HOW TO PERFECT YOUR AIRPORT EXPERIENCE | FLIGHTLAYAWAY
Air
travel is one of the world’s most impressive inventions. For years, it’s
allowed people to see new parts of the world and companies to conduct business
with global partners. But, regardless of our reasons for traveling, we still
all have to go through the pains of queuing and waiting around the airport
before a flight.
Luckily,
there are a few things you can do that will drastically cut down the queuing
time and make the airport the fun and hassle-free experience that it should be.
Here are
our top tips that will help perfect your airport experience and have you
traveling like a pro!
17 Tips to improve your time at the airport
1) Pre-select a seat near the front of the plane
While you might want to spend a bit of time shopping around at the airport that you depart from, once you’ve landed on the other side, the chances are that you’ll want to get out of there ASAP.
By pre-selecting your seat, you
can choose to sit close to the front of the aircraft and be one of the first to
disembark. Not only does this get you off the plane quicker, but it also puts
you closer to the front of the line for passport control if you’re flying
internationally.
2) Get involved in an expedited
security/customs/immigration program
Using one, or a combination, of the programs below to breeze through security, customs or immigration can dramatically shorten your overall queuing time at the airport. Here’s a little overview of what programs are available:
TSA Precheck — TSA Precheck is a US Customs and Border Protection program that
gives low-risk members access to an expedited security lane and screening the process at selected airports in the US
Global Entry — As another US Customs and Border Protection the program, Global Entry gives the same benefits as TSA Precheck, plus expedited
customs screening for when international travelers enter the US
Nexus — As a program created by the Canadian Border Services Agency and
the US Customers and Border Control, NEXUS allows pre-approved, low-risk
travelers to use their NEXUS card instead of a passport at self-service kiosks
at selected airports in Canada and the US
CLEAR — CLEAR is a program that allows its members to fast-track airport
security, using biometrics for identification, in the US through an exclusive
‘CLEAR’ lane at select airports.
Automated Passport Control — Automated Passport Control allows
those traveling to and from the US to use a self-service kiosk for border
control checks. This speeds up the border control process by eliminating the
need to fill out a physical customs declaration form.
Mobile Passport Control — Mobile Passport Control is the US Customers and Border Protection-approved mobile app that gives travelers an electronic version of their passport.
3) Check-in online and with mobile
If there’s only one thing you take away from this list that you don’t
already do, let it be checking in online. Checking in online is the ultimate
time-saver and it couldn’t be easier. Just enter your flight details on the
airline’s website to access the booking, punch in your passport details, print
off your boarding pass, and — voila! You’ve completed a process that might
usually take more than half an hour in a couple of minutes and you haven’t even
got to the airport yet.
And, if your airline has a mobile app or allows you to download your
boarding pass to your mobile, do that too! The convenience of having your
travel documents available at the click of a button can’t be overstated.
4) Have any physical documents to hand
Unless you use Mobile Passport Control, you’re bound to have some form of a physical travel document that you’ll have to carry around. Keep these documents together and in a safe place, that’s easy to get to.
5) Research the check-in times
With over 650 airlines available worldwide at flightlayaway, we appreciate that online check-in might not be available with all of them, especially the smaller domestic ones.
If online check-in is unavailable on the airline that you’re flying on, spend some time researching the airport check-in times. Not only will this ensure that you won’t be late for check-in and miss your flight altogether, but it’ll also inform you of the opening times and prevent you from arriving too early and having to wait around.
6) Buy flights
at quieter times
It might be
common sense, but buying flights at off-peak times generally makes for a less
crowded airport and a smoother experience. Fewer people equals less queuing!
When are
off-peak flights?
While it
might differ from country to country, off-peak flights are generally:
- Early morning or late-night and red-eye flights
- Between Tuesday–Thursday
- Outside of the holiday seasons
Top Tip: You
can also check out the low season months for many destinations here.
