Let’s face it, although most of us love to travel for vacations, entertainment and even work, it can be stressful. I will be the first to admit, I am a horrible “flyer” and so I have come up with a few ways to eliminate some of the items that may lead to unnecessary stress when flying. On today’s blog we are talking about ways to reduce some of that stress, when flying for travel.
Be Early: This is especially important when traveling during busy seasons, such as holidays or when there is inclement weather either from you departure or arrival destinations. Being early gives you what I like to call “breathing room”. Upon arriving at the airport, if there are long lines at baggage check, or security, you have that extra time on your side to spare. And hey, once you get through security, you can always grab a coffee or a drink and …RELAX!
Be Prepared: This means leading up to arrival at the airport, as well as at the airport. No worries, I’m going to walk you through it. There are several ways to make this experience easier upon your actual arrival, Starting with packing. Yes, pack in advance so you know how much luggage you will be checking and how much you will be carrying on board. Next, most Airlines offer an App that you can download on you cellular device to purchase your flights, track flights and even houses your boarding passes. This same application allows you to pre-check in for your flight. This is where it comes in handy to know the amount of luggage you will be checking as it allows you to do that through the application. I highly recommend doing this, as it saves you a tremendous amount of time upon arrival at the airport. You do not have to waste time checking in at the counter or kiosks. You merely drop your backs at baggage check and head on to security check. Another time saver is to sign up for Pre-Check or Global entry. This allows you to get through security screening quicker, as you are already prescreened. Some other helpful hints are, to remove your belts, jackets, shoes while in line to save time or do not wear a belt! Ladies, I highly recommend wearing pants with no bling, or heavy stitching, as this sets off the screening machine (I have fallen victim!) Yoga pants, leggings, sweats are all great options for moving quickly through security check! In addition, have your laptops out of your carry on, because they must go through screening separately. Remember, the quicker you get through, the more time you have to RELAX before your flight!
Carry On Etiquette: This one probably is a difficult one for some, as some of us feel like we “need” a million and one items in our carry on bags. The key word in this sentence is need. What do you really need to be comfortable in the terminal and on your flight, that needs to be in your carry on? These are important questions because, yes a carry on can slow up or hang up your travel experience if you do not know how to organize it. This is how I look at it. My go to carry on is my Large LV Purse. (pictured above) I usually carry a smaller clutch inside with my ID, Insurance cards, and credit cards. Also, my lip balm, hair ties, lip gloss, a pen/stylus and room to spare for my phone. Then, I carry my laptop and make up case and a folder with any paperwork (work related or personal that I am currently working on). Pure and simple. I have something to keep me busy on the plane or in the terminal and I also have some hygiene items in the event my luggage is delayed. Another upside to this is you are not holding anyone else up by trying to cram an oversized bag in the over head compartment or having to check a bag at the last minute because it does not fit. You will be a happier traveler for it!
These are just a few tips I have learned over the course of my travels. Hopefully some of these will be helpful to you. I would love to hear some of your tips and tricks for successful travel, so please fell free to leave comments. And always, wishing everyone safe and fun-filled travels! xoxo-
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