I flew out of SFB for the very first time last night. A business trip to Reykjavik had me searching Delta and Continental, though with 3 to 4 connections and very high fares, a direct flight to Reykjavik out of Sanford’s airport was a quarter of the price in a quarter of the hours! Granted, getting no miles towards my Diamond or 1K status may have me regretting this flight later in the year, but its practicality won me over for this trip.

SFB has two terminals, with about four airlines flying out of each. It’s an airport that if you blink, you may miss it. However, I was surprisingly very impressed with the airport.

Security was a breeze with only one other passenger going through the line with me. The airport is larger than it looks from the outside, with a huge seating area near the international gates, restaurants, Duty Free and other stores, and free wi-fi. Though what surprised me the most was the lounge for international travelers.

The Royal Palm Lounge is available to business class international travelers and those with Priority Pass. Day passes and arrangements with tour providers for access are also available. This lounge offers a bar area (2 free drinks of beer or wine included), a children’s play area and a Sony Playstation area. There is a separate behind-glass doors smoking area, which is very rare to see within a lounge. You can also order food from a nearby restaurant and the lounge attendant will deliver the food directly to you. Nice to be able to eat a full meal instead of just living on lounge snacks.

There is a bar/eating area, a big-screen tv room, as well as a good-sized comfy sofa and chair area.

Now that I am impressed with the airport, its lounge and the close proximity to my house, I’d love to see a few flights by Delta or Continental come into SFB. Can’t hurt to hope!

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com. Watch for my new book, Business Travel Success – How to Reduce Stress, Be More Productive and Travel with Confidence, being published by Morgan James in early 2012.

Ok, I’ll at least get my car rentals booked. Oh no … Hertz’s website is down also.

What is this – Sunday night system updates? I usually like to book my own hotels and cars, as well as most domestic flights, but this is crazy and a frustrating waste of time. A travel agent may be worth it to deal with all of this.

I’m not even going to try to book airline tickets tonight. My usual good travel karma isn’t in the stars this evening. I’ll wait this one out and try again later this week.

Are you, too, experiencing this Sunday night blackout?

p.s. Now I can’t even tweet either! Is it just a very busy time on the internet or is someone trying to tell me to turn off the technology for the night?

Hmmm … GoldChoice. What’s this? It’s Hertz’s new program that is a combination of having an assigned car all ready for you (if you are a Hertz Gold customer) and being able to select your own car – kind of a Hertz Gold / National Emerald Isle combo.

I took a look at the GoldChoice aisle to see what types of cars were available. They were mostly mid-size and full-size cars, maybe 20 or so cars to choose from on a busy Monday morning. One lone SUV was in the GoldChoice aisle, maybe because others had already been taken. When in Houston, it’s always good to be up high on the road when you’re sharing the highways with lots of Texas trucks.

As I was checking out, I asked if this program was new and was it unique to Houston. “No,” said the attendant. “GoldChoice has been in Houston for a couple of months, and it’s now available in other cities as well.” I can believe the latter part of his statement but not the first. If it’s been in Houston for a couple of months, their signs have been invisible and their GoldChoice aisle must have been over at Avis. Like I said, I’ve rented from IAH weekly, all but Thanksgiving week, and there have been no signs of the GoldChoice option until now.

I like the idea of this new hybrid model. If there is a car more to my liking in the GoldChoice section, then I’ll take that car; otherwise I’ll keep what’s been assigned. The only challenge with this is that I’ll want to first see what I was assigned. This means first walking to the GoldChoice aisle to see what’s available, then walking across the aisles to find my assigned car. If I then realize that I’d like a GoldChoice car more, than I’ll have to do an about-face and head back to GoldChoice. Not the worst thing in the world, but time-consuming. I could also stop in at the Gold desk and ask for what car has been assigned. Or just take the assigned car. Or just go with a personally-selected GoldChoice car. Such decisions…

I’ll be curious for next Monday morning’s rental. I really need a minivan next week as I have several colleagues I’ll be traveling with. Do I reserve and pay the higher cost for a minivan or take a chance that the GoldChoice aisle has one waiting for me?

