The general public may be recovering from the rush of holiday travel but for many in the industry, a busy year of meetings, conferences and trade shows is just getting underway.
Take a minute (if you have one) to see what you can do ahead of time to make for a happier and less-stressful New Year of travel.
Lists usually help keep things organized. Santa made a list and checked it twice (allegedly) and so should you. A few days before you leave, write down things you need to bring and tasks you need to do before the trip. This can include everything from essential packing items to watering the plants.
Here are some more tips:
1. Take Your Comfort Zone With You
Noise-canceling headphones can go a long way toward blocking out annoyances during travel, although if you use them you should keep an eye on display boards or your phone for any flight or gate changes.
Spotify, YouTube and other sites offer music playlists with names like “Relaxing Chill Out Calming Music for Airports” and “Perfect—Music Travel Relax.” Not to mention the 1978 classic, “Music for Airports.”
It’s also good to carry extra medications, a change of clothes, a toothbrush and a phone-charging cable, just in case. Bringing along some snacks or a sandwich from home can feel comforting and be a great alternative to pricey airport offerings.
2. Stay Hydrated
Let’s get real for a moment. The onboard lav can be… unpleasant. Plus unless you’re seated on the aisle, climbing over your fellow passengers to reach it is no picnic either. But avoiding the lav by avoiding liquids before or during your flight, especially a long flight, can leave you dehydrated and prone to everything from muscle cramps to blood clots.
So make sure to drink plenty of water about an hour before your flight, use the airport restroom, then sip water or juice during the flight. Fun fact: Most of the first toilets on planes were buckets. But at least they had lids.
3. Come On, Get ‘Appy
Ever miss that gate change announcement? Or get to the airport only to find your flight has been canceled? Or find out your canceled flight was restored to its original time…while you’re still at home?
You get the picture. Having the airline’s app lets you know about gate changes, flight delays or cancellations sooner so you can find alternative flights or connections if needed.
In addition, every airline has different requirements when it comes to the boarding process, paying for perks in advance or seat upgrades. Many passengers find out too late that something as basic as a seat assignment may require an extra charge that must be paid when booking. All that fine print is on the app.
4. Give Yourself Extra Time
Security lines can be much longer, and slower, than expected—and so can the walk through a large airport. Even with TSA PreCheck and Clear, or both, you can find yourself with a long wait, especially on the return in an international airport. The general rule of thumb is to arrive at the airport two hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
If you’re too early, you can always check out the airport—many go beyond the typical shops and eateries with art installations, history exhibits and wellness treatments.
5. Try to Go With the Flow
Recognize that crowds, bad weather and canceled flights are beyond your control.
If you’ve been told there’s a weather delay while looking outside at blue skies, there’s probably weather wherever your plane is coming from, meaning it’s delayed on that end.
In addition, pilots and flight attendants have strict flight-hour duty limitations. So if they are delayed on the flight before yours—adding to their hours—they may have to take a mandatory rest break while a new crew is quickly assembled for your flight. These are unforseen glitches, and getting upset or getting into it with the gate agent will just ramp up the anxiety.
So just relax with that book, and if you’re on your way home, think about the tidy space and full fridge you left ready for yourself… which hopefully was also on your list.
