Dealing with the Busy Travel Season – At the Airport

In the UK and for most of Europe the busiest travel days are around the school holidays. Families vacationing en-masse in far away places. For The US and Canada the peak travel days are usually around Thanksgiving and Christmas when families join one another from all parts of the country to celebrate together. These are days that we know are busy, and there are many more. For many of us, flying a week early to avoid the crowds just isn’t an option. Here’s some advice to help you prepare your trip and make it go smoothly.

Check in online. We cannot stress this one enough. Checking in online saves a lot of time and can even save you money on baggage fees as some airlines charge less for checked bags online than what is collected at the airport. With a boarding pass in hand and carry-on only you can go straight to security in many cases though sometimes you’ll still have to see an agent for a passport check. With bags, many airlines have designated special bag-drop queues where your boarding pass gets scanned, a label prints out and gets attached to your bag, and you can be on your way.

Even if you have checked in online this next piece of advice is still important for you. Arrive early! there will be lots of people and there will be lots of waiting in line. Remember to pack a light snack and a water bottle to get you through the wait but please remember to empty the water bottle or dispose of it before going through security; and if you’re flying internationally remember to check the restrictions on taking food across the border.

Getting through security can be rough at the best of times. Remember to have your ID and boarding pass at the ready because having to look for it at the bottom of your carry-on holds everyone up. If you’re wearing something with pockets, we’d suggest keeping it in there, or somehow easily accessible on your person at all times. that way if you would happen to get separated from your bags you still have your ID and ticket.

Have a look at your airport’s website. See what facilities and amenities there are and have a plan. Some airports feature museums and exhibits whilst others have great shopping. If you’ve got the time, make use of it and you’ll notice it’ll soon be time to board.

This definitely doesn’t cover every aspect, but the mantra is be prepared. it takes a lot of the stress out of travel.