Be A Savvy Traveler

What does it mean to be a savvy traveler? It’s more than just getting from point A to point B. A savvy traveler is prepared and organized, flexible and kind, and aware of both their own journey and the experience of others around them.

Think about it: arriving early gives you time to park, check in, and get through security with much less stress. Using tools like TSA PreCheck and mobile boarding passes keeps you moving smoothly. Staying hydrated, knowing your ground transportation options, and having backup plans all make your trip easier and more enjoyable.

But the bigger reason why it matters is that when each of us travels prepared and thoughtfully, the whole system works better. Lines move quicker, staff can focus on helping where it’s needed most, and everyone, fellow travelers and airport workers alike, has a better experience.

Being a savvy traveler isn’t just good for you. It’s good for the journey as a whole. ✈️

For more visit flyavl.com.

Why You Must Stay Hydrated

Drink More Water!

When you travel by air, it is important to stay hydrated. Why? Air travelers experience physiological changes due to increases in altitude and cabin pressure. Also, the recirculating air in an airplane creates a dry environment.

Staying hydrated can help you feel more comfortable, ward off illness and have more energy when flying.  So – to stay hydrated, follow these tips:

1. Avoid drinks with sugar, including alcohol

2. Eat foods with high water content, such as fruits and soup

3. Bring a water bottle with you and fill it when you get to your gate. Make it a goal to drink the full bottle of water during your flight – then fill up again when you land.

For more (and current) travel tips, visit Frequently Asked Questions on their website at flyavl.com.

Extend The Power

Have you ever been waiting at the airport and realized that the battery bar on your phone was in the red, but you also needed to get some work done that required plugging in your computer? 

Perhaps you have a travel buddy who also needs to plug in, as well.  And then you start to look for a power outlet. 

That’s when you notice that every outlet is in use, and sometimes one person is using four plugs for all of their devices!

While airports do offer power plugs for passenger use, sometimes finding just one available outlet is the best you can do. 

A new trend in travel is to bring a small power strip with multiple plugs with you in your carry-on luggage. That way, when you finally locate an available outlet, you’re all set. And you won’t be that traveler who hogs the power outlets.

For more (and current) travel tips, visit Frequently Asked Questions on their website at flyavl.com.

A Big Small Airport

The way people move around the world is changing dramatically. And that means global priorities are changing as new technologies continue to become available.

And who do you think will be the core drivers of these industry wide changes, while being transformed themselves in the process? Airports!

 Airports are where our air travel journeys begin and end so no big surprise here.

What will an airport’s purpose be the future? What is the industry going to do to foster global connectivity and what technologies need to be prioritized? And what steps can an airport make to ensure innovation and change flourishes in a to help surrounding communities?

Looking close to home, and really representing a microcosm of the airport industry overall, is the Asheville Regional Airport, serving more than 1.8 million passengers in 2022. Today, the airport is continuing its growth and is now the third largest airport in North Carolina.

This airport plays an important role in this community and its influence will only increase as the aviation industry grows. 

Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport shares how the airport is looking to the future as passenger numbers continue to increase and how it projects trafficking for decades to come.

For more (and current) travel tips, visit Frequently Asked Questions on their website at flyavl.com.

Invest In A Luggage Strap

Tina Kinsey, Vice-President of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares why thinking ahead when traveling by air is always important!

Imagine you have packed your bag and checked it for your trip. You had a great flight and head to baggage claim to pick up your suitcase.

And you see it drop onto the belt. But what? The suitcase is broken! Looks like the zipper is broke and your clothes are spilling out.

While not the normal scenario, luggage mishaps can happen. What do you do?

This is why thinking ahead comes in handy. Luggage straps are made for these types of issues. They are nylon adjustable straps, with buckles, that you can wrap around suitcases to keep them closed, if and when damage occurs. 

These straps are inexpensive and easy to tuck into your carry-on for a little bit of insurance. Now that’s not a bad idea!

For more (and current) travel tips, visit Frequently Asked Questions on our website at flyavl.com.

