When traveling with an elderly and or ailing relative or friend, see that you remember to print out a list of the patient’s medical issues and medications, so if needed, it’s in a format that medical professionals anywhere in the world can easily understand. Such printed information can also be helpful when traveling through airports or other strict security enforced areas. Hearing aides, artificial implants in hips and knees, and pacemakers are among the list of medical issues that may trip security alarms.

If your elderly relative requires the use of oxygen, this must be communicated to airline officials in advance. FAA regulations prohibit the use of personal oxygen units during flights, although it may be checked below, if it meets with stringent packaging and labeling requirements. Airlines provide oxygen equipment during the flight for a small service and most require a 48-hour notice.

Travelers with heart conditions should avoid food laden with salt. Most airline meals have more sodium than is required, so it would be best if they order a special meal, should the airline provide such a service, or simply bring their own. Those on diuretics can lose significant amounts of potassium if they contract food poisoning and this may be even more dangerous if they are also on anti-arrhythmia drugs. Prompt treatment of diarrhea in this situation and hydration is essential.

Before embarking on a trip with an elderly relative or friend, there are a few things you should consider.

Keep your relative’s doctor informed about your travel plans. See that your elderly relative goes for a thorough physical in order to rule out and prevent any nasty surprises when on the road. Make sure flu shots are up-to-date and any immunizations are administered in plenty of time, if traveling to a country that requires shots.

Tetanus, poliomyelitis and diphtheria as well as vaccinations against influenza is highly recommended. The symptoms of the flu are taxing enough already without the burden of being abroad and removed from the conveniences and familiarity of one’s home.

Vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B are also essential as these diseases can be particularly severe in the older traveler. Additionally, a vaccination against the pneumoccal bacteria should be obtained and is administered every five years. Age related changes in the immune system may vary and should be discussed with your physician prior to travel and vaccination.

I read an interesting piece of news today about how Alaskan Airlines and Horizon Air are resorting to mobile services, in an effort to retain customer loyalty. The mobile services that these two airlines are currently offering are designed for the iPhone, BlackBerry and Microsoft Windows Mobile users and are hoped to improve their passengers travel experience and convenience.

These new services will enable passengers to make changes to their reservations, access airport information and potentially purchase tickets. Passengers can also check their flight status information, flight schedules, flight alerts and check-in 1 to 24 hours prior to their scheduled departure. Furthermore, passengers can use their “My Trips” feature to view their itinerary, change their seats, check their upgrade status and add an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number to their reservation. (for more information check out www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/database-crm/5632.html)

I believe that the more savvy Airlines are finally beginning to realize that with so many carriers and options available to travelers, retaining loyalty and repeated visits are becoming harder to achieve. Brand loyalty has been replaced by price consciousness thanks to the proliferation of budget carriers.

At last years WIT conference an ‘expert’ in the travel industry said that to retain customers, airlines and hotels need to offer more than just refurbished toilets and renovated rooms. What is missing is that little extra service that makes passengers and guests feel special and cared for. Being an ArrivedOK subscriber, I think the expert hit the nail on the head. Its no longer enough to offer the superficial trimmings that most hotels and airlines think us travelers require.

Instead, what we are actually looking for is convenience, and the knowledge that you care about how we feel. If an airline or hotel offered me the use of ArrivedOK FOC for flying or staying with them, I would consider traveling and staying with them during my next trip. Its those little extras, the intangibles that make us feel cared for, and that is what retains loyalty.

The title may sound like an oxymoron, I mean, how happy can you be when travelling, if you don’t own your own personal jet or eye-candy stewards to serve you freshly squeezed juice, and centre filled chocolates with a gentle shoulder rub thrown in for good measure?

But funnily and also thankfully enough, airports have realised that an unhappy traveller comes a close second, to a plane full of screaming babies, hence the recent shift towards travel friendly airports.

Since I am currently based in Singapore I shall talk about the airport that I am most familiar with. Changi Airport offers free wifi at all four of their terminals. Now travellers can surf the net, log on to their office network, if they are suddenly overcome with love for their jobs, or more realistically, check their personal email, update their blogs, Facebook account and register and update their ArrivedOK account. With over 400 free internet kiosks and 80 laptop Ethernet access points located throughout the terminal lounges and transit areas, Changi Airport offers everyone in the vicinity wireless broadband, keeping us happy and connected.

This shift towards being contact-able on the go is great news. There used to be a time when I would have to lug a whole bag of coins to call home while waiting the requisite three hours before boarding. On days that I forgot my bag of change, I used to stare at the worn out linoleum on the floor until my eyes crossed and vision blurred. Thankfully now there are much more constructive things for travellers to do with their time. Of course the luxury of free wifi and air-conditioning is still a foreign concept in some countries, so if you have any horror or happy airport experiences to share, please do, because I would love to have a list of airports I should avoid or at least come armed with an arsenal of entertainment, so as not to go crazy with boredom.

As the saying goes about too much of a good thing…., Its now come to a point, that airports have become such wonderful places to be at, that non travellers seem to prefer to while away their free-time napping or reading magazines while sipping coffee, making it no longer a place no longer exclusive to those of us toting boarding passes.

If this trend continues, one day genuine travellers will no longer have anywhere to hangout at during the three excruciatingly long hours until boarding, what with all the seats taken up by the non travelling riff-raff surfing the net on the mobile phones while sipping their cup of expresso!

The news for today is that our mobile site became fully functional – now you can sign-up with m.arrivedok.mobi, edit records, update your personal profile etc – all the things you do at our main site. Also:

• If you go to the regular Arrivedok.mobi site from a mobile device, you’re redirected to the mobile version by default (there’s a link to the main website if you want it).
• It became simpler, faster, more lightweight, a true mobile resource for travelers.
• It looks good on iPhone.