Travel during wartime

Since the war with Iraq has begun, TripAdvisor has heard from many travelers who have questions about travel safety and airline policy changes, so we've put together answers to frequently-asked questions and gathered several helpful links. We hope you find this information useful; we will do our best to keep it updated as events progress in Iraq.

My tickets are nonrefundable. What does that mean?
In general, nonrefundable means that if you change your mind and want to cancel your trip, you can't get your money back. You may be able to reschedule your trip for another time, although you will probably have to pay a penalty to do this. Always check with your airline to find out their exact policy.

Are airlines or booking websites making any special accommodations for travelers who are having second thoughts?
Yes. Many of them are loosening restrictions or eliminating fees if you want to change your plans. For your convenience, we have listed airline websites and telephone numbers and links to major booking sites; check with your carrier or with the site where you booked your tickets to find out their latest policy.

If I buy travel insurance, will I be able to get my money back if I decide I don't want to go because of the war?
Always, always read the fine print on a travel insurance policy. Most do not cover changes in plans due to a traveler's change of heart-- usually you will need to meet one of a list of specific criteria in order to obtain a refund. TripAdvisor checked a few policies from popular insurers, and the U.S.'s being at war was not listed among the refund criteria for any of them. If your concern is the war, we would not advise buying insurance now unless the insurer specifically states that war is an acceptable reason to receive a refund.

Are the State Department's travel advisories available online?
Yes. Visit this site.

Are there any new safety policies in effect at airports?
Check the Transportation Security Administration's website for the latest information.

Now that all bags are subject to inspection, is there anything special I can do while packing to make this go more smoothly?

• If you ever wanted a motivation to pack neatly and not take too much stuff, this might be it. We'd recommend packing as if someone is going to be looking through your luggage by hand. Don't cram as much stuff as possible into a bag-- it will be difficult for the inspector to put it back the way you had it.



• If you're bringing a gift, plan to wrap it after you arrive at your destination. Inspectors will unwrap anything they need to.



• The TSA website does not advise packing film in checked bags. The new, more powerful X-ray equipment may damage it. A TripAdvisor tip: if you want to be certain your film isn't damaged, consider buying your film at your destination and having it developed before you head home. This may be more expensive (particularly abroad), but it's definitely worth looking into.



• Also, you might want to consider not locking bags you are planning to check. These bags are subject to manual inspection, which means the inspector may have to break the lock in order to access the contents. According to the TSA website, if an inspector does go through your bag, they will place a tamper-evident seal on it.



• If you want to save time at the airport, make sure you can remove your shoes easily. Also make sure your laptop is easy to access and that you have a charged battery or a power cord, as you may need to turn it on.



• A list of items permitted and prohibited in luggage is available in PDF format or Microsoft Word format.

Can I find out the address of the U.S. Embassy in the country I'm planning to visit?
That is a very good idea-- if there is an emergency situation in the country you're visiting, the U.S. Embassy will assist U.S. citizens. Embassies are listed here.

Airline websites and telephone numbers

Aer Lingus
Website
Telephone: 1-800-IRISH-AIR

Air Canada
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-888-247-2262

Air France
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-237-2747

Air New Zealand
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-262-1234

Al Italia
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-223-5730

American Airlines
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-433-7300

British Airways
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-AIRWAYS

Continental Airlines
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-525-0280, 1-800-932-2732

Delta Airlines
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-221-1212

Iberia Airlines
Website
Telephone: 1-800-772-4642

JetBlue
Website
Telephone: 1-800-538-2583, 1-801-944-4840

KLM Airlines
Website

Lufthansa
Website
Current events information (PDF format)
Telephone: 1-800-645-3880

Northwest Airlines
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-225-2525, 612-726-2046

Olympic Airways
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-223-1226

Quantas
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-227-4500

SAS Airlines
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 800-221-2350

Southwest Airlines
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-435-9792, 1-214-792-4223

SN Brussels Airlines
Website
Current events information

United Air Lines
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-864-8331, 1-877-228-1327

US Airways
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-428-4322

Virgin Atlantic
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 800-862-8621

Major travel booking sites

Expedia
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-800-EXPEDIA

Orbitz
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-888-656-4546

Travelocity
Website
Current events information
Telephone: 1-888-709-5983