Air Travel Hacks: For Nervous Travelers

Needing to take a plane somewhere is one of the most frustrating experiences for many people. They don’t have control of anything and there is no guarantee that they will even get to the right place. The airport security is a completely different list of rules and feeling like you need to “strip” in the line while onlookers watch is overall embarrassing. Its also terrible when you have to get your items after going through the x-ray and hoping that your bag isn’t the one that got pulled. There are so many reasons to hate traveling by plane. The more time you spend in an airport for different flights, you start to understand the secret codes of flying.

1)If you have TSA security anxiety, go to the TSA Website. This is the source of truth for all your security questions. They answer things such as what food you can bring, special instructions for liquids/gels and any questions that you may have about what is allowed in checked bags vs carry on bags.

2) If you are nervous about missing your flight. First, get the app for the airline that you are traveling. Usually the app is the first place to receive a notification that a flight is delayed or cancelled. Second, bring things to do while you wait. Personally this is the time I use to catch up on my fantasy novels with my kindle, but I have also used this time to respond to emails, follow up with friends or jot down notes for a blog post. If you have something to do that is NOT scrolling on social media the time will pass much faster.

3) If you need to travel with a host of electronics and don’t want to unpack half your carryon. I suggest getting TSA Precheck (for domestic flights) or global entry (if you have a few international flights). These options make a huge difference in your TSA experience. Protip* If your home airport is a terrible one like LAX, ATL or DEN I strongly recommend getting Clear. The line is even faster than precheck and overall you can get to the airport just a little bit closer to your flight time. Many credit cards will pay for your clear or global entry membership so be sure to check there first to see if you can get it for free.

4) If you are afraid of your devices dying. Bring more than one backup charger and charge everything the night before your flight. This ensures that you are covered for the entire time you are in the airport and when you pack in the morning there are no worries about anything dying on you. You can also charge at the gate but often those chargers are broken and unreliable.

Wireless chargers

5) If you are unable to get global entry or don’t want to pay for it. I recommend downloading the FREE Mobile Passport Control App. This line is usually just as short as the global entry line and you save yourself a ton of time.

Mobile Passport Control App

6) If you tend to get hungry. PACK SNACKS!!!!! I always pack a few snacks in my carryon such as almonds or protein bars. If its a longer flight (maybe a redeye to the east coast) I make sure to have a filling dinner so I am not hungry while in the airport. If you must eat at an airport you can look up what food they have and hours, they all have a website. This is another thing you can do while waiting for your flight, or looking up food at your destination. When you have to travel to a remote location for work, knowing the food options in advance is very helpful.

7) In my carryon essentials post I shared the items that I like to have in my carryon for flights, Take a look at that list and think about what things will make you feel just a little more comfortable on the plane. Maybe a pillow, maybe your favorite sweats and comfy sneakers, think about what makes sense for your personal needs and pack those items,

The worst part about travel is not knowing if everything will go smoothly and the characters you see at the airport. When I get to the airport I remind myself that I have a wealth of items to stay occupied so I am not constantly watching the clock. Letting go of the idea that everything will go to plan removes the disappointment when it doesn’t go to plan. Once you adopt this mindset you can travel so much easier. There is always one person who cares too much about the order in which you board the plane, someone who will complain about overhead space and that person who is coughing just a little too much for your liking. If you have a “just in case” mask (add hand sanitizer) and headphones these people are no longer your problem. Flying can be soo much easier than you think you just needed the secret codes.