The traffic police must stop.
There are some portions of the emergency phones to request assistance. In case of failure, you can call AAA (American Automobile Association, whose contract is about $ 60 per year) or contact your rental car.

Driving behavior:

The American leadership is more homogeneous than ours. The cars often drive at the same speed on different routes of a highway.
Overtaking from the right is permitted and practiced frequently. It should therefore be very careful in maneuvering the feeder on the right lane. Generally when changing lane to overtake, it remains on the queue.

Warning : Traffic rules vary by state. So watch out the signs.

TIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STATES

Although you know, you'll always have a day where the other, because on the road with few exceptions near, whether in Canada or the USA, it is not written when you change time zones! ... And even when you know, all states do not practice or only partially. There are also time that the state share in two.
Besides the crossing time summer.

With this, just be sure!

DRIVE-IN

You know that our McDonalds, one of the outdoor cinema. Try the bank, pharmacy, post office ...

TOURS and ATTRACTIONS

Feel free to play all the concessions available and imaginable coupons cut from travel brochures, the magazine, offered (or claimed) to the reception of your hotel discount for Senior (from 60, 62 or 65 depending on location)


HOTELS

Personally, we prefer motels, especially when less costly Motors (hotels rarely have free parking and is usually expensive)

On arrival we take a room near the airport to receive a shuttle free (watch all hotels do not pay or make) According to our desires, or we visit the city with public transit by starting again from the airport, we rest at the hotel, and very early the next morning (easy with jet lag!) We return to the airport rent a car to start the circuit.

Before leaving, knowing the channels "cheap" in American, I consult the online catalog, and print coupons for some hotels in the cities where we plan to stay. This comfortable motel as Best Western, Super 8, Days Inn, Quality Inn, Comfort Inn (or other local less known) where you can sleep for $ 30 to $ 70 per night.

http://www.roomsaver.com
http://www.hotelcoupons.com/
http://www.travelcoupons.com/ (to the east only)

address and how to get there are very well marked.

Otherwise, in the "Tourist Information" at the entrance of supermarkets, restaurants in the airlock or sometimes even on the highway parking, there are specialized journals with coupons for hotels (often the same). Warning
dates and restrictions, surcharges on Friday and Saturday, those applied to 3rd and 4th person sharing the room, and never lose sight of the USA (with very rare exceptions) the prices are still Does not include tax, they vary from one state to another, from one city to another ...

In all major U.S. airports, it is possible to call free hotels. The prices are often already posted, there is more than whether is a room available.
The hardest part is to hear the cacophony (the ads in the airport, the conversation of nearby travelers, or road traffic when the terminals are calling on the sidewalk)

Most large chains U.S. hotels offer continental breakfast included in room price. For a higher cost, it is sometimes better to choose one of these hotels comfortable rather than a small local motel for a lower price and cleanliness doubtful that you'll need to add that of a breakfast in a restaurant not always on your path.

Also consider where you will stay on the ground floor, as if the floor is wood, you may be awakened by the upstairs neighbor, especially if he has insomnia. Sometimes it's worth it to go up her bags! If you do not use air conditioning, which hides the external noise, make sure to request a room away from the road.

Do not forget your earplugs ... especially if you live near a railway! American freight trains are a phenomenal length and you'll hear them whistle all night long before and far after passing the hotel. On the other hand, remember that motels are usually located at the edges of major roads ...

Please check your grade: either it was not considered your coupon when you've already submitted, you will be counted safe for no reason.


INTERNET

Most of the hotels mentioned above have a wi-fi in the rooms, it works ... provided you have a PC, a iPack or iPhone wi-fi. Otherwise, you may find a PC for public use in some "lobby" hotel ... does he still works!

WEATHER DISASTERS and

The United States, a country of excess ...
Do not count without its weather and natural hazards.
Depending on where you find and choose the season, you may be exposed to these risks. It is best to avoid certain places at certain times.
USA and Canada, everything is great. Disasters as well. Do not ignore safety advice. But do not go in fear, every time we returned safely but still anticipating! Sometimes you have wisdom to turn back when the situation required.

