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Stress-Free Holiday Travel For those travelers braving the holiday crowds, know that you are in excellent company. According to data from 2012, on December 21 Toronto’s Pearson International Airport moved 105,000 travelers through its gates, a 22 per cent increase over its average 86,000 daily patrons. Travelling during the busiest time of the year can be stressful to say the least. Not only are the perennial considerations of air travel still applicable, they are compounded by increased crowds, inclement weather and lengthier delays – all at a time of year when emotions might already be running high. A bit of planning goes a long way in ensuring the smoothest possible holiday travel experience.
Prepare in advance • Concede that things are going to be busier, more congested and slower than typical travel times. By going in with realistic expectations, and giving yourself extra time to account for the bustle, you will be better equipped to deal with the holiday hum. • Dressing in layers is the easiest and most comfortable way to adjust to temperature variances throughout the airport, or from moving in and outdoors. Take realistic inventory of whether you really need that oversized down-filled parka: if you are just dashing from the car to the airport, you might be grateful for not having to carry it, or having to overheat in it.
Pack entertainment • Electronic readers, tablets and smart phones can house hours and hours of entertainment, in super portable formats. They are lighter, more manageable and far more travel-friendly than bulky printed books and magazines and provide perfect distractions from the bedlam. • Before heading to the airport, ensure that all electronic devices are fully powered (once charged, pop the chargers into your carry on) and loaded up with the entertainment of your choice. • If you forget, not to worry. American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card holders visiting Toronto Pearson International Airport can kick back and charge up electronics at the Maple Leaf Lounge.
Make check-in a breeze • Check in online ahead of time and if your airline offers it, look into downloading your boarding pass right to your smart phone on PassBook. American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card holders can say humbug to crowds and breeze right through airports lines with Air Canada Executive First®/ Executive Class® Priority Check-in. This perk ensures a speedy bypass of security lineups with the Pearson Priority Security Lane at Toronto Pearson International Airport. • Ensure luggage meets the airline’s size and weight restrictions and that carry-on bags are ready to go. Opt for easy-wheel style luggage that can move as quickly as you can through those pesky airport crowds.
Be ready for security • Security is a necessary step in the travel experience but it doesn’t have to be as dreadful as you think. Remember to travel with slip on shoes and go easy on the jewelry to cut your pass through time in half. Also ensure all your liquids are easily accessible and less than 100mL so you expedite the security clearance process. • Look into added travel benefits with your Credit card if you are a frequent traveler. American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card holders receive access to the Toronto Pearson Priority Security Lane which means you get to bypass the line altogether. That means extra time to relax before you have to board the plane.
Seek sanctuary • American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card holders can find respite from the bustle by taking advantage of VIP lounges at participating airports, which offer serious salvation. Perks include designated quiet zones, complimentary snacks and drinks, reading materials, high definition television and free Wi-Fi – not to mention charging stations to power up electronics.
JUST HOW BUSY IS IT? • From December 17, 2012 to January 1, 2013, more than two million passengers were estimated to pass through JFK International Airport, more than one million through LaGuardia, and more than 1.4 million though Newark Liberty International Airport • December 21, 2012 was anticipated to be the busiest travel day of the year at Pearson airport: more than 105,000 travelers passed through its gates, a 22 per cent increase over its average 86,000 daily patrons on 1,175 flights on an average day • By comparison, London’s Heathrow airport sees an estimated 200,000 travellers each day, on more than 1,200 flight movements daily
Whether it’s a lost suitcase, or a lost connecting flight, travel relaxed with American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card perks: • Freedom, flexibility and control with Air Canada Privilege Passes • Emergency Medical Insurance (Out of Province/Country) • Trip Interruption and Trip Cancellation Insurances • Flight Delay Insurance • Baggage Delay Insurance • Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance • Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance • Travel Accident Insurance • Travel Emergency Assistance • Emergency Card Replacement
For more information on the American Express AeroplanPlus Platinum Card, visit AmericanExpress.ca