Traveling with the Flu...

...While this isn't necessarily a good idea, if you absolutely have to travel while ill, please make use of these CDC tips to facilitate keeping your germs your's and not your traveling neighbor's!

First, if you have to sneeze of cough, cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or use the crook of your elbow in order to contain the cough or sneeze. Second, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible.

If you don't have a tissue handy or forget to cover your mouth or you've touched your eyes, nose or mouth; be sure to wash your hands, as soon as your able, with soap and water. Don't forget to wash the backs of your hands as well! Hand sanitizer while great for killing germs doesn't remove residue or dirt from your hands.

If you can avoid traveling while sick, it might be a better idea to stay home, rest up and recuperate!

Double Check your Flight Number

As the Delta and Northwest merger of business operations goes on, travelers flying one of the airlines will continue to experience changes. The latest is the announcement that Delta is going to begin changing every Northwest flight number.

Beginning November 1, 2009 fliers departing on Northwest domestically will see their flights change and on October 24, 2009 international travelers on Northwest flights should make note of changed flight numbers.

Northwest’s international flights will be in the range of 250 and 349. Domestic flights will be set-up in two ranges: all DC-9 operated flights will fall in the 7000-7999 range, while all other domestic flights will be between 2000 - 2999.

For more information on these upcoming changes to flight numbers, visit here, or contact Delta. Delta has posted FAQ on how the merger will continue to affect customers.

9/11 Remembered...

Today is one of those days of memoriam where you stop and remember lives that were needlessly lost to a series of unfathomable events. But, none the less, these lives are remembered for their sacrifice and simply because they were loved and cherished. Our continued condolences to those family members, friends and others who were intimately affected by 9/11.

September 11, 2001 radically changed the landscape of industry and thinking in this country. Aspects of our lives we'd normally take for granted - hopping on a plane, going to work, kissing a spouse goodbye in the morning - would forever be changed in a matter of seconds for thousands of people. Eight years ago today will be forever etched in the minds of the American population. Many of us old enough to remember, can recollect the horrific scenes which were broadcast on every network for the hours, weeks and days following.

While its coming up on a decade since those tragic events in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania, for some the memory is as fresh as today. I, the author of this post, remember sitting in a college classroom when I and my classmates received word. Our professor turned on the television and we all sat dumbstruck, many in tears, as we watched the news reports and the incident unfold.

Where were you when you first heard the news?

What did you do this summer?

Remember when you had to write your obligatory essay on your summer vacation upon returning to school for the first week of classes? Well, we are not about to ask you to submit a 2-page, front and back, on college-ruled paper essay, but we would love to hear about your summer travels!

Whether you're a leisure or business traveler, there's something bittersweet about the end of the summer travel season being on the not-t0-distant horizon. You realize that now that the kids are back in school, the weather's cooling down, and we're starting the countdown to how many shopping days we have until Christmas; that the carefree days at in the surf at the beach or on that steep hiking trail in the Appalachians are drawing to a close for this year. Did you find a new place to travel to this year that has a special place in your heart? If so, where was it and what was it about that particular destination that has your mind lingering there?

With summer travel comes congestion; on the roadways, at airports, even at your favorite tourist attractions. Did you discover or create helpful hints to avoid traffic jams, make the delays fly by, or dodge the sweaty crowds at the amusement parks and concerts?

Or, maybe you didn't travel far this year. Perhaps you stayed home and enjoyed local amusements and venues. We're sure many of you have found what you consider to be the best-kept secret of your community! What was it? How and where do others in your locale find it?

All-in-all, while summer has a little less than two weeks before we bid her adieu, we can certainly take pause and remember fondly the fun, new travel memories we collected this summer!

Be prepared! Fun is upon you!

Shhh! Can you keep a secret? We're going to let you in on a tidbit of information. HIA has some upcoming fun and exciting news regarding Fort Lauderdale, AirTran and freebies! That's right, we're partnering with low-fare airline, AirTran Airways and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau to bring you some fun and exciting prizes and giveaways over the next eight weeks.

Be prepared for fun-in-the-sun antics at the upcoming Harrisburg Kipona Festival. It involves scuba gear and "beachy" tourists! Followed, shortly there after by an announcement in the coming days of a very exciting beach-themed giveaway! Do you want to be amongst the first to receive the giveaway info? Then sign-up today for the fly HIA e-news!

Stay tuned to www.flyHIA.com/FLL for more information!

Summer Traveling!

We're in the midst of the busy travel season, the time right before Labor Day unofficially closes out summer and the kids head back to school.

Looking for some last minute ideas on where to travel to? The 6 airlines serving HIA have daily nonstops to: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago - O'Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington - Dulles. Not seeing the ideal vacation destination in that list, why not connect? There are 100s of connections available over any of those 13 cities on the airlines serving HIA.

