Look, I’ve gotta be honest, I kind of hate most stories with “expert” tips for taking the stress out of flying. They’re always framed as if there are going to be some amazing tips you’ve never thought of, when in reality, everyone is basically saying the same thing.
Despite that, let me pile on and create my own list. 😉 I’ll be realistic upfront, though, and state that I probably won’t have any tips here that you’ve never heard of. I just figure it’s useful to have a consolidated post in which I share my general tips for smooth travel. I’ve written about most of these points individually, but it’s nice to have them all in one place.
So below are my tips for making air travel as seamless as possible, roughly in chronological order (from the time of booking to the time of travel).
In this post:
Be strategic about the flights that you book
You should always be deliberate about the flights that you book, beyond just the cost. This can come in many forms. Personally I prefer to fly earlier in the day, rather than later in the day. That partly reflects that I’m a morning person, but the reality is that airlines also operate more smoothly earlier in the day, given the domino effect of irregular operations.
Furthermore, be careful about the connections that you book. For example, airlines publish minimum connection times, so don’t assume that just because an airline will sell you a connection, that you should actually book it. I’d rather have a two-hour layover than a 40-minute layover, as tempting as the shorter travel time sounds.
Furthermore, if you’re traveling to something important, leave a buffer. For example, if you’re flying to take a cruise, don’t arrive the same day, where you’re in huge trouble if things go wrong. For important events, you always want a backup option, if at all possible. That also massively reduces the stress associated with taking a flight.
Use a credit card with travel protection
When you pay for your ticket, try to use a credit card that offers travel protection. Travel rewards cards offer all kinds of great perks, and a card with good travel protection can come in handy when things go wrong. I’m talking about coverage for trip delays, delayed or lost bags, etc.
For example, in the event that you end up misconnecting and need to spend a night somewhere, a credit card could cover the cost of your hotel stay, meals, and more.. Chase perhaps sets the standard here, with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) and Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review).
Put thought into your bag situation
Some people are strictly in the “carry-on only” camp. Personally I’m not quite that extreme, and there are situations where I don’t mind checking bags. Still, you should be strategic about how you pack:
- If you can, travel only with carry-on bags, so that you don’t have to risk your bag being misplaced, and don’t have to wait for your bag at baggage claim
- If you do check a bag, make sure you use Apple AirTags, in the unlikely event that your bag is misplaced
- If you check a bag, try to fly an airline that’s known for delivering bags quickly; for example, both Alaska and Delta have 20-minute baggage guarantees, so are much better than American or United
Beyond that, don’t overpack! We have a tendency to pack way more things that we need, and many people return from their trips having not even touched half of the clothes in their bag. Packing bags is a situation where “less is more.”
By the way, while I think people overpack for most things, there’s one area where they don’t pack enough — that’s snacks. Always bring some packaged snacks, because you never know when you’ll deal with major irregular operations.
Track your flight status carefully
Nowadays there are plenty of apps and tools that will help you monitor your flight, even before you arrive at the airport. The single most important thing to track is where your inbound aircraft is. After all, without a plane able to operate your flight, you’re not going to go very far.
In some situations, airlines will directly show you inbound flight information on their websites, while in other situations, using websites or apps like Flightradar24 or FlightAware are your best bet.
Be friendly, patient, and considerate
When you go to the airport, try to be the best version of yourself:
- Be nice to frontline airline and airport employees, especially during busy travel periods; whatever goes wrong likely isn’t their fault, and they don’t deserve your frustration
- Even selfishly, you’re almost always going to get more help from someone if you’re nice to them, rather than being rude or condescending
- Also try to be considerate of other passengers, and that includes not blasting music, videos, or phone calls, without headphones
Invest in TSA PreChecK & Global Entry
There are a lot of things that have gotten better about flying over the past decade or so. One of those is the widespread availability of TSA PreCheck for clearing security, and Global Entry for clearing immigration. These programs are incredible, and really take the hassle out of both airport security and immigration.
If you’re eligible for these programs and are flying in the United States, I’d highly recommend registering. Your best bet is to get Global Entry, if eligible, since that also comes with TSA PreCheck (the inverse isn’t true).
There’s also CLEAR, which isn’t a government program — some people love it, but I find it to have limited value.
Don’t cut it close at the airport
If you travel every week for work and know exactly what you’re doing, then you’re probably not going to have any issues with cutting things very close. However, if you travel less frequently, or if you’re at airports around the holidays, leave a buffer.
Not only will it maximize your odds of actually making your flight, but it’ll also reduce your stress. Of course don’t go too over the top. Sometimes airlines will suggest arriving three or four hours before departure, and that’s usually an overkill. However, arriving 90-120 minutes before departure is generally a good idea.
There are many factors, though, ranging from whether you’re checking bags, to if you have elite status, to whether you have access to TSA PreCheck.
Invest in airport lounge access
You don’t have to be rich to get airport lounge access. Instead, there are lots of premium credit cards offering lounge access, and they can make your time at the airport much more pleasant.
So whether we’re talking about an airline lounge membership, or a credit card that gets you a Priority Pass membership, Amex Centurion Lounge access, Capital One Lounge access, or Chase Sapphire Lounge access, this is something worth considering.
Just to give one example of how affordable lounge access can be, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) has a $395 annual fee, but that’s easily offset by a $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles. Then you’re left with a Priority Pass membership and Capital One Lounge access, not just for the primary cardmember, but also for up to four authorized users at no extra cost. It’s hard to beat this arrangement as a family.