If cyclones are seasonal and predictable - their season still lies down considerably from year to year - tornadoes are another matter. (See related story on my other blog, at the end of the page:

http://la-bricole.blogspot.com/2008/07 / usa-2008-the-south-cest-aussi.html

with some helpful tips if you decide to attend these troubled areas.

Think about the snowstorms and blizzards.

We watch the Weather Channel * Loop every morning before hitting the road. It is she who guides us on the route to where potential risks. We still have family and friends connected to the internet, then guided us through sms ... but depending on location, you could make them spend the night watching TV!

cataclysms side, you still have: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions (predictable), tsunamis, floods, forest fires, etc.. Again
not paranoid!

* Weather Channel: This channel TV broadcasts also some nights at 21 pm, in film form, a reconstruction of tragic events related to weather as: the explosion of the shuttle Columbia, the crash of Delta Airlines flight 191, and others. The show is called "When weather changed history".

CURRENCY

We only buy a few dollars in France before leaving in small denominations, and preferably among brokers whose fees are cheaper than banks.

Bruno suggests: http://www.multi-change.com/

On site, we settle up by credit card. Rate banks charge of the day and despite the costs, purchase returns always cheaper than cash.

should know that it does include some risk of fraud (small but frequent enough in the U.S.) are still found there after a few formalities on his return to France: complaint, and waiting 3 weeks banks to be repaid.
big fraud case, the card is blocked by the service immediately alert your bank. No problem ... if you have a second card, otherwise you just have to go! We were faced with these both cases, so I speak with full knowledge of the facts.
Tip: please keep your invoice slips for all possible disputes with your bank. And it still 6 months after your return.

Attention also check your caps foreign distributors withdrawals before leaving! And to know how much your card is provisioned.

A Visa Premier or Gold MasterCard, will be quickly damped because you will save some optional insurance on rental cars.

Another advantage of payment by credit card, some purchases are never charged or were lost en route ...

FACTORY OUTLET

"Factory Outlet" or "Outlet Mall
These factory outlets grouped in a huge mall where there is everything from branding and for a price (sometimes) interesting.

If you want to zero-rate shopping, do not leave the state without completed the formalities. It is not possible to do so elsewhere (taxes are different from one state to another) The procedure is simple: on presentation of invoice and your passport, we will refund the fee. To purchase an inexpensive, it is worthwhile to look where the office of tax rebates!

NATIONAL MONUMENTS NATIONAL PARKS and

The Pass "Beautiful America" is essential for anyone wishing to visit the U.S. National Parks. It costs $ 80 and is valid for 12 months its date of issue. You must affix your signature to be compared to each entry with that of your passport. It is somehow special. Applies to all occupants of a vehicle, it allows to enter all U.S. national parks and monuments (not valid in the State Parks or the Tribal Parks)

Ask for the booklet "Owner's Manual" which include parks pay and those who are free. In some states like South, it is not worth the trouble to buy it. They are almost all free.

PATCHWORK

For fans of the genre, with an address to visit before leaving:

http://quilterstravelcompanion.com / home.htm

You will find dates of exhibitions and addresses of shops, state by state in the United States and Canada.

RESTORATION

Breakfast:

At the hotel, it is possible, buffet paying the most.
In large motel chains, but also free buffet also: fruit, cereal, toast toast, pastries, waffles or pancakes to make yourself on the spot, butter, jam, maple syrup. Beverages: fruit juice, milk, tea, American coffee, that is to say juice socks.
But it must comply with the opening hours of the premises. No
breakf 'in local motels, but often a kettle and coffee. You have coffee shops on the road, sometimes interesting experience, and McDonald & Co.

