ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT EARLY

Really. Like earlier than normal. Give yourself an extra hour… or two.

I tend to err on the side of “getting to the airport way too early” for any flight but during the holidays it’s truly needed. Why start your trip out stressed if you don’t need to?

In addition to extra travellers, there are more travellers who aren’t used to travelling and take longer checking in and getting through security, and that all adds up to delays. Getting to the airport early will allow you to wait in these lines with extra patience, and perhaps a little help for your fellow travellers because you have lots of time.

One app that can help with this is Lounge Buddy. You input your trip details and the app will show you which lounges are available and their price (if they offer a one-time pass).

Another option, if you are a frequent flier but don’t have lounge access with any one particular airline is a membership program like Priority Pass which gives members access to over 1200 lounges worldwide. They also have airport guides for over 80 international airports that detail the amenities and services offered by each.

RECONFIRM ALL YOUR RESERVATIONS

I also like to print out all confirmations and tuck them away in my travel folder, even in this day and age of technology. Some never need to be pulled from the folder but it is nice knowing they are there if I can’t retrieve them on my phone due to a dead battery or no data service.

CHARGE ALL YOUR DEVICES

And speaking of dead battery I do try to minimise this as much as possible by charging everything the night before I leave. Normally I charge things all over the place – on a nightstand, desk, bathroom counter – you name it. But the night before a trip devices are all charged together and normally right beside my suitcase or carry-on. I don’t want to forget a device or its charger.

I also swear by my external battery as it has been a life (well at least sanity) saver on many occasion. Just don’t forget to charge it before you leave too!

KNOW YOUR AIRLINE’S BAGGAGE RULES

Nothing stinks more than getting to the airport, putting the suitcase on the scale, and seeing the number go over the limit. Trust me, I know. I once was about 4 lbs over and the thought of the $200 overweight fee did not sound very appealing. Luckily for me, the ticket agent turned a blind eye and sent my suitcase on its merry way but it doesn’t always turn out like that. I have seen people with their belongings on the airport floor as they redistribute items in their bags and I don’t want that to be you (or me again!).

Skyscanner has put together a couple of helpful guides to baggage allowances. One guide is mainly European airlines and the other guide includes North American and Asian airlines. It is also a good idea to double-check your airline directly to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. One airline may allow 23 kg while another only allows 20 kg. Please don’t assume they are all the same. It will also depend on which class of ticket you’ve booked, as business class and first class will usually allow you to check more bags at a higher weight.

Once you know the weight limit, then you need to weigh your bag. I’ve used the weigh myself and then weigh myself+my suitcase trick on my bathroom scale for years and it hasn’t let me down yet. But then I got a luggage scale and it is much easier to weigh my luggage (including the carry-on).  It’s also small enough to bring with you so you can weigh your bag on the way home too.

Additionally, at the holidays, you are likely travelling with gifts and will be bringing some home that you received. You probably thought about buying things that are light and have accounted for that in the weight of your suitcase, but friends and family might not have so it is best to allow yourself a little cushion for the flight home when your bag might weight a little more.

TO WRAP OR NOT TO WRAP?

Speaking of gifts and you might be wondering if you should wrap them or not. Nah, this year isn’t the one to get all fancy with your gift wrapping.

Instead pack a few gift bags, some tissue, tags, and a roll of tape and you’ll be all set when you arrive. If airport security searches your bag then you won’t arrive with unwrapped gifts and no way to get them wrapped back up.

Additionally, if you are travelling in the United States, the TSA has an app called “MyTSA App” which has a feature that allows users to search if a particular item is permitted or prohibited. This could come in handy if you’re bringing things you’re not used to travelling with and don’t want to be delayed at security.

In addition to checking which items you can bring this app allows you to check how busy the airport is, if the airport and airlines support TSA Pre✓^® and information about weather and delays at airports in the United States.

TRAVEL APPS TO TRY

There are so many apps out there for travellers to help you with every step of your trip. When they say ‘there’s an app for that’ – well they mean it!

Some to try include booking apps like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Orbitz for your initial reservations. These apps can also come in handy if your flight is delayed or cancelled and you need to look up alternate flights. If you are armed with this knowledge you can help the airline rep rebook you faster and you might be less likely to end up on an undesirable flight if you’re able to give them suggestions for the flight you want.

Other great travel apps to try are:

• Your Airline’s App: Features of airline apps include providing you with updates, enabling you to check-in online, change your seats, watch the standby and upgrade list, and store your mobile boarding pass.
• TripIt: Allows you to track all your itinerary details and track flights (usually a paid feature) so everything is in one place.
• SeatGuru: Lets you see the configurations of hundreds of airplanes so you can pick the best seat for you. 
• XE Currency Converter: This is my most used travel app. With the free version you can monitor up to 10 currencies at a time – even offline if you set the app up before travelling. It is simple to use and reliable. I’ve used it for many years now.

OFF-SITE AIRPORT PARKING

Learn from my (expensive) mistake one Christmas and make your reservation for off-site airport parking ahead of time. I had used the same parking lot for years and had never made a reservation but December 26 at 5:30 am it caught up with me. I turned up and was told, “I’m sorry but we’re full”. Oh no! On to the next parking lot, then the next, and before we knew it we were parking at the airport.

If you book in advance then you won’t have to worry…or pay through the teeth when you get home.

Once you’ve parked take a quick photo with your phone of your parking spot and/or the little ticket they give you with that information. If it gets lost along the way on your trip you’ll have all the information you need to call the shuttle and get right back to your car.

My personal recommendation for airport parking is the Parking Spot if it is available at your airport or you can also check out Airport Parking Reservations which includes not only parking lots, but also hotels near the airport that offer parking packages with hotel stays, or parking on their lots. 

IN-FLIGHT NECESSITIES

In another article, we talked about making the best of long-haul flights and after years of flying, I still swear by these tips. Even if you’re not flying long-haul overnight, some of these ideas can still make a short domestic flight more enjoyable. 

For example, noise-cancelling headphones work wonders to drown out the plane, or you can listen to a movie or audiobook so you don’t hear crying babies and loud talkers. An eye mask is great to block out some light for a little nap or just to rest your eyes. And, of course, a sweater, scarf, or shawl to keep the chill off. 

Your flight might only be a few hours long but these little things will make it a relaxing few hours to kick off your trip.

JUST BREATHE

If you only take one tip from this list, let this be it. When all seems to be going wrong just remember it’ll pass and it doesn’t have to ruin your whole trip.

Presents got squashed in your luggage? Your family will understand.

Delayed or cancelled flights? You’ll get there eventually.

By staying calm, cool, and taking a deep breath you’ll get through them. And if you can muster a smile too you’ll most likely find friendly strangers willing to help you find a solution to your issue, or you can just laugh together at the situation you find yourselves in. It’ll likely make for a good memory of your trip, and a great story to tell your friends and family when you finally do make it to your destination.

Do you have any other tips to make holiday travel a little more enjoyable and stress-free? We’d love for you to share them!

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