More Holiday Airline Tips
Everybody can recall at least one, maybe even several scenes from holiday movies featuring a family rushing through a crowded airport as festive music plays in the background. Scenes like this may be fun to watch – and they often aren’t – but there are several ways you can make your own holiday travel less hectic and more enjoyable.
Have a backup plan
Flights often get cancelled in winter, especially during the holiday season. So in order to make sure you’re covered, try and have a plan B in case your travel arrangements get disrupted. Try checking out bargain flight reservation sites when making your initial travel arrangements to see what other options are available.
Prepare your phone
Make sure you have plenty of emergency contact numbers. You’ll want to be able to get in touch with at least one person if your flight is delayed to rearrange pick-up accommodations. It’s hard to tell your Uncle Bill you won’t be at the airport if your battery’s dead. You also need to make sure that your phone is charged before you leave – because even if you remember to pack your charger, it won’t do you much good in a crowded airport where you can’t find an available outlet.
Check in ahead of time
It might be standard operating procedure these days, but remember to check in online ahead of time. Getting your boarding pass from a kiosk will save you a lot of time. If you’re not checking a bag, there’s no reason you should wait in the long line for the counter.
Pack light
If you’re not going to be gone very long, see if you can fit all of your personal items into carry on bags. Not having to worry about checked bags will be much less of a hassle if your flight arrangements suddenly get changed. Plus, if you pack light and do find yourself rushing through a crowded airport, carrying light luggage will make your unexpected jog a little easier.
Get to the airport early
We mean really early. Traveling around the holidays is always stressful, but that stress level compounds when you’re on a time crunch. And with even fewer flights taking off this year, you’ll want as much time as you can get. So get to the airport a little early and have a relaxed walk to your gate. Maybe even get one of those big cinnamon buns. If you have time to wait in line, why not?
