How to Take the Stress Out of Plane Travel

By Jessi Stickel on July 23, 2015

Traveling is always a fun and positive adventure. Whether you are traveling to see a different country or going to visit grandma in Florida it is exciting to go someplace different than home. On the other hand, the actual traveling part of traveling isn’t so fun, especially by plane.

Even if you are not a nervous flyer, flights can be very unpleasant. You can be sitting next to the only baby on the plane that is screaming its head off for the entire 5 hours, or you can just be annoyed from sitting in a tiny space for what feels like forever. Just getting to the airplane is exhausting, having to arrive at the airport three hours ahead of the flight, checking luggage, going through security, and then waiting for the rest of the two and a half hours at the gate.

Image by Thong Vo via Unsplash

Here are some tips to make your flights a little bit more enjoyable.

1. Plane tickets are cheapest on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. according to Fare Compare. The website also states that it is cheapest to fly out on Wednesdays, for those who have flexible time.

2. Most major airlines let you choose your seats on the flight, with the exception of Southwest. Even if you book your flight through another site like Expedia, you still have to go to the airline’s direct website to choose your seat(s).

3. Consider your seat position if you are someone who likes to get up and move around a lot, or needs to use the bathroom frequently. The window seat is great, but if you are traveling alone you don’t want to make two strangers get up so you can go the the bathroom every hour. Aisle seats are very beneficial too.

4. Check in the day before. You can go onto your airline’s website 24 hours before your flight to verify your plane seat(s).

5. Put your boarding pass on your smart phone (Passbook) if you are traveling within the states. There should be an option to send your boarding pass to your Passbook on your iPhone to make it more acceptable than pulling out that piece of paper all day.

Image by mroach via flickr.com

6. Ask if any seat upgrades to first-class are available as soon as you arrive to your gate.

7. Essentials to bring on the plane ride:

*Snacks

Bringing your own snacks for before, during and after the flight is a great way to save money. Airport food can be pretty steep, and they don’t always have what you are in the mood for, so take some non-liquid snacks on the flight with you.

*Scarf

Planes are always cold, no matter what season it is, so it is a great way to stay warm and easy to take off if you are too warm. You can also use it if you are sensitive to smells. You never know who is going to be sitting next to you, and some people wear strong perfume or eat the smelliest foods, and you can easily put a scarf over your nose to block out all the odors.

*Blanket

Again, planes are chilly, especially if you’re trying to take a nap on the flight. You can buy blankets made for planes that roll up nicely, or bring your own from home.

*Neck pillow

Neck pillows aren’t too necessary on a flight, but if you know you’re going to be sleeping they are so worth it to bring. They really make all the difference when you’re trying to be comfortable in those confined seats.

Image by Steven Depolo via flickr.com

*Reusable water bottle

If you are a big water drinker and want to have water after you get through security and all, but don’t want to pay $3 for a bottled water bring an empty water bottle to fill up at a water fountain for free.

*BYOL (Bring Your Own Liquor) 

If you are a flight drinker, you are allowed to bring your own miniature bottles of alcohol on with you, although, they have to meet the regulations of being no more than 3 ounces each.

*iPad or tablet

Keep yourself entertained. You can play music or games, and also download books or magazines to avoid the extra weight in your bag. Certain airlines offer WiFi and/or movies and shows to stream through your device as well.

*Credit card(s)

Planes do not take cash for purchasing anything on the flight like food or movies.

*Headphones

Of course, don’t forget them. You’ll definitely need them on any flight to listen to movies and music.

*Headphone splitter

If a certain airline charges for movies per device, and you are traveling with someone, bring a headphone splitter, which allows two headphones to listen to one device at once.

*Portable charger

If you are going on a long flight you may be using your phone or tablet a lot, and if you are traveling you might not get to a charger soon after your flight lands, or your tablet could die halfway through the flight. It is always good to have a backup portable charger to charge your devices anywhere.

*Hand wipes

Let’s face it, hand wipes are an essential for everywhere. On planes people can spill their drinks easily or you could get a dirty or sticky tray in front of you (I really don’t think they ever disinfect them). You can never go wrong with being clean!

8. Sometimes when looking for your luggage at the baggage claim it is difficult to tell what bag is yours. You can put something bright and unique on your bag, like a ribbon to be able to identify it easily.

Happy flying and happy travels!

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