There’s also often value to lounge access with the airline you’re flying with, whether that comes in the form of an annual membership, or buying a day pass. That’s because lounges often have dedicated airline agents who can help you in the event of irregular operations, making it easier to manage your travel when things go wrong.
Be prepared for irregular operations
For the most part, airlines do an impressive job operating reliably, and getting people where they need to go. It’s a very complex business where safety is paramount and there are all kinds of factors airlines can’t control, so sometimes things do go wrong.
In the event of irregular operations, whether it’s a delay or cancelation, don’t panic. I’ll write a separate post about how to deal with airline irregular operations, but generally speaking, here are a few things to consider:
- Nowadays airlines have a lot of self-service options for rebooking, so don’t just stand in line waiting to speak to an agent
- Look up an airline’s policy for delayed or canceled flights (especially when it comes to refunds and duty of care), and even consider rebooking on other airlines
- Sometimes you just have to know when to cut your losses and go home; if there’s a complete meltdown at an airport, and customer service lines that are a mile long, you might just be better off going home, trying to get in touch with the airline, and starting over the next day
Bottom line
There’s not some magic bullet that’s suddenly going to make travel stress-free, despite the number of stories out there suggesting that may be the case. The above are my top general tips for ensuring travel goes as smoothly as possible.
I don’t think there’s anything there that’s going to be super surprising to a frequent traveler, but I still figured it made sense to consolidate some of the individual tips that I’ve shared over the years.
What are your top tips for making flying as smooth as possible, especially during busy travel periods?
If you get a notice that your flight is, say, 2 hours late, do you still go to the airport and operate as if it might change back to on time, or do you just stay home/ at the hotel and go about your plans around the new flight time?
1. Get to the airport early, or at least with an additional 30 minute buffer
2. Never, ever check bags
3. Pre Check, maybe, at large airports it doesn't seem to save much time but for the $100 (or whatever it is if you don't have it reimbursed by a cc) still might have some usefulness
4. Always monitor your incoming plane. I start with the plane's first flight of the day...
1. Get to the airport early, or at least with an additional 30 minute buffer
2. Never, ever check bags
3. Pre Check, maybe, at large airports it doesn't seem to save much time but for the $100 (or whatever it is if you don't have it reimbursed by a cc) still might have some usefulness
4. Always monitor your incoming plane. I start with the plane's first flight of the day and set up alerts. If time allows I go into the app and check the ongoing status
5. If delays/cancellation look possible do your own research to gather options. Don't wait for a flight to actually post a delay or cancellation. I do this so that if I need to make a move I know exactly to what. (And another reason not to check bags, it will only complicate matters)
6. Be kind to those trying to assist you. Adhering to number 5 will go a long, long way. The majority of times the person will reroute you as requested just to get you out of their face.
I never purchase travel insurance (I think it's on my cc cards though) and because I'm proactive in the past two years I've been stuck exactly one time requiring an overnight stay, out of the airline's control.
One last thing, if the airline owes lodging and you're a member of an airline club and there's an open club at the airport have them book you a hotel. They have multiple options to offer.
Under "Be friendly, patient, and considerate", it's worth adding "PLEASE monitor your children, especially if they're punching or kicking other passengers' seats or misbehaving towards fellow passengers or staff in any other way."
Travel this week is the best with tsa pre check , priority , etc. There is no business travel. The main lines are packed ; walk by all the haters and save 20 minutes.
The lounges with easy access to the non-business traveler will be the most chaotic lounges. The DFW AA Flagship Lounge / Capital One Louge entrance is a good example of problematic lounges. People go in and out of the AA Flagship Lounge without issue but the Capital One visitors are waiting in line. The Capital One visitors are not happy people. I wish the AA Flagship Lounge did not share an entrance with the Capital...
The lounges with easy access to the non-business traveler will be the most chaotic lounges. The DFW AA Flagship Lounge / Capital One Louge entrance is a good example of problematic lounges. People go in and out of the AA Flagship Lounge without issue but the Capital One visitors are waiting in line. The Capital One visitors are not happy people. I wish the AA Flagship Lounge did not share an entrance with the Capital One Lounge.
Lounge access or access on the busiest days of the year isn't ideal.
“Be friendly, patient, and considerate” sadly is a tall ask for people who are already emotionally dysregulated on a normal day let alone traveling during the holidays. I think tending to one’s mental health and general wellness deserves its own bullet point. Mindfulness and breathwork practices are hugely valuable and freely accessible to anyone, and can counteract stress-induced cortisol. Some folks may need medication to help cope. Otherwise, properly hydrate throughout the day and try...
“Be friendly, patient, and considerate” sadly is a tall ask for people who are already emotionally dysregulated on a normal day let alone traveling during the holidays. I think tending to one’s mental health and general wellness deserves its own bullet point. Mindfulness and breathwork practices are hugely valuable and freely accessible to anyone, and can counteract stress-induced cortisol. Some folks may need medication to help cope. Otherwise, properly hydrate throughout the day and try to limit caffeine and alcohol intake.
Smile.
You’re more likely to be upgraded to first class and business. Especially the 2nd night of hannukah on the jfk lax transcon route. All the Jewish bankers are at home for the holidays. Easy upgrade. You’re welcome.