Cold and flu season make it more important than ever for travelers to be proactive. While Grandma’s advice to get plenty of rest and fluids still applies, it takes more to beat the odds. Before your departure overseas, consult your doctor for updates on infectious diseases of the region into which you’re traveling. The CDC is a great resource for updates. The World Health Organization also has detailed information on pandemic vaccines and international health issues. They both recommend to not only wipe your hands often with antibacterial wipes or sanitizers, but use sanitizers to clean anything from your airplane seat to your taxi interior to your hotel room.

After the recent cases of Swine Flu, some international airlines have new policies preventing passengers from even boarding who exhibit flu symptoms. China and Japan have been known to hold passengers in quarantine if another traveler onboard exhibits illness while in the air.

The lowest level of inconvenience is delay. Airlines have tracking systems, and 98 percent of all misplaced luggage is ultimately located, typically on the next flight. If you can’t wait the few hours, give the baggage attendant a phone number of your hotel or home address. Many airlines deliver your luggage when it is found. Some even reimburse costs of items purchased because of the delay when adequate receipts are presented. Make sure to obtain the proper phone number to obtain status updates on locating your missing luggage.

It's hard for inconvenience to not escalate into aggravation in the rare cases when your luggage is actually lost. Airlines often use different forms for “lost luggage” than for “missing luggage.” Make sure you get a receipt documenting the loss. Domestic flights cap loss at $3,300 while international flights vary depending on international treaties. You can check your carrier’s website in advance, but why aggravate yourself in advance.

Travel insurance provides additional indemnification for missing and lost luggage.

Often the best strategy is as simple as being friendly to the agent making decisions who gets bumped up into first class. Other times, dressing well is all it takes to score the much sought after upgrade. A business suit trumps torn jeans.

There are great differences in coach as well. Check out a plane’s schematic, which are typically available online. Sitting too close to the bathroom guaranties a non-stop parade of traffic. Try reserving the seats in an exit row. Our research has shown that some exit rows offer as much as 6 inches more leg room than other coach aisles.

Another great tip is to familiarize yourself with the differences of plane body types. SeatExpert.com and SeatGuru.com offer useful information about seat types and floorplans that are helpful guides to your best choices.

Frequent Flier programs can give you the advantage to those who accumulate enough use in their programs, particularly when flying mostly within one airline. This is the quickest route to upgrades.

New passport rules move ahead with only a few hiccups. While stricter identification is now required for Americans returning from Mexico and Canada, immigration officials may still allow travelers through with a passport or official identification. This will not last. Be careful. One of our travelers did report a problem with her minor child. The regulations state that children under the age of 16 only have to present a birth certificate.

Security rules for land and sea border crossings now require U.S. citizens to present a passport, passport card or enhanced driver's license with microchip I.D. information. Regular business crossers often face background checks, which can generally be reproduced for future crossings.

These new rules under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative were scheduled to go into effect in 2008, but were delayed a year. Air travel re-entry requirements went into effect in 2007.

Delays from these regulations are rare. Customs and Border Protection agencies report that nearly 100 percent of the people crossing borders into the U.S. after midnight carry the required documents.