Top 10 Airport Hacks To Make Your Trip More Pleasant
Traveling is fun and exciting, but flight days can be stressful and exhausting. Use the ten tips below to make getting from the parking garage to the gate as hassle free as possible.
Prepare in Advance
1 – Secure your luggage by investing in some advanced technology, such as a luggage tracker. Then tie a brightly colored ribbon on the handle to make your bag easy to spot on the luggage carousel when you arrive.
2 – Weigh your bags at home to prevent extra charges for overweight bags imposed by your airline. The cost of a luggage scale is only a fraction of what you’d pay for one overweight bag.
3 – Get a TSA Pre-Check for faster screening in US airports. Find out more here: TSA Pre-Check
Save Time at the Airport
4 – Take a picture of your parking space. If you’re parking your car at the airport, take a few seconds when you arrive to make your return that much easier. Snap some pics of the level and row signs with your phone so you don’t have to try to remember if you parked on level D or E when you get back late and tired.
5 – Check-in next to the first class/business line. With automated kiosks in many airports now, you may not be standing in line to check in, but if you are, use the line next to the first class agent. The first class line is usually not as long, and the agent on duty there will often help economy travelers if no one is at their counter.
6 – Move everything from your pockets to your carry on before security to prevent delays. Instead of fumbling around with belts and jewelry at the scanner, place those items in your carry on, allowing you to get through smoothly and then you can find a quieter spot to get them back out, instead of trying to get re-dressed at the end of the conveyor belt.
7 – Go left at security. Research shows that people naturally gravitate in the direction of their dominant hand, which is right for most people. So, do the opposite and go left. Chances are the left lane will be slightly quieter and less hectic.
Enjoy Your Wait at the Gate
8 – Pack an empty water bottle in your carry-on to avoid paying steep prices for bottled water at the airport. Your own empty bottle will go through security just fine and you can fill it up at a water fountain after the checkpoint. You’re probably going to want that water bottle on your trip anyway.
9 – Bring a multi-plug adapter, especially if you’re traveling with family or a group. An adapter that can turn one outlet into multiple will allow more people to plug in. Even if you’re traveling alone, you may arrive at the gate and find all outlets are in use. Often a fellow traveler will share their outlet with you if you have an adapter.
10 – Place in-flight essentials in one small bag so you can just grab it before you stow your carry-on in the overhead compartment or under the seat. If you have your tablet, earbuds, snacks, etc all together, it will make boarding and your flight much more hassle-free.
