air travel tips
L
ately it seems there’s news everywhere about issues with air travel. From strikes at major airports, to lost luggage, to cancelled or delayed flights, it’s been a challenging year in the friendly skies.
flight cancellation, change, etc. This will save a lot of time since they tend to answer chat messages faster. This is especially important if there’s a weather event since the volume of passengers with issues increases. Delta’s app will even text your phone so you will receive notifications whenever there is a new message (super helpful so you don’t have to keep the app open while chatting).
Here’s some advice for how to make flying to your destination a little less painful. Arrive earlier than usual at the airport – long gone are the days of arriving close to your scheduled flight and having plenty of time before take-off. These days long lines at airline check in and security are the norm so you need to plan accordingly. Even TSA pre-check lines have been surprisingly long. I recommend arriving at least 2.5 hours prior to departure for domestic flights and at least 3.5 hours prior for international flights. Always assume that the lines will be long. Worst case, you have extra time to relax before your flight.
Bring snacks/drinks with you onto the plane – if your flight is delayed after everyone is seated, the airline will not provide food and beverage service. Sometimes you can be stuck in this limbo for hours. I always bring a couple of bottles of water and some snacks with me in case of a delay. Carry on your bags when possible – if you are someone who can pack for an entire trip in your carry-on luggage, now is the time to utilize that skill. Checking luggage right now is a game of roulette so carrying your luggage onto the plane is the best way to ensure that your things arrive with you.
Check in online – always use the airline’s app to check in online ahead of your flight. You can also check baggage (and pay fees, if applicable) so all you need to do once you arrive at the airport is tag and drop your bags. This saves a ton of time and since you’ll already have your boarding pass and seat assignment, you don’t have to worry about the flight being oversold and getting bumped.
Use AirTags for checked bags – if you must check your luggage, utilize AirTags. AirTags send out a Bluetooth signal that pings nearby devices, and your iPhone or Apple Watch can detect the location from those pings. They are about the size of a quarter and cost about $25 each – which is way less than it would cost to replace everything in your checked luggage. These can provide location accuracy down to a few feet and are a must-have if you are checking luggage.
Use the airline app to communicate – phone wait times for all travel suppliers are incredibly long and the airlines are no exception. Whenever possible utilize the chat feature in your airline’s app to communicate if you have a
Flying right now doesn’t have to be stressful. Give yourself plenty of time, plan ahead, and make sure to pack your patience!
Heather Meliski is a travel agent specializing in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Australia, the South Pacific, cruises, theme parks, and more. She lives in Smyrna with her husband two sons. Heather@yellowshoetravel.com FB @heatheryellowshoetravel IG @yellowshoetravelheather
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