Air travel is full of headaches and hassles, but a few simple rules will make sure that your next flight is a smooth, hassle-free breeze.
Packing liquids
You’ll seriously slow down security if you don’t separate your liquids, aerosols, and gels from your items before you get to the plastic trays. Put all your travel-sized bottles that are less than 100 milliliters in one clear, plastic zip-top bag and place the bag on top of everything in your carry-on bag so you can easily grab it and unzip it without rooting through your belongings.
If you don’t follow this simple rule, you will be subjected to a much longer search by airport security and your pricey travel kit will likely be confiscated and tossed into the garbage.
Wrong shoes
If you’re wearing lace-up boots, strap-on sandals, or clunky shoes with metal buckles, you’ll be cursing your decision if you’re required to remove them at security. Wear comfy slip-on sneakers or loafers that you can easily kick off and slide back on in just seconds, without having to sit down or clog up the line.
There’s nothing worse than having to stand barefoot on an icy airport floor fumbling through knots of laces or stuck zippers.
Timing security
Relying solely on your previous experiences traveling to gauge when you need to be at the gate is playing Russian roulette with your flight. Airport traffic is unpredictable; it can come to a sudden halt because of staff shortages, a herd of tourist buses dumping people all at once, or a glitch in the computer system.
Always check your airport’s online wait-time trackers before leaving your home and try to arrive early so you can stroll to your gate.
Checking essentials
Do not put travel medication, glasses, car keys, money, cell phone or that laptop charger cord in your checked luggage. Checked bags can get delayed or even routed to another city by accident.
You do not want to get stuck without your daily necessities for days! Place these valuable items and anything you need to stay healthy in your small carry-on backpack or bag that you can store under the seat in front of you.
Ignoring boards
Flight gates can change as other flights get delayed, planes need mechanical repairs, or because of poor weather conditions. This means that the gate number you were given when you printed your boarding pass three hours ago may very well be incorrect.
Many airports are even moving towards silent terminals, where they no longer make gate announcements. So don’t assume you will hear an announcement. Check the departures board with your flight number right after you pass through security and immediately before boarding starts.
Short layovers
You may be able to find a flight with only 45 minutes to connect through another airport on Kayak, but that doesn’t mean you should book it. If your first flight is delayed even a few minutes while boarding or taxiing, you’ll be racing through the terminal to make your connection.
Try to allow at least 2 hours for connecting flights if they’re within the same country (longer if you’re changing airlines or have to re-check bags/customs).
Dressing wrong
Airplane cabins and airport terminals suffer from wild temperature fluctuations. Don’t wear bulky, thick layers that you can’t remove easily like a bulky winter coat, or rigid, constricting fabrics that limit your blood flow when sitting down for long periods of time, like skinny jeans.
Wear thin, breathable layers like a lightweight t-shirt, sweater, and a scarf that you can use as a pillow if your flight is delayed.
Dead devices
Bringing exclusively electronic boarding passes, cell phone hotel reservations, and GPS directions without keeping your smartphone charged is almost a certain travel nightmare waiting to happen.
Airlines and airports these days love sending you QR codes for everything from downloading entertainment on your flight to scanning at food booths at your gate. Charge up all of your devices ahead of time, pack a small portable charger in your pocket, and always have paper copies of your most essential documents as a backup.
Overpacking bags
Trying to cram as many items into your carry-on bag as humanly possible can end very poorly for you when you’re at the gate.
Many low-cost airlines weigh carry-on luggage or require passengers to insert bags into a molded metal-sizing apparatus before boarding the plane. Excess baggage, even by an inch or a pound, will result in you being charged a very expensive surprise gate-check fee.
Losing documents
Searching through jacket pockets or an overloaded purse every time a TSA agent or passport officer asks for your identification causes stress. Frequently shifting your passport can lead to more opportunities for you to drop it on the ground or forget it on a table.
Reserve one pocket (preferably a zipper pocket) on your jacket or purchase a small travel pouch for your passport and boarding pass so you know where they are at all times.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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