Holiday travel plans can be really hard to make. As we move further into fall, the holidays are approaching. And with the holidays comes airplane flights home to visit the family. The holidays can be a stressful time, so here are some simple tips to make your trip home a little easier.
Pack light!
Nobody likes to spend more time in the airport than is absolutely necessary, so try to pack conservatively. See if you can fit everything you need in your carry-on bags. No checked bags means no waiting at baggage claim, which will help move your trip along more smoothly. Every passenger is allowed one carry-on that will be stowed in the overhead compartments and one that they stick under their seat, so take full advantage of the available space. Helpful hint: rolling your clothes instead of laying them flat allows you to fit more in a bag.
Choose your seat wisely
Airlines often allow you to choose which seat in the row you want when you pre-order your tickets online. Try and make smart decisions on which seat you choose based on what kind of flier you are. If you know that you’re going to have to use the bathroom during the flight, snag the aisle seat so you won’t disturb people when you get up. If you sleep through the flight, grab the aisle seat so you have something to lean against as you snooze. And if you end up stuck in the middle seat, ask your seatmates if they wouldn’t mind switching when you get on the plane; the worst they can do is say no.
Say yes to the emergency exit
It doesn’t happen all the time, but sometimes the flight attendants will ask for people to switch seats and sit in the emergency exit row. If this happens, volunteer or say yes if they ask you specifically. You can even tell the flight attendants that you would be willing to switch if necessary. The emergency exit rows have extra legroom and are slightly more comfortable than your average airplane seat. And don’t worry; the chances of you actually having to help facilitate an emergency exit are slim to none.
Wear layers
The difference between the temperatures in the airport, the airplane, and the outside can be staggering. Especially if you are traveling from Boston to California, where it is considerably warmer even in the winter. So be smart about the way you dress. Layers are always helpful, as you can easily take them off if you get too hot and put them back on if you get too cold. Also, go for comfort over style. It’s not the 1960s anymore; you don’t have to dress up when you go on a plane. Choose sweatpants over jeans, and sneakers over heels this will make your holiday travel much more comfortable. Nobody will judge you and your body will thank you.
Bring entertainment
Plane rides can be long and boring, so make sure that you bring something to entertain you. Whether it be a book, magazine, or iPod, entertainment will help make the time pass quicker. At the very least make sure you have a pair of headphones, as many airlines have free in-flight entertainment and the headphones that the airplane offers are sub-par. Added bonus: having headphones in your ears or a book in front of your face will help stop that chatty seatmate from talking to you if they annoy you.
Follow these holiday travel tips and you will set yourself up for an amazing and relaxing vacation.