It’s a well-known fact that airport environments can be a stressful place for travellers. When there are delays, busy periods and chaotic scenarios it can feel quite overwhelming to navigate around an airport when you’re not feeling 100% prepared. If you want to breathe a sigh of relief every time you’re due to travel, you need to become an airport pro and feel armed with a handful of tips and tricks up your sleeve. Most of these methods are extremely simple to follow, and they all involve being a super savvy traveller that is well-prepared for every scenario.
17 Smart Ways to Become an Airport Pro When Travelling
When it comes to planning your perfect adventure, it all begins at the airport. Your airport experience can almost set the tone for the rest of your trip going forward. With that being said, here are seventeen smart ways to become an airport pro when travelling. Work your way through all of the given ideas and you’ll soon be one step closer to being confident at the airport.
Figure Out Your Timings
Getting to the airport with plenty of time to spare is always advised, however, you don’t want to get there too soon and have a tonne of time to kill. Figuring out your timings is an art that you’ll learn as you become a seasoned traveller. As a general rule, you want to ensure you get to the airport between two to three hours before your scheduled flight takes off. This will allow plenty of time to get through security, pick up any necessary items from the shops and board the plane without any stress.
Check in Online When Possible
If possible, you want to check in online before you get to the airport. This will not only save you time when you arrive, but it will give you peace of mind that an administrative task is all done!
Choose The Best Airport Parking
Turning up to the airport and simply hoping for a parking spot probably isn’t the smartest idea if you want to be prepared. The secret to becoming a true airport pro when travelling is to pre-book your Airport Parking as soon as possible with a trusted source. This will not only guarantee you a parking spot at your chosen destination, but it will also give you peace of mind that your car is safe and secure during your vacation. Whether you’re leaving it for a long weekend, or a couple of weeks, it’s important to choose airport parking that suits your needs, budget and travel plans.
Organize Your Hand Luggage With Smaller Bags
In order to avoid pulling all of your belongings out of your hand luggage when you need to find one thing, you should sort your items by category. If you’re taking any beauty products such as hand cream, lip balm and sanitizer, you should keep them altogether in one smaller bag. Keep all of your documentation in a dedicated folder too, so that it’s always handy when you need it.
Bring Clear Zip Lock Bags
When going through security, you may be required to separate your liquids from the rest of your hand luggage items. Bringing your own clear zip lock bags with you will allow you to show your liquids with ease and avoid unnecessary security delays.
Check in Your Luggage
Checking in your luggage is often a lengthy process, but it’s necessary if you’re going long haul and need a lot of stuff. If you can bring hand luggage only that is always preferred as it will make your airport experience a lot quicker.
Pack Healthy Snacks
Airports and planes aren’t renowned for having the best options in terms of food and snacks, so you may want to plan ahead and pack something healthy for your travels. This may also be particularly useful if you have an allergy as you’ll feel confident that you have access to food that you can actually consume if you need it.
Don’t Forget Your Documentation
The key to being prepared at the airport is making sure you have everything you need in terms of documentation.
Whether you need to update your passport, or apply for a VISA to travel to a certain country, you need every possible piece of documentation handy before you get to the airport. Keep them handy to reach in an envelope or wallet in your hand luggage so that you can present them as soon as you need to.
Pre Book an Airport Lounge
If you want to add an element of luxury and enjoyment to your airport experience, you may want to pre-book an airport lounge. This gives you access to certain areas of the airport that may have special food or drinks to enjoy. Access to these lounges will usually be pre-book only and may depend on the flight you’re taking. If you have the chance to book into an airport lounge you should definitely take it as you’ll have an additional level of comfort before you board your flight.
Eat a Good Meal Before Your Flight
Whether you’re in an airport lounge or in a restaurant in the airport itself, you may want to eat something before you get on the plane. Make sure you allow enough time to sit down and eat your food comfortably so that you’re not rushing before you board your flight. Choose something healthy, light and unlikely to cause a stomach upset too. Usually, there are plenty of food options to choose from, but you might be tied to fast food joints and takeaway sandwiches in some airports.
Check Out The Plane Seating Plan
Once you have checked in, it’s likely that you’ll have your seat number on your boarding pass. If you get a spare moment whilst you’re in the airport you may want to look up the plane seating plan so that you know roughly where you’re positioned. This will also indicate whether you enter the plane via the front or back entrance saving a lot of time and fuss!
Bring an Empty Water Bottle
You won’t be able to bring a full bottle of water through security before you board your flight, but you can bring an empty, reusable water bottle. Usually, once you get through security there will be free water refill stations for you to use. Staying hydrated before your flight is always a good plan too!
Wear Something Comfortable
Part of the fun of travelling is making sure you look chic and feel comfortable whilst you’re at the airport. Travel outfits for the airport can be so enjoyable to put together, so spend some time thinking about what you want to wear before your travel day arrives. Bring a warm jumper and socks for the flight as aeroplanes can often be slightly chilly due to air conditioning.
Download Shows and Podcasts
Before you board your flight make sure you take advantage of any free airport Wi-Fi so that you can download any TV shows, movies and podcasts for your journey. This will ensure that you’re prepared with activities to keep you engaged and busy during your time on the plane.
Ensure Your Devices Are Charged
There are numerous charging ports around the airport that many people already use before they board their flights. Making sure your devices are charged is sensible not just for the flight ahead, but for when you arrive at your destination. You may need to order a taxi or look up your hotel address, so keep your phone charged up if possible.
Download Your Airline’s App
If your airline has a dedicated app, you should download it and enter your flight details. This will keep you in the loop with regards to any last minute changes or delays to your flight. It can also tell you other useful information such as onboard meals, entertainment and baggage allowance information.
Stretch Your Legs Before You Board
Getting onto the airplane for a few hours may not seem like long, but it’s important to keep your circulation moving when you’re up in the air. Go for a walk around the airport before you board so that your legs are ready for a rest when you get on the plane. This will help you to feel more comfortable when sitting down in your seat before take off.
Wrap Up: How to Become an Airport Pro When Travelling
With a combination of confidence and preparation, your airport experience is set to become a calm, collected and cool experience from start to finish. Although there may be numerous stresses that get in your way whilst at an airport, you will have all of the confidence and knowledge to handle them with ease. Whether you’re pre-planning your airport car parking, or you’re getting your belongings ready for a long haul flight, you will feel more prepared than ever when it comes navigating through an airport and getting safely onto your flight. Getting to your chosen destination promptly, safely and efficiently is all possible when you take the time to become an airport pro!
What about you, how do you prepare for airports and flights? Feel free to share any tips & advice below! (Images by Erik Odiin on Unsplash and from Pexels - CC0 Licence)
ABOUTME
We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.
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