Get Yourself Your REAL ID Before It's Too Late

Tina Kinsey, Vice-President of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, reminds us to get our REAL ID. The federal REAL ID Act places new rules on which forms of identification may be used to board flights within the United States (U.S.) and enter secure federal facilities, such as military bases, federal courthouses, and other federal facilities.

A REAL ID is like any ordinary driver’s license/ID but to get one, you need to present extra documentation to your state’s DMV or driver’s license agency. 

You will need to visit your state’s DMV or driver’s license agency in person and Tina highly recommends setting up an appointment if possible.

1. Recommended: Schedule an appointment online to visit your state’s DMV or driver’s license agency (if applicable).

2. Bring the following required documents:

   • Proof of Identity: Your current driver’s license/ID card

   • Proof of Citizenship: Official birth certificate, valid U.S. Passport, Unexpired foreign passport with valid U.S. Visa and approved I-94 form, or a Certificate of Naturalization

   • Proof of Social Security Number: Your Social Security card or a W-2 with your full name and Social Security Number

   • Proof of Residency: Two (2) documents are required such as a utility bill, mortgage/lease statement, bank statement, or credit card statement. Must contain your full name and address.

   • Proof of Name Change (if applicable): If you’ve changed your legal name bring your legal name change document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order)

3. Pay the required REAL ID fee

For more (and current) Asheville Regional Airport info, go to flyavl.com

Give Yourself Enough Time To Get To The Airport

Tina Kinsey, Vice-President of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, reminds us to give ourselves extra time, and to pack our patience, when traveling through the airport.

According to Tina, it's all about timing. Do you leave enough time to get to the airport? Tina always recommends being at the airport two hours prior for domestic flights, three hours for international flights.

Parking is challenging so plan ahead. You might need to park in an area with a shuttle. Allow time!

To check in, you have to get through security. Make sure you leave enough time to get through security without feeling anxious because you’re running late. Be prepared for when it’s your turn. Breathe and be patient.

Your worst nightmare is to arrive late at the airport and miss your flight. Imagine how you would feel if you’re finally going on your bucket-list vacation or you have an important meeting for work and you suddenly realize what time it is. Plan ahead, allow for the timing and bring your patience with you.

Probably a good rule of thumb is always try to leave your house four hours prior to departure. There could be traffic. Probably will be traffic. Just get going!

For more (and current) Asheville Regional Airport info, go to flyavl.com

Growth Is Coming To An Airport Near You

When we were suddenly in lockdown in March, 2020, and all travel stopped, Tina Kinsey, Vice-President of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport and Marilyn Ball began a 10-minute segment each week on Speaking of Travel to talk about what was happening at the airport.

An airport can never close but no one could travel. It was actually pretty historic to learn each week what the airport, and the aviation industry around the world, was doing in real time.

Over time, (2+) years, we've tried to keep folks tuned in to how the airline and aviation industries continue to change and how that all relates to where we are today.

Now we're beginning to talk about the record growth happening right now (3rd largest airport in NC), what's unfolding for future growth and what we, the passengers going in and out of this airport, can expect over the next few years as the new terminal, runways and parking facilities are being built.

This includes road construction, overcrowded parking lots, maybe a delay, even a cancelation. So what are we, as a community, going to do about it? Our future growth is going to take time. When all this is completed, along with the new roads, there's no going back. It's going to be an amazing airport.

The airport staff is doing what they can to make sure you, the passengers, are taken care of. So how can we, in turn, be our best selves when we travel knowing there are challenges ahead?

Visit speakingoftravel.net/traveltips. And listen to Speaking of Travel for continued updates throughout the year so you can be the most savvy traveler

For more (and current) Asheville Regional Airport info, go to flyavl.com

Airports Are Addressing Growth In The Industry

With all that’s being reported about summer travel woes, there are really a lot of people traveling.

Some are scouting, some are chilling, some are pilgriming. The annual world airport traffic forecast predicts that flight passenger traffic growth will continue to rise at a consistent, average rate of 4.5% year after year.

Industry figures suggest that this could mean annual passenger numbers reach 10.9 billion international travelers and 11.3 billion domestic passengers by 2040.

