7 Tips for Managing Air Travel This Holiday Season
We traveled last weekend—almost two weeks before Thanksgiving—and it felt like the holidays were already upon us. Christmas decorations decked the halls of the airport (I couldn’t believe it!), and we even saw people putting up the outdoor lights.
[Side note: have you ever seen O’Hare Airport at Christmastime? WOW! It’s always so pretty.]
The thing I really noticed, however, was how BUSY the airport felt. And this is two weeks before Thanksgiving. You know things will only get busier over the next few weeks.
Listen, travel at any time can be stressful, but I think it’s especially stressful during the holidays. And if you add kids to the mix, things can be, well . . . even more stressful.
These days, flying can feel, as I said to my husband last weekend, like being on a big bus in the sky. The glamour of air travel, if there ever was any, is gone.
Add that to the tenor of our times (I’m trying to find a nice way to say that people are UNHINGED), and things can get crazy when we’re all simply trying to get from one place to another.
There’s no need to get out of control. Let’s all just keep calm and enjoy the holidays.
These tips will help make travel easier for everyone, not just during the holidays, but every time you fly.
1. Arrive early.
I cannot stress this enough. Leave time for parking, security (more on this later), and walking through the terminal, which can get very crowded during the holiday season. There are plenty of coffee shops in the airport, so don’t worry if you have a couple of hours to kill. Better to hang out with a cup of coffee than to be running to your gate, stressed and angry.
2. Use the correct security line.
I always say that the best $85 I ever spent was on TSA pre-check. The lines move quicker and you don’t have to take off your shoes!
But I cannot tell you how many times I’ve witnessed people who don’t have TSA pre-check trying to sneak into the TSA line. Friend, I am here to tell you that it will never work. They will send you back to the regular security line. Every time. And when you try to go through the TSA line without having actual TSA pre-check, it just holds everyone up.
So, check your ticket. If it doesn’t say TSA pre-check on it, then just suck it up and get in the regular line.
(And when you get home, fill out the application for TSA.)
3. Know where you’re going.
Check your gate before you get to the airport, then check it again once you get through security. There should be a huge board with the most current gate assignments posted just as you leave the security area.
Gates change frequently, so don’t miss your plane by going to the wrong gate. Trust me, it happens.
4. If you’re not checking a bag, make sure you follow the rules.
The carry on rules are simple: you can bring your carry on and one other bag (they call it a personal item) ONLY. Don’t try to bring a third bag. Or a shopping bag. Or a purse that you think they won’t notice (ask me how I know).
Here’s what happens when you try to bring too much on a plane—you’ll have to either make everything fit into two bags OR you’ll have to check your suitcase at the gate. Either way, you’re going to have to step out of line, disrupting everyone behind you.
All of this can be avoided by simply following the rules.
5. Board with your group only.
When the gate agent has to ask you to step aside because you’re trying to board early, it holds everyone up. Don’t be that person. Again, just follow the rules and travel will be easier . . . for everyone.
6. Stowing your bag.
This one is for me. Please, please, PLEASE don’t put your carry on bag in a bin in the front of the plane and then head to your seat in the back. It’s just rude.
Similarly, if you have to place your bag in a bin a couple of rows behind your seat, let the folks in the row or two behind you deplane until you can reach your bag. Don’t try to swim upstream, past people who are anxious to get off the plane, to get to your bag. It’s an inconvenience to everyone. And it’s also rude.
7. Pack lots of patience and kindness.
One thing I’ve learned from my daughters, who all have beautiful and generous smiles, is that a smile goes a long way. Remember that people might be dealing with all kinds of issues you can’t see, so be patient and be kind. If your trip was rough, it was probably rough for the airline staff and crew, too. It won’t kill you to smile and tell airline employees thank you and have a great day. It might even change your attitude as well.
You certainly can’t control the behavior of those around you, but you sure can control your own. So, if you’re traveling this holiday season, remember these few tips and your travel day just might go a little smoother.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
