It’s taken me many years, but I finally feel like I have a system for when I travel. Learned mostly through trial and error, my routine has become a well-oiled machine. I only started traveling for work, both my second job and press trips, in the last few years, which helped me learn how to travel like a road warrior, a seasoned veteran of the air. But you don’t have to be a business traveler to take advantage of these tips!
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Arrange Your Transport
Early morning, or anytime for that matter, flights are made easier when you sort out your transportation in advance. This means going to or from the airport. Arriving exhausted and hopping into the first taxi you see is a good way to get ripped off.
Find out your best way of getting where you need to go and book in advance if possible. I’ve taken it all, from shared taxis in Vietnam to buses like Airporter in New York City to the highly efficient Gatwick Express in London. Car hire services like Blacklane and Uber are also good options. Just be sure to consider how much time it will take versus the cost. The local bus may be only $3, but will take an hour, which is time you could be using at your destination.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Find out how early you need to arrive before your flight. While it’s fine to only give yourself an hour for a small, regional airport, I recommend a minimum of two hours for major airports on domestic flights. Three is a reasonable minimum for international flights.
Consider more time if you’re checking a bag and have to wait for the check-in window to open or you haven’t printed your boarding pass (but why haven’t you?). Remember, you can kill time at the airport, especially if you have club access, but you can’t take it back when you’re running through the terminal like a crazy person after dealing with long lines at security.
Pack Light
If you’ve ever seen the movie Up in the Air, you might remember the scene where George Clooney is watching Anna Kendrick pull her old-fashioned suitcase, trying to find something inside. Don’t be this person. Spinner suitcases are efficient and easy to push and pull around.
Pack lightly and efficiently with solid colors that can mix and match into multiple outfits. Use packing cubes or other organizational systems so that everything has a place, which makes re-packing easier.
Pack carry-on only where possible and make sure your bag fits the airline’s dimensions before you get to the airport. I’ve seen countless people argue with gate agents about the size of their bags. Pro tip: the gate agents almost always win. Also consider those small, regional planes you might end up on for short flights. They have much less room, so your bag should be able to fit at your feet.
Another idea if you’re traveling for work or an event is to send your clothes ahead so you don’t have to pack much at all. Use a service like Rent the Runway to borrow clothes to be delivered to your hotel room. Once you’re done, drop them in the mail and fly home with ease.
Breeze Through Security
By now, everyone should know the rules at security. Don’t act surprised when you have to take out your full sized bottle of shampoo and throw it away or when you’re asked to remove the loose change from your pockets. Be prepared with all the items you’ll need to screen separately, namely your 3-1-1 liquids bag and laptop. Wear slip-on shoes if possible and take off any excess layers.
You can also pay to get TSA Pre-Check, Global Entry or CLEAR to be pre-screened for expedited security. I recently had my Global Entry interview, which after $100, a short questionnaire and an even shorter interview, I was approved for 5 years!
Download the Apps
Smartphones are the future of air travel with every major airline having their own app. I mostly stick to the same few airlines so I keep them on my phone to show my frequent flier numbers and boarding passes. Many also have a way to track your bags if they don’t turn up. TripIt is another great app for keeping your travel plans in check. It automatically syncs with your chosen email account to organize your flights, rental cars, hotel stays and schedule in one place.
Club Like a VIP
If you arrive early for your flight or have an unexpected delay, club passes are a nice benefit. I have them from my United MileagePlus credit card, but I’ve never gotten around to using them. A few airline credit cards offer this perk. You can also get them on eBay or purchase a membership by the day or year.
A few airports have independent clubs that allow entry if you have status at any airline. They often have cheaper entry fees than your standard airline lounge. You should find light snacks, WiFi access, and sometimes even drinks and showers.
Carry-On Essentials
Don’t rely on airlines to provide for you. This is one of the biggest things I’ve learned over the years. In-flight entertainment can break or be non-existent (shame on you, US Airways!) so bring something to entertain yourself. For me, it’s magazines, my Kindle, and a coloring book.
It’s also good to have something that doesn’t need charging in case your batteries die. I was glad to have been prepared when I sat on the tarmac for two hours. Also, pack everything you’ll need to keep you comfortable, including a water bottle, eye drops, headphones, snacks and a scarf.
Very helpful post for new travelers. I agree with everything you say. And I recently traveled with Condor and the inflight entertainment was almost non-existent. You could watch 2 episodes of 2 series and 2 movies of which one was a movie for Kids and one of children with cancer. As I didn’t want to cry on the plane, there wasn’t much to do in terms of movies. When I flew back one month later, they still had the same program. So never rely on airlines :)