Flying advice for this summer: Brace for impact.
If you don’t have to fly, then don’t. My rule is that if I have a car and I can drive to the destination in under 10 hours, then I’ll do it in a heartbeat over flying, especially now. Yes gas prices are crazy, but the cancellations and flying experience from airport security to sitting on the tarmac on a hot plane are not what you signed up for. Even after the news of no inbound Covid testing, it won’t stop these travel woes.
If you have to fly, then here are ways to make it as smooth as possible:
Book direct or with a travel advisor with some pull. If you book with a third-party, you might find yourself at the bottom of the list for assistance. A travel advisor is more likely to get on the line with someone who can help or the air department is tracking your flight.
Download the airline app. That’s typically the fastest way to get an update, and then be able to rebook on certain carriers vs. them just choosing for you.
Carry-on only. Pack smart and compact. Take it from me and my recent cancellation, standby mess where I had to make the flight but without my bag. I couldn’t avoid checking with the event that I had. But, you won’t catch me doing that again.
My favorite carry on is the Bric’s X-Collection, soft black exterior that deflects dirt/damage with a leather trim. Well I love the whole collection but the carry on has been my travel partner for years,
Ways you can pack tighter, find multi-use / outfit pieces like scarves, jean jacket / light jackets, layering and you can wear on the plane. Pack shoes that match a few outfits — talking to my fellow ladies out there. Try to wear the shoes that take up the most space on the plane. Then roll your clothes and put socks, small things in shoes for example to maximize little pockets of unused space.
Minimize smells. We’re all packed on a plane so practice basic hygiene, go easy on the perfume and don’t rock up on the plane with very odorous food.
Sanitary. Remember that planes and air travel comes with a lot of germs, not just Covid. Wear shoes in the bathroom, wipe down your tray table, carry antibacterial, and mask - even if it is optional. I’ve heard so many people coughing without covering their mouths and I don’t want whatever they have. Period.
Be nice and be patience. Be polite to your crew, ground staff, and fellow passengers. Being kind can go such a long way to making someone’s day better, including the very tired air crew who’s been dealing with a lot. Also kindness will get you better help, faster when something goes wrong.
Get your boarding and deplaning routine down. Have your stuff ready to put in the bin above or put below as quickly as possible. Move into the sit and out of the aisle, when you can to let people pass. If you do this, you will leave on time and not lose your runway window with delays you can avoid. Also when you or someone near you has a tight connection, minutes matter.
Bring and wear your headphones. No one wants to hear your music, movie, video game or conversation with another person. I see this happen all the time which still boggles my mind! It’s just common courtesy. And sometimes if there is a noisy chatter or baby, you can tune them out too.
Also download your Kindle books, music, etc before so you have ample entertainment if the IFE isn’t onboard or not working and save on having to pay for WiFi.
Wear layers & plan for a cold plane. Even if you’re flying to the Bahamas, you are going to want to pack that sweater, scarf or layers in case of a cold plane. Or have layers in case the cabin temperature is unpredictable. It’s hard to say if you might be stuck on an air craft that needs to power down.
Avoid connections when you fly or book longer layovers. It seems nearly impossible and expensive, so do what you can to minimize stops. If you have a stopover, make sure it’s long enough for potential delays and getting from gate to gate. Some airports are huge and connecting to international flights can be tough.
Fly early. If you leave on an early flight, then you’re less likely to get caught up in the cancellations that start to take place as connections are missed, and delays happen. I despise getting up that early but sometimes it’s the sacrifice we have to make.
Go a day early. If you have to get somewhere important or for an occasion, fly a day early and return a day earlier than you need too if you can. It’s the nature of air now that we have to be flexible and you don’t want to be exhausted on either end of your trip.
Flight crew timeouts and staff shortages. There is nothing you can do but do the above and have back up plans. If you can fly out of a major airport or airline hub, you will have more options than smaller airports that have a once-daily departure to your long-haul destination for example. It gives you more solutions when things go sideways.
Bring a refillable water bottle and snacks (that don’t smell). Staying hydrated is really important for your well-being and patience in many cases. It can also keep you fuller longer. For snacks, I like to carry those Nutri-Grain breakfast bars or similar to avoid paying for expensive airport food that just ends up giving me heartburn.
I leave for Miami next week for a few days. Wish me luck! Stay sane out there, everyone.
