Travel Savvy Goes a Long Way to Ease Flying

HOUSTON, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- By taking proactive measures before arriving at the airport, fliers can prepare for unavoidable setbacks and maintain control of their travel plans.

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"Many factors contribute to flight arrival and departure times. Most delays are caused by unavoidable factors," said Trish Winebrenner, Vice President - Marketing, with ExpressJet Airlines (http://www.expressjet.com). "Learning a few of the ins and outs of the airline business, passengers who take simple steps while booking tickets and before heading to the airport can save time and avoid frustration."

    Winebrenner recommends these tips to help keep travel plans on track.

    --  Know your status.  Check on flight status before leaving for the
        airport.

    --  Lay off the layovers. Book non-stop flights to reduce the
        possibility of snags in your schedule.

    --  Check the stats. Jump ahead of the curve by checking on-time
        performance on the carrier's website.

    --  Take a head start. Book the first flight of the day to get ahead of
        any setbacks caused later in the flight day.

    --  Get a leg up. Plan ahead by checking the timeliness of all previous
        legs of your flight.

    --  Pack smart. Understand your carrier's baggage policy and pack
        appropriately to save time and avoid hassles.

    --  Be happy, not hungry. Bring a healthy snack or fly airlines with
        complementary meal service.

According to the Department of Transportation, over 70% of flights in the U.S. are on time. Reasons for flight delay can range from late aircraft arrival or national aviation system delays to weather or security-related delays.

"Knowing how important it is for our customers to be on their way and arrive on time, ExpressJet worked hard to gain the US Department of Transportation's rating of number one on-time airline in the contiguous 48 states for the first quarter of 2008," Winebrenner said.

ExpressJet Airlines provides non-stop service to cities across the Western, Midwestern, and Southeastern United States. To book your next nonstop flight, call 888.958.XJET (9538) or visit expressjet.com