There’s nothing worse than having a bad airport experience. Airports are almost always a high-stress environment and the reason for that is most people aren’t adequately prepared to get through the airport experience as seamlessly as possible. Luckily, there are several things you can do to make your time at the airport less stressful — and maybe even enjoyable! So here are 20 tips for a smooth airport experience.
1. Be Mindful of Flight Announcements
If you’re not using an app, then you must pay attention to flight announcements. Delays, gate changes, and even cancellations happen all the time and you don’t want to be left in the dark when it comes to any information regarding your flight. So be mindful of announcements, keep an eye on the boards scattered throughout the airport, and strongly consider downloading your airline’s app.
2. Arrive Early
Arriving early is generally a good rule of thumb for most situations — but especially going to the airport! By arriving early you’re not only giving yourself ample time to check in, go through security, and account for any unexpected delays, but you’re also affording yourself a nice buffer to grab a meal or a coffee. Try your best to stick to the recommended 2-hour arrival for domestic flights and 4-hour arrival for international.
3. Check-In Online
Online check-in is a crucial step in almost every circumstance. Not only does it save you the trouble of having to wait in massive lines to get checked in at the airport, but it also gives you the chance to pick a seat you want and eliminates the risk of not getting a seat on an overbooked flight.
4. Pack Smart
Packing isn’t just about your experience when you arrive at your destination, it can also have huge ramifications on how well you fare at the airport. Unless it's necessary, you're much better off packing lighter and sticking to a carry-on, as this will allow you to avoid the dreaded check-in line and luggage carousel. Beyond that, make sure that luggage meets the airline’s size and weight restrictions and keep all of your liquids in a clear-quart-sized bag to prevent any issues with security.
5. Use Mobile Apps
Always make sure to download your airline’s official app before arriving at the airport. From here, you can check in and receive real-time updates on flight status, gate changes, and boarding times. Apps will also serve as a quick and convenient place to store your boarding pass, eliminating the risk of losing your paper ticket.
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6. Dress Comfortably
Dressing comfortably not only enhances your travel experience while you’re on the plane, but it also helps streamline things before you even board. Wear clothing that will keep you cozy on the flight (as they are generally colder) and shoes that are easy to slip off and put back on for security. Moreover, try to avoid any accessories that can trigger the metal detector, such as jewelry or belts.
7. Organize Travel Documents
There’s nothing more stressful than that feeling that overcomes you when you think you lost your boarding pass or passport. The best way to avoid this is to keep important documents in one easy-to-access place that you won’t forget about. Beyond giving you peace of mind, it will also help you streamline the process of showing documentation at security checks and while boarding.
8. Stay Hydrated
Dehydration is an often overlooked culprit when people report feeling run-down after a trip. Proper hydration is a great way to ensure you’re feeling your best while also combatting the effects of fatigue and jet lag. Just make sure to bring an empty water bottle, as you won’t be able to bring a full one through security — and you certainly don’t want to pay exorbitant airport prices for a bottle of water.
9. Pack Snacks
In addition to staying hydrated, it’s also important that you replenish energy with healthy, wholesome snacks — especially when flying on airlines that either don’t offer food or charge you way too much for it. Your hunger is sure to kick in during long flights or delays and you don’t want to find yourself in the position of having to buy overpriced (and generally unhealthy) food at the airport.
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10. Know Security Procedures
Knowing what’s expected of you at security ahead of time is the best way to get through the whole ordeal stress-free. TSA guidelines are relatively similar to most airports so be sure to familiarize yourself with certain procedures that will have you on your way as soon as possible. These include preemptively removing shoes, belts, and jewelry, as well as properly emptying your pockets and taking out any large electronics you may have in your carry-on bag.
11. Charge Your Devices
You never know what can happen at the airport so make sure that any devices you may need are fully charged before arriving. Yes, most airports will have charging stations, but these can be quite crowded, especially during periods of extensive delays and cancellations. If possible, try to have a portable charger handy just in case.
12. Use TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
If you find yourself travelling quite a bit or are planning to, it’s worth your time to enroll in a program like TSA PreCheck of Global Entry. These programs are designed to provide you with expedited security screenings that allow you to keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on while also eliminating the need for you to remove laptops or liquids from your bag. It's a worthwhile consideration especially since the application process is simple enough.
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13. Label Your Luggage
If you are going to be checking luggage then always be sure to label it. Doing so will help prevent your luggage from getting lost since it will have all the relevant details, including your name, phone number and address. Using distinct and easy-to-spot straps and tags will also help you find it quicker and distinguish it from another person who may have a similar type of bag.
14. Plan Ahead
Stress almost always stems from a lack of preparedness. It’s that frantic scrambling that usually gets to you the most, so why not take some time to plan ahead and familiarize yourself with where you’re going? Taking extra steps like knowing how to get to your terminal, where check-in is, researching transportation options, etc are all small but collectively vital measures that will help you keep your cool and know exactly where to go and what to do.
15. Stay Calm and Patient
The best thing you can do in the face of stressors like long lines, annoying delays, and rude passengers/airport employees is to just stay calm and keep a positive attitude. At the end of the day, there’s only so much that you can affect and when it comes to situations that are completely out of your hands, it is best to just let things pass you by.
16. Use Lounge Access
Another thing you can do to ensure a smooth and enjoyable airport experience is to take the time to learn about airport lounge access. Many credit cards and frequent flyer programs offer incentives like longue access or priority boarding. Longues can provide you with a relaxing and enjoyable airport experience, as most offer comfy seating and complimentary food and drinks.
17. Know Your Rights
Knowing your rights as a passenger is a foolproof way to ensure that you can properly navigate many of the inconveniences that come your way. There are often strict regulations or company policies that airlines must adhere to when it pertains to flight delays, cancellations, and overbooked flights. Many of these circumstances may entitle you to certain types of compensation that you ought to know about.
18. Keep a Travel Kit Handy
A handy travel kit is a great way to ensure that certain essentials like hand sanitizer, tissues, or a toothbrush are always at your disposal when you need them the most. Anything can happen at the airport and having these vital personal items at reach at all times will ensure that your overall experience is pleasant and devoid of any additional stress.
19. Follow Proper Boarding Procedure
Many factors can cause delays, but one that passengers often overlook is a disorderly boarding procedure. A smooth and quick boarding process ensures that the plane is ready to depart on time. So to avoid any congestion, passengers must follow proper boarding procedures, including having their documents ready, boarding with their zones and ensuring they don’t have oversized luggage.
20. Prepare for Customs and Immigration
One of the most stressful aspects of travelling is going through customs and immigration, the “final boss” of travel so to speak. The best way to ensure that you get through customs as seamlessly as possible is to have all your necessary documents ready for inspection and make sure that all required forms are filled out before you arrive.
