7 Airport Tips to Make Travel Easier

How many times have you dreaded the actual travel part of your trip? Like getting to the airport hours before your flight or forgetting that you have fuzzy pink socks on until you take off your shoes at security? Over time, I have perfected my airport routine so I can spend less time at the airport, get to my gate in the fastest and most comfortable way possible, and not arrive at my final destination a frazzled mess. Follow these 7 airport tips and I promise you that travel will be so much easier.

Check in online

There’s really no excuse for this. Don’t waste any of your precious time on the day of your trip to go to a kiosk or even worse, the counter to check in. Check in opens 24 hours before boarding. Take two minutes and add your boarding pass to your phone.

Don’t check in your bag

I don’t care what you say, you don’t need a checked bag for your two week trip. I traveled out of a carry on for four weeks and lived to tell the tale. You will save so much time not only before your flight but also after by being able to skip baggage claim. Still not convinced? Here are all the reasons to travel with only a carry on.

I’ve upgraded my luggage since that last post (RIP Sammy!) but this is the carry on suitcase I now take everywhere and have never had an issue getting everything to fit.

Get TSA PreCheck/Global Entry

This has been an absolute life saver. I thank the TSA PreCheck gods every time I travel. Now I can wear my fuzzy pink socks and no one has to know about it because you don’t have to take off your shoes. Some travel credit cards offer to pay for your TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee as a perk. Even if you don’t have one of these cards and have to pay for it out of pocket it’s worth every single penny.

If you travel internationally at all, get Global Entry. This includes TSA PreCheck and you’ll have the fastest reentry to the US of your life. You can thank me later.

Get a Priority Pass

Again, a lot of credit cards are now offering this as a perk. Find one that does because Priority Pass is a game changer. There are 1200+ lounges globally. Extra time at the airport or your flight is delayed? No problem. Go enjoy snacks, refreshments, and high speed internet while you wait. And, depending on the lounge, you are able to bring two guests with you.

Have the ultimate airplane outfit

Okay don’t judge me but I wear the same outfit on every single flight. Why? Because it’s so damn comfortable and it’s literally perfection.

Here’s what to wear on a long flight:

• These Lululemon leggings. They are the most comfortable things I’ve ever put on my body and they have pockets! I live in these.
• Comfortable (yet cute) shoes. Like these or these
• Light sweater and if you think you’ll get hot, throw a tank top on underneath. This one is cute!
• A large shawl – this acts as a cute accessory and is large enough that you can use it like a blanket if the plane gets too cold

Bring an empty water bottle

My friends all make fun of me for how much water I drink but I swear a hydrated person is a happy person. Save time (and money) and bring an empty water bottle. Most airports have those fancy water fountains with water bottle filling stations. Here’s my fav water bottle. It’s like a security blanket to me.

Be strategic about boarding

This is my new favorite airport hack. It depends a bit on which group you’re in. Unless you’re in priority seating, the best group to be in is the first group for all the rest of us peasants. Why you ask? Most airlines have two separate lanes. One for priority and one for general boarding. While everyone is lining up in the same line, I go and stand right in front of the general boarding lane. That way when they close priority and open up general boarding, I’m the first to board the plane. If you’re not in that group, don’t fret, just try and get on the plane as soon as possible. The reason for that is you don’t want cabin space to fill up and they have to gate check your bag. That just adds time when you land.

These are the exact airport tips I follow every time I travel and it’s not only saved me so much time but it’s also made air travel a little less exhausting.

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