To get some perspective on airport solutions into meeting rising passenger traffic is Tina Kinsey, the Director of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport.

Remaining Mindful To Health-Related Issues At Airports

As more and more people are stepping out and traveling again, it’s easy to feel we’ve come a long way and there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. But we have to remain mindful about taking measures like wearing a mask, sanitizing and washing your hands frequently and social distancing where possible.

Airports are making concerted efforts to reduce our risk in the airport environment  and they’re employing a whole range of different risk-mitigation strategies, for passengers, for employees, for their concessionaires, the contractors, and visitors.

Collectively these efforts are playing an important role in providing layers of protection to ensure the safety and well-being of their customers and team members.

Raising awareness about the environment of airlines and airports is so important today and it’s crucial we all remain mindful to health-related issues concerning airports and airlines.

Are You Ready To Explore This Summer?

There’s some good news if you’re looking to get on a plane and travel nonstop to your destination or jump off to a vacation destination like a national or state park offering you a lot more outdoor recreation. 

Airlines are trying new things as travelers have been itching to get out. After being cooped up, more and more people are definitely looking forward to getting out again.

And so the airlines are offering up some new, and sometimes unconventional domestic routes as they try to capitalize on the huge pent-up demand for leisure travel.

For many airports, including the Asheville Regional Airport, travelers will be able to choose from many new nonstop flights, the most the airport has ever had. There’s a lot of good news on the horizon for the return of flights and growth.

Join Tina Kinsey, Director of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport to fill us in on the many nonstop options on the schedule.

Safety First At The Asheville Regional Airport

If the winter has you dreaming of putting your toes in the sand, you’re not alone. Over 70% of Americans say this miss traveling. The good news is it’s never too early to start preemptive vacation planning. And that means checking out the airlines and what’s going today.

And the same is true for airports. If all airports provide the same basic service, how is it that some seem to get the recipe just right?  What makes those airports so good?

In the case of The Asheville Regional Airport, their team is committed to following all current best practices to protect travelers coming in and out of Western North Carolina.

And they’re doing their part to continue educating us about what to expect so we can all travel smarter in these ever-changing times. And when we work together, we can all feel safer in our travel journeys.

Joining me with some current national and local updates is Tina Kinsey, Director of Marketing, PR and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport.

Get To The Airport In Ample Time

Get Yourself To The Airport With Time To Spare

Travelers contact Tina Kinsey at the Asheville Regional Airport all the time wondering how early they should arrive at the airport for their flight.

She is always solid in letting them know to arrive two hours prior for domestic flights and three hours prior if flying internationally. 

It’s important to allow time for all the steps involved in getting to your flight, including:

• Possible traffic on the way to the airport

• Finding a parking spot

• Checking in at the ticket counter and checking luggage

• Going through security

• Making your way to the gate

We all know how easy it is for our anxiety levels to spike when time is running short and there still are a few of these steps on the list. Tina strongly urges us to leave ample time so the trip will start smoothly.

For more information about Asheville Regional Airport, including answers to many Frequently Asked Questions, visit flyavl.co

Stay Healthy When Flying

Avoid Getting Sick When Traveling

Tina Kinsey with the Asheville Regional Airport has a travel tip for you.

During cold and flu season, it is important to take extra precautions to keep yourself healthy while traveling. A few things she likes to do, especially when she flies during cold and flu season, are:

• Carry sanitizing wipes. These are great for cleaning tray tables, arm rests, seat belt buckles, and even remote controls in hotel rooms. 

• Take extra care to wash your hands often and avoid touching your face.

• Stay hydrated and avoid alcoholic beverages when flying.

• Load up on Vitamin C before a trip.

Be vigilant and you can prevent illness from ruining your trip. For more information about the Asheville Regional Airport, including answers to many Frequently Asked Questions, visit flyavl.com.

A More Relaxing Red Eye Experience

Get Some Relief When Taking The Red Eye

Have you ever taken the Red Eye flight? When you depart for home at about midnight (west coast time and past our bedtimes!) and arrive home early in the morning. 

