Important things to remember when travelling
Make sure that you do your check in online before departure, this will help you get a good seat and there is much less chance of being off-loaded if the flight is overbooked. It normally opens within 24 hours of each flight departure time and can close up to 3 hours before departure.
Take a photo of your bag with your phone so you can easily give a description if lost and it shows what it looked like before the trip in case there is damage caused by the airline.
Check your baggage to make sure it has not been tampered with before leaving the airport so you can report it to the airline in order to claim from them and/or from your insurance company if damaged or there is anything missing. Keep in mind they can open it, take things out and close it again.
If you bags is not there you have the right to demand first needs compensation to buy necessities. They will not offer this, you have to ask for it. You cannot claim for this later.
There are new regulations from 01 June 2015 for children under 18 travelling into or out of South Africa. This only applies to international flights, not domestic flights between points in South Africa. They need to have their original, computer issued, unabridged birth certificate with them. Copies and hand written certificates are not accepted. If you don’t have one for you children apply now.
Make a copy of your passport and keep it in your main luggage in the hold, you can’t travel on the copy but it will make it easier to get a replacement.
Keep your chronic medication in your hand luggage and not in the bag which goes in the hold in case it gets lost. Take copies of your prescription with you.
In your hand luggage you may only have liquids and gels in containers of less than 100ml and a max of 10 in total. You should keep them together in a zip lock bag max 1 litre capacity.
I hope these suggestions will prove helpful but it is always best to book with an experienced travel consultant.