Labor Day is more than just the unofficial end of summer. It is a day set aside to recognize the contributions, achievements, and hard work of American workers — and, just as importantly, an opportunity to step away from work for a little while and enjoy the people and things that matter most.
With Labor Day weekend fast approaching, you and I may both feel like summer has come and gone far too quickly. But here is the perfect opportunity to fire up the grill, visit with friends and family, build some memories, relax, and plan a little fun.
This is also the time of year when I like to send out one of my periodic checklists. Over the years, many of my family members, clients, and friends have found that taking a few minutes to review the things we tend to forget can save money, avoid aggravation, and help us plan ahead.
So, while you're enjoying Labor Day weekend, here is my Annual Labor Day Travel Checklist:
✓ Check everyone's passport expiration date.
Don't just check your own. Look at passports for your spouse, children, and anyone else in the family who may be traveling. Remember that some countries require your passport to remain valid for several months beyond your travel dates. Don't wait until you're ready to leave to discover a problem.
✓ Start planning future trips early.
If you know you're traveling for the holidays, winter break, spring break, a cruise, or a major family vacation, start looking now. Airfares, hotels, cruises, and the best accommodations don't necessarily get better when you wait.
✓ Check your frequent-flyer and hotel status.
Where do you stand for the year? Are you close to earning or renewing status? Are there trips you should consolidate with one airline or hotel program before year-end?
✓ Find out what is expiring.
Check airline miles, hotel points, credit-card benefits, travel credits, certificates, lounge memberships, upgrades, companion certificates, and other rewards. Some expire at year-end; others have completely different expiration dates.
✓ Don't forget your freebies!
This may be the most overlooked item. Check all those "free" benefits you've accumulated — free hotel nights, upgrades, airline credits, certificates, points, and promotional awards. I learned the hard way that expiration dates can sneak up on anyone — even me!
✓ Use ChatGPT to help you do an annual review.
Make a list of your airline programs, hotel programs, credit cards, memberships, points, certificates, and travel benefits. ChatGPT can help you organize what you have, identify the expiration rules you need to verify, and create a checklist so valuable benefits don't simply disappear.
✓ Consider annual travel insurance.
If you and your family travel several times a year, it may make sense to compare an annual travel insurance policy with purchasing coverage trip by trip. Allianz is one company worth considering, but compare the coverage carefully — particularly medical coverage, trip cancellation/interruption, baggage protection, exclusions, and whether your existing credit cards already provide some of these benefits.
Most importantly, enjoy the weekend. Labor Day is supposed to be a break from our everyday routines — a chance to appreciate the work we've done, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy what remains of summer.
Fire up the grill, make some memories, plan that next trip — and take ten minutes to make sure none of your hard-earned travel benefits are going to waste.
Have a safe, relaxing, and very happy Labor Day!
Joe Lipman
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