Everyone knows that HIA is convenient. But thanks to offerings like AirTran Airways’ daily low fares and nonstop flights to Orlando and Atlanta, fares to most destinations are as affordable as ever. In fact, the average airfare across most destinations from MDT in 2009 is down by nearly 15%!

Fort Lauderdale Fun

Dear wearied traveler, you look like you need a vacation. Have you considered the sun and fun of Fort Lauderdale, Florida? Beginning November 5, AirTran Airways will serve Fort Lauderdale nonstop from Harrisburg International Airport (HIA)!

You can fancy yourself a boater, beach comber, sailor, golfer, shopper, swimmer, and more while on vacation in Fort Lauderdale (FLL). This dynamic city offers beaches, hotels, restaurants, attractions, events, and much more. Sign-up to receive a free visitor's guide.

To put you in the beach-trip planning mode, why not add some of the following "summery" tunes to your MP3 playlist? Recommendations, courtesy of the Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors' Bureau.

• The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun
• Sheryl Crow - Soak Up the Sun
• Katrina & The Waves - Walking on Sunshine
• Stevie Wonder - You are the Sunshine of My life
• The Eagles - Tequila Sunrise
• The Kinks - Sunny Afternoon
• Smashmouth - Walking on the Sun
• Beach Boys - Keepin' the Summer Alive
• Celine Dion - Sunshine in the Heart
• George Michael - Ray of Sunshine
• Don Henley - Boys of Summer
• ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses

E-mail us for a free parking offer from HIA, good for the FLL flights on AirTran departing during the month of November 2009! So, why wait? Book your trip today and escape the cold weather months with a warm weather trip to the beaches of Fort Lauderdale!

What is MDT?

When you book a flight to or from HIA, you will notice that our Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) booking code is MDT. That stands for Middletown, PA – where HIA is physically located. But that’s not the whole story: MDT also stands for the Money, Distance, and Time you could save by flying out of HIA.

Everyone knows that HIA is convenient. But thanks to offerings like AirTran Airways’ daily low fares and nonstop flights to Orlando and Atlanta, fares to most destinations are as affordable as ever. In fact, the average airfare from MDT in 2009 is down by 15%!

Learn more about how you can save Money, Distance & Time. And enter to win the MDT Giveaway! If you win the giveaway, what destination will you fly to? Do you have an MDT savings experience to share?

Internetiquette for Inflight WiFi Users

Now that AirTran Airways is the first major airline to have WiFi available on their entired aircraft fleet, they have authored an Internetiquette manual for inflight wireless network usage. Tips range from discouraging the use of the lavatory as your personal conference room (tip #134) to encouraging you to meet your row mates (tip #127) for the purpose of being friendly, not so that you can search for them online!

What tips are missing? Do you have any thoughtful suggestions?

AirTran Airways serves Orlando (MCO) and Atlanta (ATL) from MDT with daily, nonstop service on 717 aircraft equipped with free WiFi!

Security Checkpoint 101

Departing travelers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requests that you use the following tips for making your security checkpoint process as efficient and comfortable as possible.

Pack Smart

• Pack your carry-on in organized layers


• If you can put your oversized electronics in your checked baggage, please do so


• Perpare you ONE quart-sized, clear, plastic zip-top bag of liquids before arriving at the airport


• Coats and jackets are recommended to be packed in checked baggage


• Do not wrap gifts


• Undeveloped film should go in your carry-on bag, so that 800-speed or higher can be declared to a TSA officer for hand inspection


• When it doubt, leave it out. Check it or leave it at home.

Dress the Part
The following items may set off the metal detector alarm.

• Keys


• Loose change


• Mobile phones and pagers


• Personal Data Assistants (PDAs)


• Heavy jewelry


• Clothing containing metal buttons, snaps or studs


• Metal hair barrettes or other hair adornments


• Belt buckles


• Under-wire bra


• Body piercings (which may cause you to require additional screening)
  *you may ask to privately remove the piercing to avoid a pat-down search

Head coverings and religious garmets may be worn during screening. If your head covering or clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting/large enough to conceal prohibited items you may be directed to additional screening.

Shoes, need to be removed before you enter the walk-through metal detector.

Have the Following Ready

• Boarding Pass


• Acceptable for of ID
  *Click here to see the full list of acceptable forms of identification.

Hassle-Free Security Tips

• Arrive on time


• Wear slip-on shoes


• Remove pets from their carrying cases
  *Hold them as you pass through the metal detector


• Take children/infants out of their baby carriers/strollers
  *Take them through the metal detector with you


• Think before you speak

The full reporting of this information is available on the TSA's web site. HIA recommends reading through the For Travelers content on the site before departing for the airport. Knowledge is power, so "know before you go"!