Personal experience: We were just coming through the door of the Los Angeles airport when two uniformed guys and their dogs went scurrying past us. They stopped just a few feet away where there were three suitcases standing alone on the floor.

After the dogs sniffed around, the guys picked up the suitcases and disappeared up the escalator. Less than a minute later, a woman rushed over and begain frantically looking around. She asked us what had happened to her luggage, and we told her what we had seen. In tears she said she had left her bags there just to ask a question at the counter.

The end of the story is that she had to go to the airport security office to reclaim her bags. Of course, that was after the guards had totally inspected everything inside, and possibly made her miss her flight.

We can’t fault the security guys from doing their jobs, but it should teach the woman and all others a lesson. No matter where you are in the airport area, don’t ever leave your baggage unattended.

Did you have to work during a recent holiday or personal vacation day? The boss insisted you were needed, so as a loyal employee, you gave away your free time to get it done right and on schedule.

However, were you required do it several times this year so far? And, as previously, will you find at the end of the year that those vacation days are lost and there’s no compensation nor carry-over to next year. If that’s your case, get smart!

Before you agree to do that extra assignment for the job either at work or at home, negotiate to get fair payment or make-up vacation days. According to a CNN Money report, last year French workers got 37 vacation days, and used 35. In England it was 28 days off with 25 actually taken. The average American worker earned a mere 18 vacation days last year, but only used 14.

If those stats were computed as four days’ income, the American worker’s loss averaged about $500. This could be money for a family travel weekend vacation to a beach resort, a mountain camping trip or several backyard leisure day barbecues.

Next time you’re required to work on holidays or vacation days, be sure you get compensated for them!

Q: After many years working near home, this season my job will require a lot of traveling. I look forward to seeing new places, but am concerned about hotels. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about dirty and unsafe hotel rooms. What can I do to ease my fears?

Jeanne K., Milwaukee WI

A: Personal security should be your first priority, and a few simple precautions will keep you safe in your hotel. Don’t ride elevators alone nor go to the hotel garage after midnight. Ask a hotel guard to go with you.

Don’t open your hotel room door for anyone you don’t know. If it’s a hotel employee outside, phone check with the front desk before you let anyone in. When in the room, lock the door both with the bolt and security bar. If you don’t want the maid to come in, always hang the DO NOT DISTURB sign outside your door.

When going into your room, note the sign showing emergency exits. Also check to be sure the smoke detector is operating.

For cleanliness, if your room doesn’t look absolutely clean when you enter, call the desk and demand another one. Even with clean rooms, some frequent travelers carry small cans of Lysol or other disinfectant to spray all bathroom fixtures.

Good luck in your new job!

When traveling with your small child or grandchild, there can be a problem when the strain and lack of rest gets to be too much. Your distress and that of other passengers can happen when there’s uncontrolled crying.

When a similar incident occurred recently on a JetBlue plane awaiting take-off, the captain decided to kick the baby’s family off the plane. Whether you agree with that or not, it has happened before and will again. If you fear it may involve your crying child on a future flight, what can you do to prevent it?

Here are a few suggestions.

Try to keep the child’s eating and sleeping times as close to usual as possible. By booking a red eye flight, find ways to let the child sleep through it. Take alon comfortable kid night clothes and a familiar blanket.

Bring playthings, such as favorite dolls, toys, simple sound and sight electronics with earphones. Try to keep the activities as similar as possible to the child’s normal routine.

Be considerate of other passengers, especially if you’re in the crowded main cabin on your flight. When changing diapers, do it as soon as necessary, and if possible, in a bathroom. When your child cries and fussing continue for more than a few moments, go to a bathroom or rear of the plane until there is quiet.