Lunch:

Personally, at noon, we do not waste time (although eating the U.S. could be a formality, so fast). It is "home-sandwiches" manufactured on the road if the weather is clement, if not at the hotel before leaving.
The first day, head for the Wal-Mart or Safeway on the corner to buy a polystyrene icebox. The purchase of this cooler has become a ritual. It is cheap, strong enough take the journey and makes us good service to keep our food and drinks in the car sometimes overheated.
Now hotel rooms are often equipped with a mini fridge, but still ice at will to ensure the maintenance of the cold in a cooler for a day of self.
If we can spend a few days in one location (eg 3 days on each island in Hawaii), we carry an insulated bag or cooler supermarket insulated flexible (small) and a box to put the ice cubes a day.

Ask for their card (free) to stores that practice cuts to the holders of these cards, in this case Safeway (present throughout the West, including Hawaii) you will pay up to 50% less certain basic items, and enjoy even a few cents off your fuel.

When they are not open 24 x 24, from 5 in the morning you can already expect there to shop and what until very late at night 7 days x 7. Closed a single day in the year: Christmas!

Dinner the restaurant (or similar):

In the U.S., it is very rare that the menu with prices to be displayed at the entrance of a restaurant. This is often a surprise.
You are invited to wait before being placed. Sometimes they will give you a ticket as the Safely or for more modern, a pager that will beep when your table is ready!

The servers are generally fast and efficient. No time lost at the table!

Some restaurants have their tables with a computer on which you do you spend your own control and play video games alone or with other tables that you have invited. In others you have individual TV screens on which you can start watching the movie tonight. You eclipse for the pub and end up seeing the movie in your hotel room.

The portions are large and do not hesitate to ask one dish for two plates, it does not offend anyone (except a "great" restaurant) Anyway if you do not finish your meal The waitress will bring you leftovers packed for take home. This is called the " doggy-bag. "

In U.S. restaurants we do not grow in the consumption, so if you fancy a dessert, use caution when ordering the dish if you bring the bill before you have time to phew! But given the size of portions you will perhaps feel like your dessert ...

Regarding beverages, in the 60 to 90 until you are consistently bringing a large glass of ice water even before you present the card. Now we ask you what you want to drink, but if you do not want that glass of water (free) you do not throw you Figure!
All restaurants do not have a license for the issue of alcohol, so if you do not want soft drinks, it will settle for a glass of water.

If paying with a credit card, be sure to include the tip ("tip" about 15%) on the line and made the final addition. Otherwise, you will get a surprise by controlling your accounts back ...

The "All you can eat" is a
purveyor of obese American institution. Translate "you eat as much as you are able to swallow." Just the name makes me think of a contest for the Guinness Book of Records! For 10 dollars (about 7 Euros) you fill your plate as many times as you want. The same goes for drinking.

I think the food is relatively expensive in supermarkets so it is not surprising that Americans do not cook and eat outside at that price.

We like this type of buffet restaurant at will, not to fill our plates to the brim, let alone several, but we can control what is put inside. Because for all well-made French, eat in the U.S. is the necessity rather than pleasure. In a traditional restaurant, given that neither the menu nor the prices are displayed, surprises, mostly bad, we look at each meal. Here we see, is chosen accordingly and would be the devil to not find something to satiate that is almost edible.

For a little hungry at any time, you have the McDonalds on the corner open 24 x 24. And if the hotel near the airport wondering where you are restoring, and you are told "this is impossible without a car, do not believe them! They both usually do not move off that 300 meters is the end of the world ...

Bruno added: "If you're tired of eating fat and give Tipping ... SUBWAY is the solution. We begin to find in France. It's fresh, balanced and expensive ... and no tipping! Personally, I do not ... crazy


TELEPHONE

must be equipped a mobile phone tri-band minimum. Although we have a quad-band, we have a lot of trouble with U.S. carriers over ours (Orange) regarding the sending of SMS which we use and abuse to remain connected with our loved ones. The two main Cingular (AT & T) and T-Mobile in big cities give us a hard time. Paradoxically, no problem with small local operators when we find ourselves deep in the outback! Our daughter is doing very well with Virgin (although operated by Orange I think)

regard to communications from a phone booth (for France only), I solved the sake of supplying coins with France Telecom card.