While I figure out what to do, why don’t you check out more details on Hertz’s new GoldChoice program and the available locations. Let me know your thoughts.

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com. Watch for my new book, Business Travel Success – How to Reduce Stress, Be More Productive and Travel with Confidence, being published by Morgan James in 2011.

I no longer felt the need to just retire to the room as soon as I got back to my hotel!

I wasn’t done with my Marriott experience yet. Flying out of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental airport (Terminal E), I got to experience Courtyard Marriott’s new Airport Lobby Zone. What they are doing is giving business travelers their new Lobby experience in the middle of a busy terminal. Comfortable seating and a few outlets let me recharge (my body and my laptop) before flying out. Outside of Houston, the Airport Lobby Zones are also in Phoenix and Baltimore through December .

To celebrate the Courtyard Lobby redesign and the Airport Lobby Zones, Marriott is giving away two free nights to any continental U.S. Courtyard! This contest is open just to Smart Women Travelers and our blog (Pearls of Travel Wisdom) readers, and it’s really easy to enter.

1. Post a comment below and tell us what you look for most in a hotel lobby.
2. “Like” Smart Women Traveler’s on Facebook. (now optional, see below)

That’s it! The contest ends on December 9th, 2011 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern, and the winner will be contacted by email shortly. (UPDATE: A slight change to the rules. You must post a comment to be eligible, but now “Like”ing Smart Women Traveler’s on Facebook is optional. If you “Like” us on Facebook, you are now entered for a second chance to win)

Courtyard by Marriott has offered these nights for the contest. They’ve invited me back for a complimentary stay, as well. Maybe I’ll see you in the lobby!

(UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Kyle. He likes good coffee and people watching, and will soon be enjoying two free nights at a Courtyard by Marriott of his choice.)

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com. Watch for my new book, Business Travel Success – How to Reduce Stress, Be More Productive and Travel with Confidence, being published by Morgan James in 2011.

How will I get my presentation all copied, bound and ready for this 8am meeting? Easy!

Before boarding my international flight to Houston, I’ll be online with my trusty printing assistant. My assistant has helped me many times before and has been 100% reliable, even across thousands of miles and numerous time zones.

Who’s my printing assistant? It’s one you know, though you may not be aware of all they do. FedEx Office is my secret tool for showing up prepared, organized and professional – even with so little time on the ground.

I can contact my assistant online, via phone or with my FedEx mobile phone app. Since my documents are all on my laptop and not on my phone, I can also use my mobile app called “Jump” to access any document on my laptop. I’ve even sent documents to FedEx from 35,000 feet while using in-flight internet.

Long gone are the days when I used to arrive late into a city and have to find a printing location that could help me in a hurry before an early morning meeting or seminar.

Now that I’ve shared my secret, it’s back to work on my presentation. Farvel from Norway!

Kristiansand Norway

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com. Watch for my new book, Business Travel Success – How to Reduce Stress, Be More Productive and Travel with Confidence, being published by Morgan James in 2011.

• It is only available to American Airlines and Delta Airlines passengers.
• It is only limited to a few airport hubs (Dallas and Miami for American, Atlanta and Detroit for Delta).
• And only some frequent fliers qualify.

TSA also built in some safeguards. They may at any time change their policy and make this separate line just like all the others. In addition, they do not guarantee that merely because of enrollment in this program that passengers will receive expedited service every time. At some point, I expect them to test this by denying access on a periodic basis. How frequently this occurs will likely determine the program’s success or failure.

I had the opportunity to try out PreCheck last week. Embedded information in the boarding pass barcode directs travelers to an expedited line. Anything metal like change or cellphones are either placed in a carry-on bag or one of the small buckets. Everything else – liquids, shoes, belts, coats, and laptops – remain in the carry-on bag or on your person. It was simply a matter of dropping my carry-on bag on the conveyor belt and walking through the metal detector.  Total time to get through the expedited line: less than 60 seconds.

