0

Comments

We all know it: travel is getting harder. Airports have never been the most relaxing of environs, but these last several years have seen them go from mildly inconvenient to wildly frustrating. Add to that the flights themselves, full of unforeseen inconveniences, from children hopped up on soda to neighbors with flexible ideas of seat boundaries. These too have become decidedly less consumer friendly of late, as airlines drastically scale back amenities in response to the American economic crisis.

Several weeks ago, I packed my bags for a whirlwind of holiday travel, from East Coast to West, South of the Border and back again. As someone who has chosen, for better or for worse, to live on the opposite coast from my entire immediate family, I have developed a now-habitual routine of plane prep, in order to maintain my sanity, and begin and end my vacation in a manner as relaxing as the vacation itself. Here are my favorite tips and items to make your travel plans calm and pleasant, gleaned from years of trial and (sometimes massive) error.

Before Departing for the Airport: Pack Light and Check That Flight

Pack smart! Unless you are going on a month’s long excursion to Lapland, and thus need to pack your body weight in wool sweaters, there is no reason you should need to check a bag. These days, you may even get charged for it, so why bother adding the extra time it takes to claim a bag at the end of an already tiring trip, or risking the possible disappearance of your bag on the other end? Not worth it. As for the liquid restriction, it’s not as bad as it seems. The TSA lays it out very clearly: 3 oz. bottles or less, in a maximum of one quart size plastic bag. Plenty to last you for a normal 1-2 week vacation.

Also, as my mother always said, as I agonized over whether or not I’d remembered to pack toothpaste: “you’re not going to a third world country”. If you run out of something, chances are you can get more. (Of course, if you are, in fact, going to a third world country, you may need to reevaluate this portion.) Carrying everything on also ensures that you’re not packing more than you can carry by yourself, a cardinal rule of successful travel!

Use the internet! Keep an eye on your flight for any delays, etc., so you’re not met with any nasty surprises upon arrival. Many airlines now allow you to check in and print your boarding pass at home in the 24 hours before you depart, even if you are checking baggage (and you know how I feel about that!). If so, you should absolutely do it. Skipping that check-in line and going straight to security is a beautiful thing.

At the Airport: Be A Security Line Expert

Speaking of the security line: we all know it can be one of the most obnoxious parts of the whole flying process, but it absolutely does not have to be. Know your TSA regulations and you’re in business. You are going to have to take off your shoes and anything metal that might set off the detectors, as well as run all your regulation size liquids and laptops, so plan accordingly. Slip-on shoes are priceless (and also easier to take on and off in flight, for maximum comfort). As for jewelry or watches, pack it! If you want it later, pack it in your personal carry, but don’t bother spending the time taking it on and off.

Those toiletries that you carefully packed into your quart size bag so you could carry them on the plane? They need to go through the scanner separately, so have them ready to hand. No one likes to be the person digging in their bag for something buried at the bottom. I usually carry mine in my purse so I can grab ‘em and run ‘em through, and then stow them in my larger bag before boarding. The same applies for laptops, so make sure they are easily accessible.

On the Plane: Prepare Yourself to be Comfortable

Like most people, I have a hard time getting comfortable on a plane, so I have a few simple things I bring along to help out. First of all, dress in layers, because the temperature on planes can be unpredictable, to put it charitably. To that same end, pashmina scarves are invaluable, now that pillows and blankets have become a thing of the past. They are lightweight but large, so I bring two, one for wrapping up in if it’s cold, and one for folding into an ersatz pillow, should I not be one of the lucky ten who get the airline supplied ones. Ear plugs, or at least noise-canceling headphones, are necessary if you want to have a calm flight. Even if you are fortunate to have a flight with no crying children or chatty neighbors, planes themselves make an incredible amount of noise. You may not even consciously notice it, because it is so consistent, but it’s there.

Also, airplanes are incredibly dehydrating, but becuase of that pesky liquid regulation, you aren’t allowed to bring a big bottle of water on board with you. Sure, you could purchase one after you’ve gone through security, but I for one have an aversion to spending $5 on water. So, I bring my empty Sigg water bottle with me, and fill it at a water fountain before I get on the plane.

I like Sigg not only because of it’s eco-friendliness, but the wide mouth design lets you actually fill it with water from a low-spouting airport fountain without dumping the whole thing back out again. Before I started doing this, my lips were once so dehydrated while flying that they were actually painful, so I now always pack chapstick as well.

Believe me, a little preparation goes a very long way in making your journey an enjoyable experience. I wish you pleasant and peaceful travels, wherever they may take you!

[Photo by ||!prliignore2||]