Who hasn’t gone through the stress of running with the tongue hanging out at the airport with the threat of being dropped off by the plane? Or, even worse, who has even missed the flight?
One of the most stressful things when traveling is facing that scenario.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Taking into account certain tips and making use of common sense, we can save blood, sweat and tears when getting on the plane.
Check the status of your flight
This is a point that is generally ignored, but it can save us a lot of headaches and suffering.
Through an airline application or on its website, check the status of the flight. Check if there are any changes in your flight schedule.
This does not happen all the time, but it happens and it does not hurt to review and thus we save time.
Check terminal and gate
It is very important and also generally overlooked, to check the terminal and gate of our flight.
Large airports usually have several terminals, quite far from one another, and you don’t want to end up realizing that you are not in the right terminal 5 minutes from the departure of your flight.
Also, make sure you’re in the correct waiting room at your flight’s gate. It’s amazing how often you see people waiting at wrong boarding gates.
Check baggage dimensions with the airline
As for your luggage, take into account size, weight and quantities. Check with your airline what the policies are regarding dimensions and weight of the suitcases. If you don’t want to pay for being overweight, pack your bags in such a way that they don’t exceed the limit.
If you need to exceed the weight, you can carry the overweight in an additional suitcase, and then book that extra suitcase online on the airline’s website days before. It will cost you cheaper and save more time than if you have to pay for overweight at the airport.
Also, you can buy a portable weight meter device that you can buy online (about 40 usd) with which you can check the weight of your luggage without having to go to the airport.
Check hand luggage policy
Check the dimensions and weight allowed for carry-on baggage. Here, just carry electronic devices, documents, money and don’t forget about medications to be used during the flight. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious. Use your carry-on luggage only to carry the essentials and valuables. Find out about items not allowed in hand luggage.
Check-in online
Checking in online saves you the time of lining up at the counter at the airport, which is the most cumbersome part at the airport.
There are airports where there are machines where you can weigh your luggage yourself. They issue you a ticket that you will place in the suitcase and then leave them in the assigned place to be loaded on the plane.
Not all airports have that system, but in general large airports have it. Find out if yours offers that service.
Go out to the airport in time
Depending on the congested or chaotic city where you are, go to the airport well in advance, anticipating events such as traffic jams, traffic lights or any other that may delay your trip to the airport.
Choose your most suitable means of transport. If it is a van, remember that before going to the airport you will go through other places to pick up people. If it is by taxi, you will be subject to street traffic jams. If there is express metro service to the airport, learn about how viable it is to move around a crowded subway with all your luggage.
There are airports with hotels on their premises. Consider spending the last night in one of them and you will save the trip.
Find out about the destination airport
Find out about how the destination airport works: transport connections to the city and its schedules, which premises will be open at the time you arrive, whether there is WiFi or not, etc.
Always have cash available. US dollars and euros are accepted virtually everywhere. But if you can bring some local currency, that would be great. Don’t change your dollars at the airport exchange if it’s not absolutely necessary. The rates are very high.
Check the expiration of your passport
In many places, your passport will be required to last for at least six months. Keep this detail in mind and find out about the policies in this regard in the destination country.
Health requirements
With the pandemic, it is very important to be informed of health restrictions in the destination country. As well as health requirements such as PCR, wearing a mask, antibacterial gel (not mandatory, but highly recommended).
Before the pandemic, there are countries that have always requested that you be vaccinated against certain diseases. If so, take your papers to your hand in case they are required.
Conclusions
These simple tips will save you a lot of time, and even the unpleasant event of missing your flight.
They are very easy to carry out and try to make them second nature in you.
Don’t be one of those people who travel by inertia without knowing what they are going to find. And although we know that despite all the precautions there will always be the possibility of unforeseen events, these tips will significantly reduce the stress when taking our plane.