Needless to say, this is a dream for frequent travelers. It was such a pleasant experience that I thought about exiting the security area and going through the line again!

Some frequent travelers I spoke to expressed apprehension, reminding me that one bad apple could ruin this for the lot of us. We would all still walk through security with our shoes on if it weren’t for Richard Reid.

While other passengers may resent this “special” treatment granted to a select few, there is a benefit for them, as well. Moving frequent travelers to expedited lines means shorter lines for everyone else. When this program is successful (crossing my fingers), it will expand to more airports and shorten security lines for even more travelers.

Here’s hoping that the TSA’s new PreCheck program really takes off!

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com. Watch for my new book, Business Travel Success – How to Reduce Stress, Be More Productive and Travel with Confidence, being published by Morgan James in 2011.

I’ve been called for both Federal and County jury duty multiple times. Each time I receive a date that I’m to report for jury duty, I already have travel plans for my business. I don’t mind serving as long as I’m in the state at the time requested. Since I travel more than 45 weeks each year, chances are I’ll be booked on a flight already.

If you’re served a Jury Summons and will be out of town, here are some actions to take:

Ask for a new date when you will be available. You may be granted a reprieve for a few months, so plan ahead to a time when you may not be traveling. For me, I asked for Thanksgiving week as my new date since that’s a rare business travel week. You will most likely not be granted a permanent reprieve, but this will buy you time to arrange your schedule.

When you receive your summons or notice there should be a website or phone number to call to request a change of date. There may be an online form to complete. I received a follow-up phone call from my county telling me that I would not be permanently excused, but we were able to arrive at an alternative date.

Be Prepared with Your Travel Information. I haven’t yet had to prove my travel plans were in place, but I could if I needed to. An itinerary, non-refundable airplane ticket, hotel confirmation, meeting or convention info, a letter from your employer, etc… whatever you have that can show you will be out of town (or had been out of town, in the event you didn’t report for jury duty as summoned).

Ask About Your Local Requirements. Each state and local court has their own guidelines for acceptable reasons for being excused, either temporarily or permanently, from jury duty. For example, being a single parent of school age children or in an extreme financial situation may be valid reasons for a longer-term or permanent excusal.

Be Agreeable to Serve in the Future. Explain that you’ll be happy to serve as a juror upon your return in the event you need a postponement.

Serve When Requested. If possible, serve the first time you receive the summons. After that, you will most likely be put on the list of people who have served and thus less likely to be called again in the near future.

Avoid These Travel Excuses and Demands:

“If I serve on jury duty, I’ll not get my airline miles and hotel points for that time.”

“I’ll only serve if I can sit in the first class row of the juror box.”

“If I get sequestered, I’ll only stay at a Marriott, Hilton, etc. with executive lounge service.”

“You’ll have to reimburse me for my flight change fee.”

Government courts do not care about your change fees or non-refundable tickets. So contact your court as soon as you receive the summons and you should be ok to select a new date. This will usually work the first time you need to postpone, and maybe the second. It will, however, not work forever. I’ve been told by the Federal Court that I’ve used up all my excuses and when they call me again, I serve.

And now you’ll know what I’ll be doing on the Monday of Thanksgiving Week – reporting for jury duty.

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com. Watch for Carol’s new book, Business Travel Success … How to Reduce Stress, Be More Productive and Travel with Confidence, being published by Morgan James in 2011.

So why did I hang the “Make a Green Choice” card outside my door on this visit to the Westin? I’d like to say it’s for the sole reason of “being green” and reducing the number of towels and sheets that need to be laundered, but that wouldn’t be the truth.