Provided it is your operator, virtually anywhere in the world, you can call France for a price reasonable, billed to the account of your main line.

are composed directly on 1 800 4 737 262 or 1 800 9 372 623 (No valid only from the U.S. to check before you go) Can
No. of the card and its PIN number and finally the sound corresponding to 10 digits without the 00.33, ending with sharp.

Do not use it to call someone in the U.S., it's expensive (communication to France and back to the United States)

Beware of USA, our numbers 0800 etc are not reachable ... and our banks are often equipped.

It also remains the option credit card, but if I sometimes used in other countries, the U.S. public phones are scarce and always located in loud places (airports, or outside a gas station along a road) I do not always understand what I am asked to do.

Wikkipedia Lotta Topp

S

SSSS

If you've already seen those 4 letters on your boarding pass, then you're in targeted by the U.S. security services.

But what lurks there behind these 4 S?

Monitoring? Suspect? Security? Serenity?

"Secondary Security Screening Selection"

This means that you have been selected as the "candidate" (involuntary) to additional security check.

This is to more closely inspect a suspicious passenger, before boarding from a U.S. airport on various criteria including, among others:

- Buying a ticket on the same day,
- Purchase one-way,
- Payment in cash.

True, personally if they have a reservation, often buy single tickets (in one way or another), but all my fellow travelers as well. Yet every time I take the plane back the United States, I am subject to a thorough search by the TSA. Not them!

Last winter in Miami, after I passed under the portico, however, remained silent, the officer locked me in a cage made of glass and called walkie-talkie a colleague "female" to search the "female "I am. Except that it took all his time to arrive. My luggage went out of control-X remained unattended on the carpet. Anyone could grab my purse from my pc and my other personal belongings. In addition, the other passengers looked at me curiously, passing so after a while, I wanted to come out the other door. In vain, I really buckled!

In Atlanta in 2003, leaving the terminal, thus to enter the U.S. territory, we were also inspected. On my way under the security checkpoint, it sounds. It puts me aside, asked me to remove legs and put his arms outstretched. I do it as the official "female" pass me the "frying pan" throughout the body. At waist level, it sounds again. I lower my arms to lift and pull my pants to show her that contains a metal button, and I find myself putting in cheek! Oops! In the land of cowboys, we do not laugh. When you know they trigger happy, better to refrain from any sudden movements! Since then I bought another pair of pants to travel ... no buttons!

And since the attacks of September 2001, he was so each time.
Next time I will look at whether these 4 "S" have been placed on my boarding pass.

They should know that we are now all on file by the 'Agents' in Washington. Destination
, name, date of birth, home address, phone, No Credit Card, No subscriber loyalty program company, email address, passport number, special requests (meals, support, etc..) Address United States, such information is provided by the airlines, and are also compared with the ESTA form of the questionnaire.
The scan of our impressions and our photography are also archived in their databases.

If you are suspicious, all transactions with the same credit card that was used to pay for your airline ticket will be monitored. Thus, according to Jacques Henno writes in "ALL CARDS - The incredible U.S. plan to thwart terrorist attacks, U.S. law allows anti-terrorism agencies to consult all commercial databases. So when you pay online with a credit card, the data you provide to the commercial site of what nationality he is, are recorded and stored ... the United States, by government security services.

The system is not flawless, there are the "excesses". So at Christmas 2003, six Air France flights to the U.S. had to be canceled because only files passenger crossing with the list of potential terrorists, the U.S. Secret Service thought they had spotted a suspect.

Following the resumption of flights, USAF fighter escorted some flights ... for nothing.

Due to an error of transcription of a name, it would have confused that of a child with that of a dangerous terrorist. With

soon systematic body scan, such "data mining" is an unprecedented violation of our freedom and our privacy. The French government, the European Commission, the CNIL, Air France has been done. After all, it's for our safety, we will say it ...

But what about the U.S.? The 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution forbids the government to gather evidence against a citizen unless the latter is suspected of having committed a wrongdoing. Which serves as a screen to U.S. companies that refuse communicate the same information on their passengers.

