Travel Tips: Preparing on the Day of Travel

Thanksgiving is upon us. It is a time to eat turkey, watch football, and contemplate many profound truths about your travel experience. Planes will be crowded, lines will be long. With the help of some of our fellow bloggers, here are our tips on how to be prepared on the day of travel.

1. Check in Online and Print Your Boarding Passes(<if possible)
   • We know you’ll have to wait in a bag drop line if you have any luggage to check, but think of how much faster that line will be if no one also have to check in. As you might have noticed, a counter check-in takes longer than one on your desktop.
   • If you are at a hotel, see if they have facilities to let you print a boarding pass. Many hotels are setting up lobby computers or a miniature business center for this purpose, where you can quickly check in.
2. Plan for delays
   • Many airlines allow you to sign up for notification of flight status. If none of them suffice, there are always third party services such as Flightstats.
3. Have the airline’s phone number in your cell phone or on your person. In the event there is a problem, sometimes the call center can help you get ahead of things.
4. Pack snacks
   • Delays are a given now, and airport food is expensive. Remember, no liquids or gels, but any solid food is a good thing. We recommend granola bars. They last a long time in case you don’t need them on the trip, aren’t horribly unhealthy, and are small and filling. If you are factoring in a long-layover or perceive hunger, pack a sandwich. Also small and portable, but doesn’t keep as well.
5. Preparing for the security check
   • The TSA has a new education program for the holidays called Simplifly, complete with videos, diagrams and pictures. Check it out. We’ll have more on that later.
   • Wear layers…For those transitioning from one climate to another, ie the wintery Northeast to Florida, this is a given. But airline seats are crowded enough without extra clothing making you larger. Be prepared to shed a few layers to free up space.
   • Wear comfortable and easy to remove shoes…you have to remove them at security and then cram them into the area under the seat in front of you, a problem made worse if you try to stow a carry-on bag there or are tall.
   • Minimize the items in your pockets in advance…you know you’ll have to empty them. Unlike normal times, do not have loose change, papers, etc in there. The only items you need to carry are your ID and boarding pass. You likely have a long line. Use that time to temporarily relocate your items to your suitcase so the line will be sped up.
6. Making use of your wait time
   • Take advantage of free wi-fi…or if you have a lot of time or something important to do, paid wi-fi might be cost-effective.
   • Try to change your seat if you are unhappy with it. You can even try for that exit row, premium seat, or first-class upgrade. Never hurts to ask.
   • Before you board, don’t forget to use the restroom. Lines for airplane lavatories can be long and lavatories are small. If you don’t have an aisle, you have to disrupt the people around you to get there. There may also be turbulence. Do your business in style in the terminal to minimize need off the ground.
7. On the Plane
   • Take a nap. Honestly, what would you rather do? Stay up and remember that you are in a cramped seat(except for you lucky people in first class) on a likely delayed plane, or sleep your way to your destination? You can arrive refreshed and relaxed and ready to get on with your business or pleasure.
     • Slip off your shoes.
     • Bring your own pillow/blanket as on many airlines you aren’t getting one of theirs.
   • Entertain yourself.
     • Books and Newspapers
     • Gadgets – DVD Players, music players, laptops, etc. can help distract you and make the flight seem much shorter.
   • Dominate the armrest...Wired has this amusing diagram instruction on How to Capture the Armrest.