New rules apply

In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the most important thing any traveler can do before heading out on their next trip is to check with a travel agent about changing regulations.

"Travel has completely changed," said Ralph Parmalee of All Seasons Travel in Brockport, "and there will be more changes coming along."

For most western New Yorkers, taking a day trip to Niagara Falls, Canada or a weekend trip to Toronto was no big deal to arrange – no more difficult than a day in Syracuse or a weekend in Albany. But not any more.

Parmalee said that crossing the border into Canada and returning will now require a raised seal birth certificate and a photo identification. Even children must have two forms of identification.

In addition, grandparents or guardians taking children into Canada must have a notarized letter from the parents granting permission for the specific trip.

A passport is the best form of photo identification, Parmalee said, but for traveling to Canada, a driver’s license will suffice.

Peak traffic hours and holidays used to mean long delays crossing, but nothing compared to what visitors to Canada will now face. Parmalee said the border patrol is asking more questions of the driver and passengers in each vehicle, and searching more vehicles.

New procedures at airports have been widely publicized. Non-ticketed passengers can no longer accompany family and friends into the boarding area. There is no more curbside check-in and no more parking at the entrance to the airport. No more carry-ons, including purses, are allowed in the plane cabin.

Nancy Smith of Travel Designs in Brockport said she hasn’t had mass cancellations of vacation trips. Some clients, with trips scheduled during the next few weeks, have postponed their trips, waiting for things to settle back into some type of normalcy. "Most people have the attitude that they’re not going to cave in to the fear. That would be letting the terrorists win," she said.

Both agents said that e-ticket reservations may decline as result of travelers being stuck all over the world following the closing of all United States airports. Flyers learned the hard way that without a travel agent as an advocate it was harder to make alternative arrangements.

Overall, flyers can expect some inconvenience and longer check-in procedures, but Smith said, "Probably air travel will end up being safer than it’s ever been."