Are you flying soon and want to ensure concrete preparation? Discover 15 tips and tricks for a successful plane trip
1. Check and secure your important documents
There is nothing worse than finding out at the last moment that your passport is no longer valid or that your phone where you have your tickets no longer turns on. Remember to check that you have all the necessary documents and plan a fallback solution
A good way to protect yourself is to scan all your important documents and keep a copy online, in the cloud or in your email, for example
2. Choose your seat
If you are traveling in a group or as a family and being seated next to each other is important to you, consider reserving your seats online. This is especially important if you have chosen a low-cost company, as some now separate groups on purpose if they have not chosen their seats
3. Learn about airline rules
Find out about the rules specific to your airline, including baggage policy and sizes allowed. This will allow you to avoid having to put luggage in the hold at the last moment, and often at a premium
4. Find out about the rules in force in your destination country
Depending on your destination country, an item that you think is innocent may turn out to be prohibited. This could put you at a bad time at best, a fine or even jail time at worst! For example, we can cite the example of Australia and its strict restrictions on the importation of foodstuffs or the United Arab Emirates, where many painkillers are considered drugs.
In any case, if you have to travel with prescription drugs, take the prescription with you to avoid any problems
5. Be strategic in the preparation of your luggage
First, start by making a checklist of what you want to pack, preferably several days in advance.
When preparing your suitcases, avoid packing one suitcase per type of item of clothing or one suitcase per person. Sometimes luggage gets lost or arrives late, so you will at least have room for a few days in case something goes wrong.
If your baggage is “go-anywhere”, think of a way to differentiate it from the rest. This will allow you to easily spot it on the conveyor belt and avoid the risk of confusion with that of another passenger
6. Plan your trip to the airport
If you don’t plan your trip to the airport efficiently, you run the risk of missing your plane, so this is an especially important step that deserves your attention.
If you decide to go to the airport by public transport, calculate how long it will take you and check the timetables for your dates in advance and the day of your departure. Always allow a safety margin to be able to find another solution in the event of a strike or a problem on the tracks.
If you decide to drive to the airport, consider reserving your parking space at the airport. This will save you on your booking fees and it will prevent you from going in circles if the car parks are full.
7. Prepare for the security check
In particular, think of all the objects that may be prohibited and which you will have to separate yourself from, such as perfumes greater than 100 ml, Swiss Army knives, pressurized objects such as deodorants, etc.
Avoid clothes with metal parts or difficult to remove like high boots. Plan a pocket in which to keep your personal items, this way you won’t waste time emptying your pockets and minimize the risk of losing something.
In general, the less things you take with you on your plane trip, the less things you will have to worry about
8. Dress appropriately
Avoid clothes that are too tight or uncomfortable and prefer loose clothing. Regardless of the temperature on departure or arrival, consider bringing a sweater or scarf. The temperature drops quickly when you are outdoors, it would be a shame to start your vacation sick!
9. Charge all your electronic devices well
If you want to be able to distract yourself during your flight, remember to fully charge your tablet, smartphone or computer. A good solution for long flights is to buy an external battery, these are now very affordable and extend the life of your devices considerably
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Download useful applications
If you need to take public transit, downloading the transit authority’s app (if available) is a good way to stay on top of traffic and deal with potential problems.
Your airline’s application will also allow you to monitor your flight status in real time, which can be useful in the event of a delay or cancellation. If you have gone through a comparator like Skyscanner, then it may be interesting to activate notifications to be notified in the event of a problem.
Finally, most airports have an app, if you are departing from a major airport this can be useful for orientation and to save time.11. Bring disinfectant gel
With frequenting airports, it’s easy to catch germs. Having disinfectant gel or wipes will come in handy when eating your meal
12. Think about your comfort
If you are a light sleeper or don’t want to be disturbed, pack a mask, earplugs, or noise-canceling headphones. This way you will be ready to face babies and other noisy passengers without risking a nervous breakdown13. Bring some snacks
If you are not a big fan of airplane food or if your flight does not offer you food, it may be worth bringing snacks with you on your trip Fruits, chocolate bars or sandwiches are generally allowed in the cabin without problems14. Bring chewing gum or candy
When taking off or landing, the change in air pressure can be very unpleasant for your ears. Having a chewing gum or a candy will allow you to mitigate these effects15. Prevent in case of allergy or food intolerance
Most airlines will cope with an allergy or intolerance and offer you a specific meal. Please note, you will need to notify in advance to be able to benefit from this preferential treatment