7) Only
check baggage if you absolutely need to
Even if
you’re given a free checked baggage allowance, ask yourself ‘do I really need
it?’. If you think you can fit all the items that you need to travel with
within your carry-on, don’t bother checking a bag! Not only do check bags
mean more queuing when you drop them off before departure, but you also have to
wait to pick them up on the other side!
8) Brush
upon what’s allowed in your carry-on
Knowing exactly what can and can’t go in your carry-on baggage is key to breezing through security. Learn the liquid limits and which items are prohibited to avoid your bag getting checked.
Our handy
guide on prohibited items gives a great overview of what you can and can’t
take.
9) Pre-pack your liquids in a clear plastic bag
We know that squeezing all of your toiletries and liquids into the small plastic bag before security can be a challenge, especially when security insists that it must be completely sealed and within one bag. So, why not incorporate it into your pre-flight packing? You can purchase the plastic bags online or just re-use the one from your last trip and have it all ready for when you reach security.
10) Don’t wear anything that’s not allowed through security
Sometimes you’ll spend more time dressing and undressing than you’ll spend queuing at airport security. Make sure to pack belts, boots, jackets, and anything else you might be asked to remove at airport security away in your case.
There’s no hard rule for this either, so if you’ve noticed some airport security will make you take off your boots and others won’t, that’s because different airports will carry out different security measures. We suggest playing it safe and not wear anything that you think might slow down the process.
11) Get to know the airport before you travel
If you’re
flying from an unfamiliar airport, it might be useful to do a bit of research
on it. You can find really useful maps on the airport’s official website, as
well, as see what shops, restaurants, and other facilities the airport has. This
is particularly useful for larger airports, which have multiple terminals and
different departure areas for different flights.
12) Refuse your boarding pass when buying items at the airport
Have you ever been shopping at the airport and abandoned your basket because you left your boarding pass with the person that you’re traveling with?
Well, it’s one of the airport employees' best-kept secrets that — unless shopping duty-free — it’s not compulsory to show your boarding pass when making a purchase and you can refuse to show it!
13) Order & collect
If you need to pick a few items at the airport that won’t fit within your baggage allowance or exceed the 100ml limit allowed in your carry-on, find out if the airport that you’re flying from has any shops that offer an order & collect service.
The order & collect service allows you to pre-order items online before you travel and pick them up from the shop when you’re airside at the airport. Not only is this is a time-saver, but ordering online offers more choice and is cheaper than the inflated prices at the airport.
Please note: order & collect services are currently only available in countries within Europe.
14) Keep your mobile & other electronic devices charged
Keeping your phone charged is essential, especially if you have your boarding pass downloaded onto it. And, although many airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi to keep you entertained in-flight, which can also drain your battery too
There aren’t
always plug sockets available at the airport or on the aircraft and, if you’re
in a foreign country and don’t have an adapter, you might not be able to use
the socket anyway. Therefore, we suggest taking a portable charger with you to
ensure you can keep your devices charged on the go.
15)
Pre-order your currency
If you’re taking physical cash away with you, pre-order your currency instead of getting it directly at the airport. You’ll almost always get a better exchange rate in doing so and it’s one less thing to do on the day that you travel.
16) Be
extra prepared if traveling with Children
If you’re flying with children, check if the airport that
you’re flying from has a kids’ play area. You won’t have to pack as many toys
for your child and they’ll stay entertained. According to this Mummy Travels
blog children are more likely to be well-behaved on the flight after playing in
a soft-play area at the airport.
17) Check-in to an airport lounge
Whether
you’re traveling for business and want a secluded area to work in, or you’re
traveling for leisure and just want your holiday to get off to a great start (with
unlimited food and drink!), airport lounges are a great way to make your
experience at the airport relaxed and stress-free.
Plus, they
aren’t always ultra-exclusive and expensive! Take a read of our blog on the
best airport lounges across the world to discover lounges with great value.
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