Most people would agree that while traveling by plane is convenient, it certainly isn’t fun. In fact, out of the 4.38 million passengers that traveled globally in 2009, 752,422 passengers were bumped from domestic flights.
There’s nothing worse than planning the perfect vacation to a T, only to get stuck at the airport for hours or even overnight if your flight reservation has been bumped or delayed. While it helps to expect the unexpected when traveling for vacation, you can use these handy air travel tips to reduce stress by the time you hit airport security:
- Book airport transportation. Instead of worrying that your Great-Aunt Mildred won’t show up on time to take your family to the airport for vacation, you can rest easy by booking Austin airport car service in advance. A professional driver will arrive promptly and will handle the dirty job of navigating traffic and long lines at airport departures. Even better, you won’t have to pay expensive parking fees to keep your car in a garage while you’re gone.
- Try an alternate airport.Instead of flying through a major international airport like Dallas or Denver, try a smaller nearby airport like Colorado Springs instead. Avoiding a busy, crowded airport could save you time and reduce the risk of a flight being delayed or canceled completely.
- Check in online. Even if you plan to check bags for your vacation, you can still check in online to shorten your check-in time at the airport. In fact, many passengers are completely unaware of the fact that airlines are likely to charge moreto check-in baggage at the terminal. If at all possible, try to carry on all of your belongings for a short trip since you’ll avoid baggage check altogether.
- Don’t pack questionable items.Take a moment to check through all of your family’s belongings with a fine tooth comb to look for prohibited items like lighters, razors, or oversized liquids that could hold you up at airport security. To speed through security, keep all toiletries in quart sized bags and don’t exceed 3.4 ounces.
- Pay for pampering. In the event that your flight does get bumped or delayed, avoid family meltdowns by paying a small fee to use an airport lounge. An airport lounge may cost up to $50 a day and will provide you with nicer bathrooms, snacks, and comfortable chairs – not to mention a quiet place for kids to nap during layovers.