Ignore These Holiday Travel Tips at Your Peril
— -- The holidays are coming! You got a flight deal and are good to go.
Now all that’s left is checking out these tips to make your travels smoother.
Some of this advice may be old stuff for road warriors but those who haven’t flown in a while may be in for a surprise. So here're some tips to help you on your journey.
1. No matter how sure you are of your flights, check your tickets
Look at plane tickets carefully to confirm dates, airports and departure times. It’s easy to miss an airline email saying a departure has been moved up or back. Be sure you’re certain about the airport, too; it sounds crazy, but I have heard of novice fliers mistakenly going to Dulles instead of Reagan for a Washington, D.C., flight. Take nothing for granted and confirm, confirm, confirm.
2. Get to the airport early
Holidays mean crowded terminals, long lines in and outside the terminals and crazy traffic. Have someone drop you off so you don’t have to worry about airport parking and if you normally arrive an hour ahead of time (or slide in even later, as I often do), that’s not good enough for peak-travel periods. Be at the airport at least two hours in advance for domestic flights and make it three for international travel.
3. Check out the airport
If the airport you’ll fly in-out of is new to you, give it a quick once-over online (and many airports have their own useful apps). This could be helpful in case of delays (find a favorite restaurant, find a play-space for kids) or in case of a tight connection (how to get from terminal A to C the fastest way possible).
Do this even if you think you’ll have no trouble making a connection because you never know; an acquaintance’s flight was delayed recently because the pilot’s seatbelt was broken (yes, really) and as she raced along in a strange airport for her connecting flight, she somehow took a wrong turn and missed the flight. Stuff happens.
4. Sign up for PreCheck
The TSA’s PreCheck program only costs $85 for five years and is worth it; most airports have fast, dedicated lines for PreCheckers and you get to keep shoes on and zip bags remain in carry-ons. Plus, if you’re a member, your kids (aged 12 and under) get PreCheck for free.
Interesting aside: I know of cases where one spouse has PreCheck and the other doesn’t but when the two fly together, the non-member gets PreCheck status as well (this could be a coincidence but who knows). The PreCheck application process can take a couple of weeks so the time to start is now.
5. Prep for security while in line
Don’t arrive at the checkpoint conveyor belt and say, “Oh, I have to take my shoes off?” If you’re not a member of PreCheck, shoes will have to come off and zip bags of toiletries must be removed from carry-ons, so do this while in line to avoid delays.
If you brought anything liquid (or gloppy like homemade salsas or jams), prepare to bid them adieu because only containers sized 3.4 ounces or less are allowed through security.
Find more information on what you can and can’t bring at the TSA website.
6. Get out the carry-on
Use a smaller bag and avoid a fee (unless you fly Southwest, the only U.S. airline that does not charge for checked-bags). But a better reason to use a carry-on is that it’s always by your side so it won’t get lost. If you must use a big bag and are traveling with family and friends, try consolidating luggage so two can share a big suitcase. Be sure must-haves like medication and electronics are either in a carry-on or in purse or pocket.
7. Contact information goes both ways
When you book a flight, you are generally prodded to add contact info during the process, but if you didn’t do this earlier (or aren’t sure), confirm the airline has your number and/or email. Then add the airline’s number to your phone and start following the carrier on Twitter. Most airlines pay close attention to social media; if an issue comes up, contact the airline through Twitter but go ahead and call, too.
8. Boarding passes
Send boarding passes to phones but also print them out. Do both because as we all know phones can go dead at the least convenient times.
9. Must-haves
Keep medications, glasses and contacts and valuables in a carry-on or purse or pocket. Keep electronic devices and charger cords close at hand, too, because many planes today do not have ceiling or seatback screens.
When it comes to entertainment, you’re often on your own and a four or five hour flight will seem even longer if all you have for amusement is a tattered copy of the airline magazine.
Rick Seaney is the CEO of FareCompare, a website that curates the best deals on flights from around the world. Any opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author.
