Surviving Air Travel Part 2

In a previous post, we covered these 5 tips for surviving air travel: When possible, travel early in the day; Book off-peak travel days; Give yourself a time buffer; Stay away from tight connections and arrive to the airport/gate early.

Today we'll look at 5 more tips to help you survive air travel...

  • Download the app - Always download the airline's app! From my experience, I normally get notifications of cancellations, delays and gate changes on the airline app BEFORE any announcements are made. This can give you a head start when changes are needed. Even if you don't normally fly that particular airline, still download the app. You can always delete it when you return home.
  • If your flight is cancelled or delayed, avoid the customer service line - When things go wrong, don't wait in those long lines with everyone else. Use your phone to call the airline's helplines or search online for options. Also try speaking with the gate agents...politely. They can be very helpful.
  • Pack snacks - I have to admit, I forget this one more often than not. With the cost of airport food options and the chance everything might not go smoothly, it helps to have a few snacks in your backpack. Also, consider packing a reusable water bottle you can fill AFTER you clear TSA security.
  • Dress for the journey, not the destination - I don't know about you, but I tend to get cold on the plane. Oh heck, I'm always cold indoors! As a result, I normally wear long pants and long sleeves when flying no matter where I'm headed. Layers are also a good idea as planes can be hot or cold, irregardless of the temps outside.
  • Consider whether  or not checked bags are necessary - This is one I really need to work on, especially the next time we go to Europe. Lugging big suitcases on and off trains and busses is not the most fun thing to do. Not only are carry-ons easier to deal with, you also don't run the risk of the airlines losing your luggage. If you do check bags, I strongly encourage investing in Apple Tags. If they lose your luggage, at least you'll know where it is!

Hopefully these 10 tips will help take a little of the stress how of flying!

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