With summer quickly approaching and people starting to plan their traveling for the three-month vacations from school, here are a few tips to not only help you make the best of your traveling experience but to also keep everyone around you sane:
Tip 1: Be on time.
If you miss your flight because you were stuck in the line to check bags or going through security it is your fault. Flights normally start to board about thirty minutes early depending on the size of the plane. If you are only carrying a carry-on, then you should plan on being at the airport for at least twenty minutes to get through security depending on the airport. Some airports are better at security than others which mean that if you are not sure how that specific airport organizes their security then get there at least 30 minutes before your boarding time. If you are checking a bag give at least another 30 minutes. If it is not a busy travel day, getting to the airport an hour before your boarding time is a good idea.
Tip 2: Weigh your bag before you get to the airport.
Okay, we have all done it. You get to the airport and they weigh your bag and you are a pound over the limit. At that moment, you have the choice to either pay the ridiculous fee or scramble to take stuff out of your suitcase and put it in your carry-on. If you weigh your bag before you even get the airport you will avoid this whole mess and everyone behind you in line will be thankful.
Tip 3: Dress appropriately.
Unless you are TSA pre-checked do not wear clothes that are hard to take off. By this, I mean, wear shoes that slip on, doesn't wear too many layers and avoid anything with too much metal in it. Personally, I recommend that you avoid pockets. This way there is no chance for you to have loose change and random stuff in your pockets. Lastly, you are at the airport do not wear a lot of jewelry.
Tip 4: Pack your carry-on appropriately.
Nutella is a paste and cannot be brought onto the plane. If you have a suitcase that is being checked, put all your liquids in there. But if you do not, make sure they are all in a zip lock bag and all under 3 oz. Also, make sure this bag is easy to get to because you will have to take it out of your bag. Same with laptops! Make sure this stuff is all easy to take out of your bag.
Tip 5: Be patient
Everyone has somewhere to be and most people do not like to spend their whole day stuck in an airport. If things go wrong during the day the best way to deal with it is to not get worked up but to stay calm and polite. Airport workers see a lot of angry people every day and what I have learned from experience is that people are much more likely to help you if you are nice to them (DUH). Also, there will be people who are not “good” at traveling, do not get worked up over the fact that they are making you late.
Traveling can be stressful, especially if you are a person who does not leave their house often. Hopefully, these tips can make everything just a little bit easier and less painful.
