How to Enjoy Your Airline Flight

Air travel can be stressful, this article will give you some tips to make it a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Book your trip well in advance. Airline tickets are generally cheapest when you book them at least two weeks before your trip. You'll enjoy the flight a lot more if you don't pay exorbitant last-minute rates for it. Using travel search aggregators such as kayak.com can help you find the lowest prices.

2. Check the airline website the day before your flight to make sure your flight has not been cancelled or rescheduled. Check in online while you are there, this saves a step if you are not checking baggage and will get you a better seat assignment or boarding number on some discount carriers.

3. 
    

   Pack the day before traveling. This will help you to deal with any last-minute demands on your time before your flight. Give yourself time to think through what you'll need and don't dismiss missing items lightly. If difficulties in travel cause you to be tired or stressed you may not feel like dropping by a store to pick up your missing items.

4. Pack a bag to carry on the plane. Include items like your laptop, books or magazines, mp3 players or portable game units, gum, snacks, tissues and common medicines such as pain relievers and antacid. This bag should include all the things you need to pass the time during your flight. Don't neglect this step, it's very important!

5. 
    

   Dress in comfortable clothing for your flight. Avoid wearing clothes or accessories such as belts that contain lots of metal. Skip wearing jewelry and watches for less hassle at the metal detector. Wear slip-on shoes if possible. Avoid carrying lots of stuff in your pockets, tuck it all into your carry-on bag.

6. Leave for the airport early enough so that you can get checked-in and check your bags 1 hour before your flight. Don't forget tickets and identification.

7. 
    

   Check in, check your bags and go through security. Read the signs and listen to the TSA agents. Be prepared to remove your shoes, remove your laptop from your bag and place all your items in the scanner tubs. Don't make everyone wait on you. Allow others to pass if you are slow. Walk through the metal detector holding only your boarding pass and show it to the TSA agent.

8. When it's boarding time, remain in your seat at the gate until the line dissipates. Use this time to read a book or enjoy some music. Board the plane when the crowd thins, you'll spend less time waiting in the aisle. If you are traveling on a carrier without seat assignments sit in the back of the plane. You'll be more likely to get a seat without someone sitting next to you this way.

9. 
    

   Buckle up and enjoy your flight. RELAX! Read your book, work on your laptop, enjoy some music, look out the window. Keeping yourself occupied will make the time pass more quickly. Don't feel as if you have to converse with your fellow passengers if you don't want to, just be polite and then go back to what you are doing.

10. When you arrive at your destination, stay in your seat until the line to get off the plane has thinned out. Read your book, make a phone call, or otherwise use this time for yourself. Why be in a hurry to stand in a line?

Tips & Warnings

• Try and have a good attitude about your flight. Trying to relax will make things more pleasant.
• Don't act like a jerk when flying. Be respectful of people around you!

Resources

• Kayak Travel Aggregator

[rickmac]

on 5/12/2009 These are good tips to take the stress out of air travel.

[zahzel]

on 5/3/2009 Good. Well done re air travel. Z