13 Best Tips When Flying Every Traveler Should Know

Whether it’s your first time on a plane or you’re a frequent flyer, there are always some tips when flying you can learn.

Flying can be a stressful experience, especially if it’s your first time. There are so many things to worry about – will your luggage make it on the plane (now air tags are becoming a thing)? Will you have enough legroom? What if there is a delay or cancellation due to staffing issues or weather? Between long security lines, boarding the plane, and finding your seat, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed especially in this post-pandemic world.

However, with a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can make flying a breeze! Get ready for our 13 best tips for when flying to help make it as a stress-free of an  experience as possible:

Know When to Buy Your Ticket to Save Money

Saving money on a trip is always nice. One of the best tips when flying you can receive, especially while traveling on a budget, is how to properly buy your ticket. Sure, it can be as simple as finding them on sites like Expedia, Skycanner etc. and purchasing through them, but for the best deals keep in mind these few tricks:

1. Buy your plane tickets at least a few weeks before your trip. Many experts recommend around 2 months in advance.
2. Book early in the week, right about the time when airlines adjust their fares
3. To save up to 30% on your ticket, try traveling in the fall to avoid the “high season”
4. Follow major airline’s social media accounts to check for deals
5. Sign up for a rewards program
6. Subscribe to email newsletters to stay up to date with discounts

In the end, how much you spend on your trip will come down to where you’re going and when. Look into things ahead of time, but also be open to different dates or times if it means spending less money.

Also, remember that while booking either book your flights in incognito mode, use a VPN, or delete your cookies before browsing. This way, the airline won’t track your search and potentially increase their fares.

Sign Up for CLEAR or TSA PreCheck

While handy for most travelers, this is probably one of the most important tip when flying these days, especially for frequent flyers. By signing up for either CLEAR or TSA PreCheck, you can skip the long security lines and quickly make it through airport security.

Avoid removing shoes, laptops, liquids, and so much more with just a simple CLEAR annual membership or 5-year TSA PreCheck approval. You will save so much time, guaranteed.

Dress Comfortably

We know, you’re going on vacation and want to look cute for your destination. But when flying, a good tip to remember is that it is best to prioritize comfort over fashion. Wear loose and comfortable clothing, avoiding anything too tight or constricting. And if you want to wear heels or dress shoes, bring a pair of flip-flops or sneakers to change into on the plane.

Pack Light

This should go without saying, but make sure to pack light! Not only will it make it easier to navigate through the airport, but you will also save money on checked baggage fees. To avoid excess weight and stress, pack only the essentials and remember the TSA’s liquid limit rule (3 oz)

Bring Entertainment

Whether it’s a book (or eBook to save space), your favorite movie, or some music, make sure to bring entertainment for your flight. It’s always a good idea to have something to pass the time and make your journey enjoyable.

A lot of planes have movies you can watch as part of in-flight entertainment for FREE.  So make sure to bring headphones with the old school stereo jack (not the ones that go into your iphone).  A lot of the time they give out the headphones for free but sometime they will charge.

Charge Your Devices Before Leaving

One of the most important tips when flying is that you are going to want your electronics fully charged. This includes items such as your cell phone, laptop, and camera. Not only will it save you from the hassle of searching for an outlet at the airport. But also ensure that you have enough battery life to last your entire trip.

Consider carrying a backup battery or portable charger just in case your device dies during the flight. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself later when you have a fully charged phone to navigate your way through the airport or take those beautiful vacation pictures.  

DO NOT bank on your plane having a charging outlet. Sometime they do and sometimes they don’t so it’s best to assume that you will not have that option.  Also don’t forget your laptop can charge your phone if push comes to shove.

Additionally, do a little research and make sure to bring a travel adapter that is compatible with the outlets of your destination country.

Bring Snacks

Airplane food is not always the best. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, bring some of your own snacks for the flight. Not only will it save you some money, but it’s also a great way to customize your meal. Avoid overpaying and unsatisfying airplane food by packing your own snacks. Even try avoid buying them at the airport, they will be overpriced. 

I would take a quick stop at a convenience store to get your food and snacks and it will save you money and time.

Bring a Refillable Water Bottle

Another tip to keep in mind, is that it is important to stay hydrated while flying, as the air in airplanes can be very dry. However, buying water at the airport or on the plane can be expensive and wasteful. Save yourself some money by bringing an empty reusable water bottle and filling it up once you pass through security.

Bring a Sleep Kit

Long flights can be exhausting and make it difficult to get some shut eye. To ensure a comfortable journey, bring along a sleep kit that includes things like an eye mask, earplugs, neck pillow, and even hand sanitizer wipes for those shared airplane trays.

Get Travel Insurance

No one wants to think about the worst happening during their vacation, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared. So one of the tips that I think is a good idea in this post-COVID world while flying is to get travel insurance. This will help you in case of any unexpected events such as flight cancellations or lost luggage.

Additionally, try booking with your credit card. Believe it or not, some credit card companies offer travel insurance and other perks such as rental car coverage. Do a little research and see if your credit card has any benefits that can save you some money. My favorite credit card for 2022, is the American Express Gold Card, not necessarily because of the insurance coverage, rather it is the 90,000 point promotion you can get by signing up which is almost  $3500 in value.    If you are also interested American Express, 90K point promotion, then CLICK THIS LINK to learn more.

Double-Check Your Documents

Before leaving for the airport, make sure to double-check that you have all the necessary documents such as your passport, driver’s license, and any visas or travel permits. It’s also a good idea to make copies of these documents in case they get lost or stolen during your trip.

Make Sure You Are Happy with Your Seat Assignment

Many airlines allow you to choose or even upgrade your seat before the flight, either online or at the airport. It may be worth it to spend a little extra money for a more comfortable or convenient seat such as one with extra legroom or by the aisle.

Additionally, if you’re already on the plane. But are unhappy with your seat assignment, don’t be afraid to ask a flight attendant if any other seats are available. It never hurts to inquire, and you may just end up with an upgrade.

That said, always ask for an upgrade! While it’s not always possible, and shouldn’t be expected, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Arrive Early

To avoid any unnecessary stress and potential problems, try to arrive at the airport earlier rather than cutting it close. Since TSA is understaffed, it can take much longer than expected to get through security.  If you are not intimately familiar with an airport I would highly recommend you get there 2-3 hours early even if it is a small airport. 

This will give you enough time to check-in, go through security, and find your gate without feeling rushed. I had one instance where it is small airport in Juneau. Alaska and it took almost an hour to get through security and we barely made our flight. They had maybe like 2 TSA worked so of all the tips when flying. If you get this one wrong there is no trip so don’t risk it if you don’t have to. Arrive Early!

Conclusion

Flying can be a stressful experience, but with these tips, we hope to make it a little smoother for you. Remember that preparation is key for a stress-free experience. Happy travels!

2 Bonus tips when flying:

1. Relax and have fun – remember that vacations are meant to be enjoyable and memorable experiences! Enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
2. Use Skycanner to help you find cheap flights. Select “Everywhere” as a destination and if you can be flexible, it will bring back some cheap flight they will just be to random spots.

For more details click here