Here’s why the Green Choice card is dangling on the outside of my hotel room door:

1. I want to try something different, get out of my comfort zone, and see how long I can deal with an un-maid room, and
2. I’d like to see my SPG reward points grow a bit faster.

How am I doing?

Well, the sign wasn’t hanging outside my door today. Two days without maid service and I’m waving the white flag. I need my room cleaned!

I’ve been out of my comfortable zone long enough. It’s time to get this room back in ship-shape order.

A messy person I’m not, though I am spreading my stuff around the room more than normal since I’m not doing my morning pre-maid straightening up. When I return to my room in the evening, I feel let down that the hotel took my seriously about my “green choice.” I half-way expected my room to be magically cleaned up anyway.

Instead, here’s what my room looks like: Full garbage cans, no coffee bags and 3-day old towels. (Yes, I could’ve asked for more coffee or clean towels to be brought to my room but I wanted to do the full experiment.)

What have this experiment told me?

I tried something new. I survived. And I did reduce the amount of laundry to be washed. I also learned my limit –2 days of maid-free. And I recognized that I need a respite. Give me one day of maid service and I think I’ll be ready to do it again. I’m part-way through a ten night stay, so this happy medium may work out well – more reward points and more conserving of water – all good things.

What about you? Do you “do green” for green reasons? For points or money? Or do you prefer to not “do green” at all?

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com. Watch for my new book, Business Travel Success … How to Reduce Stress, Be More Productive and Travel with Confidence, being published by Morgan James in 2011.

CAROL: This is Carol Margolis from SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com and I’m here at the Global Business Travel Association Meeting in Denver and about to go in to a session with Jeff Smisek, CEO of United Continental Holdings, Inc. There is picketing going on outside by United Pilots and Flight Attendants. I’m here with Garth Thompson, a pilot from United Airlines.

Garth, want to tell us why you’re out here and what your message is?

GARTH: Well certainly. Thanks for coming out to meet us. It’s been 15 months since United and Continental announced their merger and although the senior managers took large compensation increases immediately after the announcement, the rest of the employees have yet to receive a contract that covers the integrated workforce.

We’re out here to say that the foot dragging needs to stop, the buzzwords such as “working together”, “changing the culture” and these kind of things need to stop and we need to have earnest negotiations at the table.

CAROL: And how does this impact business travelers sitting behind you at the back of the bus?

GARTH: Well it never bodes well for a service industry to have labor disputes between management and worker bees, and it’s gotten pretty contentious and only promises to grow unless we see some movement at the table.

CAROL: So is there anything that we can help with as business travelers?

GARTH: Certainly. Jeff.Smisek@United.com is, I believe, our CEO’s email address. I would love for our most frequent flyers to send him a message today that he took care of himself, and now it’s time to take care of your employees.

CAROL: Garth, your message is getting across and you have an audience out here. Thanks for your input today.

GARTH: Thank you for your time.

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.

TSA launched a pilot program earlier this month where kids age 12 and under can leave their shoes on as they walk through the metal detector or body-imaging machine.

I learned this today as I was going through security at the Orlando airport. There are no signs announcing this. I happened to overhear a TSA agent telling this to a family of five as they entered the security line.

TSA will test the new procedures at select checkpoints at the following airports: Boston Logan International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Miami International, Orlando International, Houston (IAH) and Denver International.

This is a huge time-saver for parents, especially with so many families traveling out of Orlando after their visit to Disney World. I did read that the program is operating at the west security checkpoint at Orlando, not every security checkpoint. I went through security by United and Continental, so that may be the west security checkpoint (I’ve never seen a sign indicating the names of the security checkpoints either). This pilot program will continue until national results are tallied. If the results are positive, the program will be adapted at airports nationwide.

The new procedures also allow kids to pass through the machines more than once, if necessary, to determine the reason for any alarms. That should reduce, but not eliminate, pat-downs of children.

For more details, see Screening Pilot for Passengers 12 and Under at the TSA website.

Ah, to be 12 again -:)

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.