Page 32 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

30  VISITING THE USA

Travel by Air The least expensive fares are
the APEX (Advance Purchase
The United States is a nation on the move, with a huge Excursion) tickets for scheduled
number of airlines that fly both within the country and all airlines. These must be bought
around the world. While international travel is offered by US 21 days in advance and are
airlines as well as by hundreds of airlines in other countries, valid for a 7- to 30-day period.
However, any changes that
domestic travel is limited to airlines based in the United need to be made can cost an
States. Because the country is so enormous, and competition additional fee. Some airlines
has reduced prices considerably, air travel has become an also offer cheaper fares if you
integral part of life. Today, most long-distance and medium- limit your stay to a certain
distance domestic travel is by plane. period of time. Senior citizens
and children may receive
discounts on certain flights.
These tickets are not always
Flying to the US
Flights from Asia arrive at the available, though. Another
Most large foreign cities have West Coast airports. These option is the short-term Internet
several daily flights to a number flights, as well as flights from fares advertised by airlines if
of US cities, especially primary Australia, take between 11 and there are any available seats.
gateways to the East Coast, 12 hours. These are valid within a few
the West Coast, and through- days of the announcement
out the Midwest. The main Keeping Costs Down (fares may be announced on a
East Coast cities include New Wednesday for traveling that
York, Boston, Wash ington, DC, Air fares fluctuate in the US weekend and returning the
Atlanta, and Miami; Chicago, depending on the season, next weekend).
St. Louis, Houston, Dallas, and sometimes doubling during
Denver serve as main cities in the peak holiday periods,
the central region; and the especially in summer, and Arrival at the Airport
West Coast is served by Los around Thanksgiving and All international and US visitors
Angeles, San Francisco, $20 Christmas. Fares are usually less must go through customs and
and Seattle. expensive between February immigration when they arrive
Most international flights and March, when round-trip in the US (see p21). All major
from Europe travel across the transatlantic flights can cost airports have multilingual
Atlantic to New York, Washington, significantly less. You often information booths to answer
DC, Miami, Boston, and Chicago, get a better deal, too, by your questions and give details
taking roughly seven hours. flying mid week. on transportation into the city.
Most international airports are
well connected to the nearest
Time Zones across the United States
city either by public transport-
The United States covers six different times zones – the “Lower 48” ation or the vast array of rental
states are divided into Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time, car facilities. Many rentals supply
while Alaska and Hawai‘i have their own zones. The zones are divided shuttle buses to car pickup points,
into one-hour increments. For instance, when it is 8pm in New York, usually located just out side the
it is 7pm in Chicago, 6pm in Denver, 5pm in Los Angeles, 4pm in airport. Major air lines are
Anchorage, and 3pm in Honolulu. connected to count less domestic
Eastern Time is five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, and airline services, and all have
Hawai‘i is 11 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. With a few facilities for disabled pas s engers.
variations, the United States observes Daylight Savings Time Still, it is a good idea to pre-
between mid-March and early November.
arrange any necessary services
through your airline or agent.
Security
After the September 11, 2001
Pacific terrorist attacks, airport author-
Time
ities tightened their pre-flight
security checks (especially for
Mountain Central Time Eastern Time domestic flights). International
Time visitors should expect to be
frisked thor oughly and have
their hand luggage examined.
Items such as battery cells,
scissors, nail files, knitting needles,
sharp objects, and containers

030-031_EW_USA.indd 30 11/2/16 2:43 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm