Got a flight coming up? Use these tips to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible.
Air travel is one of my favorite ways to get from one place to another. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I love nothing more than the feeling of lift-off and landing.
I may love air travel, but I know that it can be disorienting, stressful and exhausting — so here are five tips to help make your next plane ride as smooth as can be!
Pack snacks!
Food is essential for any kind of travel, especially if you have food allergies. As someone who is gluten and lactose intolerant, I always make sure to pack something I can actually eat since airline snacks typically aren’t accommodating.
If you’re taking a longer flight and have food allergies, be sure to request a special meal beforehand so that you don’t end up bloated for the remaining hours.
If you don’t have any allergies, snacks are still a great way to ensure you aren’t paying exorbitant airport prices.
I also recommend bringing an empty water bottle and filling it up after you get through airport security.
Have your boarding pass on your phone if possible.
One of my favorite aspects of our technologically advanced world is the ability to have my boarding pass on my phone. A few months ago, I had to print mine out and ended up leaving it at TSA by accident. Thankfully, I caught the mistake before heading to my gate.
By having a boarding pass on my phone, I don’t have to worry about carrying around a pesky piece of paper that will end up getting wrinkled, folded, potentially lost and then stuck with me until I find a trashcan after the flight is over.
A digital boarding pass is the move — trust me.
Dress adequately.
Airplanes are prone to being cold. If you are too, be sure to bring a jacket and wear long pants. If you have a longer flight, consider bringing a blanket, but also note that many international flights will provide one for you.
Also, depending on where and when you’re landing, what you plan to do after your flight and who you’re meeting with, dress accordingly.
If your plan is to go straight to your hotel room, relax and go to bed, feel free to wear sweats. If you’re meeting someone right after your flight, consider dressing up beyond the basic t-shirt and leggings.
Moisturize your skin before and after your flight.
Flying dehydrates our skin (especially since we’re forced to mask up on flights), so if you want to stay on top of your skincare, consider a facemask before and/or after your flight to give your skin that extra boost of moisture.
This could also help with breakouts and other skin issues — I don’t know about you, but every time I travel, it seems I get a new pimple (or five). Avoid this by giving your skin a little extra love before and after your next flight!
Consider TSA.
Back in December of 2021, I went through TSA and they took away the serrated knife from my silverware set. I was quite annoyed because I had never had an issue with this little butter knife before. After this experience, I’m more cautious of what I’ll bring in my carry-on bag, whereas before, it never really crossed my mind.
That’s all for this post, folks! Good luck on your next flight, and be sure to consider these tips for a smooth, easy experience.
The Beat @APU 