Air Travel Survival Trips

It's not just your luggage that you have to worry about. These days, air travel can be really stressful, what with long lines, crowds of people, flight delays and security checks. Here are some simple but effective ways of dealing with holiday travel that will allow you to survive gracefully and arrive at your destination (almost) stress-free.

Know the Rules

Before you even leave the house, the number one way to reduce holiday travel headaches is to plan ahead. Because rules and restrictions vary from one airline to another, check with your travel agent or the airline for a list of dos and don'ts including the size of carry-on bags, the number of pieces of luggage, the weight capacity of each suitcase, etc.

Ensure that nothing in your checked in luggage is carrying prohibited liquids such as lighter fluid or realistic-looking toy guns.

Be Flight Ready

Check in online 24 hours prior to your flight.

Print out your boarding pass before going to the airport.

Check online for any flight or weather delays about two to four hours before leaving for the airport. If you have a mobile phone, you can sign up for flight updates so you'll be notified of any last-minute changes or delays.

Be Prepared for Security Checks

Make sure that your carry-on luggage does not include anything that is going to get confiscated or ring alarm bells when going through security checks. And ladies, don't be like me and forget that your purse also has to go through security.

Use exterior pockets of your carry-on to keep your passport, boarding pass, ID, etc. handy.

If you can't shop for gifts and mail them ahead of time, plan on packing them into any suitcase you will be checking in. Should you need to take them with you in your carry-on, don't wrap them.


- E.L.