Air travel, while convenient and quick, can come with its own set of challenges.
Long lines, delays, stress from transfers, and long hours spent in the air can be off-putting for even the most seasoned traveler. There are ways to avoid it perfectly.
Air travel can also be enjoyable, efficient and stress-free. You just have to prepare for it properly. There are a few tricks that can help with this. Although some may seem trivial, there are also some surprising ones. And combining them all can only work to the advantage of the traveller.
- Proper logistics: The basic issue is logistics before departure. It is worth checking carefully which airport the flight is from, because there are stories when a passenger went to another airport, sometimes far from the correct one. It is also important to make sure about the flight time, because in this case every minute counts.
- Online check-in: It's worth choosing online check-in, which can be done a few days before departure. This way, if you are flying with only hand luggage, you can skip the long lines at the airport leading to the check-in desks. This way, you can arrive at the airport a little later, of course within reason, and not waste time at the airport waiting idly for the flight.
- Checking in your baggage: Unfortunately, if you are flying with checked baggage, online check-in won't help much, because you still have to go to the check-in desk to check in your baggage. However, there are tricks that will help you when you collect your baggage.
Thomas Lo Sciuto, a ramp worker at one of the US airports, revealed that the moment a passenger checks in can affect the moment of baggage collection from the belt.
"Bags are typically loaded from front to back onto luggage carts, so if you are the last to check in, your bags will be at the end of the last cart. This will make you the last passenger on the plane and the first at your destination," he disclosed.
But that's not all when it comes to luggage. Faster baggage collection can also be improved by the colour and what's on the suitcase, namely a sticker. Some people put a sticker on their luggage saying "fragile" because such luggage is unpacked first, and on top of that it ends up at the top of the pile so that nothing gets damaged.
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There are also people who choose suitcases in bright colours because they often attract the attention of employees and are put on the conveyor belt faster.
- Baggage information: Before travelling with both hand luggage and checked luggage, it is a good idea to check with the airline what the weight and size restrictions are. These can sometimes vary, so to avoid rushing to repack at the airport or paying extra for excess baggage, it is worth packing sensibly at home in advance.
- Airport regulations: In this case, it is also necessary to familiarise yourself with the airport regulations and check what products you cannot take with you in your luggage. In order to also avoid overpacking, throwing away, or even bringing additional scrutiny upon yourself, it is worth knowing in advance what the restrictions are.
- Using mobile apps: It's worth installing the airline's app on your phone, where you can find all the necessary documents, such as a boarding pass, but also information about which gate you should go to. Such apps also constantly update information about any changes in the flight schedule.
- Fast track service: When travelling by plane, it's worth paying extra for the fast track service. You can buy it when booking your flight, but you can also buy it at the airport. The fast track service, or quick passage, allows individual access to the security control zone. In the zone where you can use this service, there are much shorter queues, which saves time.
- Colourful clothing: It turns out that the colour of the clothing you wear can also bring a lot of benefits. Stephanie Lee, an expert from the website Airplane Tips, reported that people who wear red tops are perceived as more attractive, according to colour psychology. This colour attracts the attention of airport staff more effectively, which is especially important if a traveller needs their help. This can mean that we have a better chance of being treated better — whether at security or even small purchases at the airport.
- Boarding with a child: Samantha Brown, host of the travel programme, Places To Love, mother of twins, shared a tip on how to shorten the time children spend on board the plane. According to her, the parent with the children should board last, so that the children are not bored on board for too long.
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This article was originally published on Onet Travel.