Tips to Make Your Flight a Breeze
Flying to a vacation destination can be either a great experience or a frustrating one. With the recent increase in airport security, airline travel can be a time-consuming and troublesome endeavor. Here is some useful advice that will improve your comfort level during your journey through the air.
Before you even get into the airport, try to avoid parking your car there. Parking lots at airports will charge you a high fee per day you leave your car in their possession. Either find a hotel nearby that does not charge for parking or get a friend or family member to drop you off; this will save you money and make your walk to the ticket line much shorter.
Travel light. Most airlines allow you to bring one carry-on and one personal item for free; your personal item has to be able to fit under the seat in front of you. Most backpacks or purses fit and offer you the extra space needed for things you cannot fit in your carry-on bag. This will eliminate wasted time at baggage claim at your destination and make it easier to transport your luggage to and from the airport or through customs when on an international flight. Check-in luggage can also easily be lost which can leave you without anything at your destination for the first day of your vacation.
Dress appropriately. Wear tighter fitting clothing and put as many “accessories” (belts, iPods, wallets, sunglasses, etc.) in your bags as you can. If you wear baggy clothes you have a higher chance of security patting you down (searching for drugs, weapons etc.) thus delaying your trip to the terminal. Having fewer items on you will help you avoid the anxiety of rushing everything back into your pockets after passing through security. Also, wear shoes that can easily be slipped on and off as you are required to take them off while going through security.
Choose aisle seats. Whether in first class or coach, an aisle seat is preferable to a window or middle seat. First time flyers may want a window seat because of the outstanding aerial views, however most of the time you can catch these views from the aisle seat. You will have much more leg room and freedom to move about the cabin in this seat, making your time in the sky much more comfortable. Seats by the emergency exits are also a great option for leg room, these seats usually fill up first however because frequent flyers are aware of this tip.
There are many other minor things you can do to better your plane trip. Bring something to do on the plane in your bags, whether it is an mp3 player, magazine, book, or laptop, have something that will occupy your time. If you get cold easily, wear long sleeves and pants and bring a sweater or sweatshirt. The air pressure in the cabin with fluctuate when you take off and land, chewing a piece of gum or having a piece of hard candy will help your ears with the pressure changes.
The traveling phase of your vacation is often the least considered when anticipating your final destination. After all, it’s the destination that we look forward to most. However inconveniences during this phase can ultimately ruin your entire trip. Take advantage of these simple tips and have a more stress free flight than ever before.