Source: "ALL CARDS - The incredible U.S. plan to thwart terrorist attacks" by Jacques Henno - Editions Telemachus.


hold baggage

These recorded by the airline (less and less free!) Are systematically scanned. All luggage is suspect forced open and even if locked. Regarding the bags, they can be fitted with an approved TSA lock.

If was inspected, you will find a nice little note from the TSA for your attention.

Personally, mine is open 9 times out of 10. Despite this, I always found my suitcase well redone, with nothing missing. With practice, I put all that may seem suspicious to the top ... it simplifies their task!

When accompanied baggage, those who follow you in the cabin, remember to remove the plastic bag about 20 x 20 with all your liquids in containers of 100 ml or less for a total of liter maximum and submit to the rays X independently. Think about what your hand luggage does not contain objects such as knives, scissors, razors, nail file and nail clipper, etc.. which must have been registered with your checked luggage. Otherwise, they will be confiscated and destroyed.

However, these controls are not perfect. In August 2010, returned home, breaking my bags, I found in my luggage with a small kit containing all the prohibited items listed above. I simply forgot to put it in the bag bunker! My bag had yet been X-rayed the first time in the USA, then a second Roissy ...!

other hand, a French company, one captain refuses to take off with a checked luggage whose owner is not aboard his plane. If a passenger does not show up for boarding after recording his suitcase, you will get all the others for what is called a "recognition luggage. Each identifies his suitcase with his control is received and allowed to land that nobody claimed. It is issued to law enforcement and probably destroyed. And the plane left with one hour minimum delay.

In the U.S., it seems to be otherwise. In 2008, we had a flight from Seattle to Chicago without prior reservation. We thought our luggage as in France would be pre-registered and they only board with the confirmation of our sitting. All flights are full until late afternoon, we were offered a place on the last Seattle-Denver. A we then find a flight to Chicago. We believed that our bags would follow us to Colorado. It was not the case and we had just enough time to catch the match. So it is in Chicago, which made the declaration of loss of our suitcases. We then learned they were there since the first morning flight. Failure point of the company to a basic rule of safety? Routine? Unthinkable in France!

NEWS FORMALITIES TSA

Since May 2009, the process is becoming increasingly complicated for Americans whose plane ticket must be an accurate reflection of their identity as shown on their official documents. If on his ID card it says: "Mary Jean Blackstone "His name on the ticket must be the same letter for letter. No "Mary J. Blackstone. " It should not be mentioned either as prefixes Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr or Rev.

If the name on the passport is not exactly the one shown on the driver's license (ID very official in the U.S.) there are two solutions:

- or change his name on the license for it is exactly as written on the passport.
- or not travel with the passport, both within the pays qu’à l’étranger.

Source : http://www.alaskaanchorage.net/travel-documents.php

Pour le moment cette procédure n’est limitée qu’aux Américains utilisant le transport aérien, pas encore les hôtels ni les locations de voitures… cela peut vouloir signifier que ça viendra !

Depuis le 8 septembre 2010, il semblerait que ces mesures nous concernent.

A meeting about the new U.S. entry procedures took place at the Embassy on October 21 with the Consul, OTEC, the SNAV, airlines and Of fice of Tourism. It was during this meeting that the final proceedings have been decided.

For married women, if the client has informed the 2 names on the ESTA and only one name on the tickets, it works normally. The key is that the names match on each document.

For now, it is advisable to travel agents to make all new files to the maiden names because it is the name that appears between the rafters at the bottom of each French passport and this measure works for all airlines.

Some companies such as Air France, Continental Airlines and United Airlines have done tests and the married name also works on the Secure Flight. Therefore, these companies should be able to use the maiden name or marital choice.

This theory is valid, but better is monitoring the case closely to avoid being sent back.

careful, since September 8, 2010, the ESTA form is paying up to $ 14US per person. This tax is payable on the official website by credit card. ESTA forms issued before that date remain valid during their period of validity (2 years) or until the passport expires.

Source: http://www.office-tourisme-usa.com/formalites-etats-unis.php