Anytime you take the Red Eye, you can expect sleep to be difficult.  Planes are not completely dark, and there are always sounds, like dings, people talking, announcements. Ugh!

Here are some great tips from Tina Kinsey at the Asheville Regional Airport, who has had this experience many times.

She suggests you pack an eye mask (super inexpensive) to block light.  And then download a meditation soundtrack on Spotify, which she plays through her earphones the whole way home. 

Tina says the meditation sounds lull her to sleep and create a great buffer to the sounds in the plane so she was relatively rested when she landed.

Thanks Tina and sweet dreams!

 Find out more!

Tina Kinsey
Asheville Regional Airport
Dir. of Marketing, PR & Air Service Development

Check Out Multi-City Itineraries

Check Out One-Way, Multi-Airline Itineraries

Have you been in a position where you need to travel back-to-back to several different cities?

Maybe you have a meeting in Chicago, and then another meeting in Denver the next day. Of course, you want to fly from home to Chicago, and then straight to Denver before flying home again.

Instead of just purchasing a series of one-way tickets, check out the multi-city itinerary option when you book your trip. 

Choose this option, rather than “round trip” or “one way” when booking. Often, the price is similar to one round-trip ticket (if there is just one additional leg to the journey), and booking is simple.

 Find out more!

Tina Kinsey
Asheville Regional Airport
Dir. of Marketing, PR & Air Service Development

A Solid Idea

Have You Ever Considered Solids?

With the 3-1-1 liquid rules for carry-on bags, or the fear of spills inside a checked bag, it’s always a challenge to get that toiletry bag ready for a trip.

Why not consider solids? Yes, you can purchase just about all of your toiletries in solid form. 

This includes soap, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, sunscreen, insect repellant, and even toothpaste.

These items are small and lightweight and can last months at a time. 

What a “solid” idea!

 Find out more!

Tina Kinsey
Asheville Regional Airport
Dir. of Marketing, PR & Air Service Development

Consider Traveling Outside Peak Season

Shoulder Season Can Come With Great Benefits

Everything has a season, including travel. When considering a destination, find out when the peak travel times are for that area.

If you have flexibility, consider traveling just outside of the peak times.  This “adjacent to peak” is called a “shoulder season.”

Shoulder season travel comes with many benefits: 

1.     Mild weather (usually)

2.    Lower prices for accommodations, airline tickets and attractions

3.    Fewer people, smaller crowds

Every destination is unique. A simple web search should give you an idea of the peak travel months and then you can adjust from there.

Find out more!

Tina Kinsey
Asheville Regional Airport
Dir. of Marketing, PR & Air Service Development

Invest In A Luggage Strap

Don’t Be Caught By A Broken Piece Of Luggage

You’ve packed your bag and checked it for your trip. You head to baggage claim to pick up your suitcase and see it drop onto the belt. The suitcase is broken and your clothes are spilling out. Ugh!

While not the normal scenario, luggage mishaps can happen. What can you do?

Maybe just think ahead a little. Luggage straps are made for these types of issues. These straps are inexpensive and easy to tuck into your carry-on for a little bit of insurance.

Find out more!

Tina Kinsey
Asheville Regional Airport
Dir. of Marketing, PR & Air Service Development

Take A Little Extra Battery Power With You

A Portable Charger is One of the BEST Travel Accessories

A battery charger is a must-have when you travel! You just plug it in before you leave for your trip until it’s fully charged and then pop it into your purse or carry-on bag. 

When your phone or tablet starts to deplete, it doesn’t matter where you are – you can plug in to the portable charger and get going again. I love having the security of not running out of juice!

And now you can find a really cool product called Fuel Rod. They’re available in several vending locations at the Asheville Regional Airport.

For just $20, you can buy a charger with all the necessary adapters and USB cord.

And the good news is that you can recharge it yourself for reuse, or exchange it for a fully charged unit at any Fuel Rod dispenser at airports across North America.

 Find out more!

Tina Kinsey
Asheville Regional Airport
Dir. of Marketing, PR & Air Service Development