November 10th, 2009
Traveling to visit family or friends this holiday season? Use these easy tips to enjoy smooth sailing whether you’re planning to travel by plane, train or automobile. In this installment, we explore tips to make airline travel easier.
Book early for the best rates and selection.
This is one of the busiest times of year for travel as families reconnect, folks travel home for the holidays and others take advantage of time off from work. Flights fill up early, so be sure to give yourself plenty of advance notice if you want to take advantage of the best fares and enjoy the most options in terms of available travel times. Remember, coupons, vouchers and discount offers are rarely valid during holiday “blackout” dates.
Arrive at the airport early.
Security lines are typically extra-long this time of year, so give yourself extra time to allow for contingencies or super long lines. Pack a magazine or two to pass the time in case you happen to luck out with a short security line — you’ll be glad to have something to read if you arrive at the gate with plenty of time to spare.
Drink plenty of water.
While it’s true that most airplane toilets are about the size of a shoebox, that’s still no reason to skimp on hydration. Drinking plenty of water helps you stave off jet lag, swelling in the lower extremities, fatigue, and other air travel-related side effects. It’s also a good idea to take a multi-vitamin, extra vitamin C, or an Airborne before hopping on the plane. Holiday crowds bring more germs floating around in the artificial environment of an airplane, so protect yourself from the common cold.
Keep it moving.
If you’re taking a longer flight, be sure to get up and walk the aisle a couple of times each hour to keep your circulation smooth. Change positions often while sitting and remember to stretch frequently.
Stay centered.
Remember, crowds are virtually inevitable this time of year — take some time to relax before and during travel, meditate, or practice deep breathing and you’ll feel better equipped to handle the mad rush that is sure to occur at the airports during your trip.
These few tips will help you stay settled and arrive in a happy frame of mind. What plane travel tips do you have?
Tune in next time for our top car travel tips (Part 2 of the series).
Leave a Reply
