If you’re not one of the lucky few that can hop in the car and be home for the holidays in a few hours, you may be in need of a few tips to help you tackle the whole airport charade. Having made my fair share of trips back and forth from O’Hare airport, I’ve definitely acquired more than a few travel horror stories and am here to pass on my knowledge to you…
1. It may seem obvious, but always wear socks. And a bra.
I’ve made the mistake of wearing Uggs with no socks to the airport before, and believe me, I won’t be doing that again. We know you’re dying to show off your latest pedicure, but no one wants to be walking through airport security collecting all kinds of dirt and miscellaneous items on the bottom of their feet. As for undergarments, don’t forget that while wearing no bra under that super soft and comfy yet also somewhat see-through t-shirt probably isn’t the best idea. When the security agent asks you to take your sweatshirt off, you don’t want to be getting awkward stares from that innocent old lady behind you. I know it’s not exactly comfortable, but it’s for the best.
2. Bring an endless supply of trashy magazines
The great thing about winter break is that there’s no work to complete over break post fall quarter exams (unless you want to buy your textbooks a month in advance and get a head start on your reading or something strange like that….) so sit back, relax, and enjoy the trashiest magazines you can find in the airport convenience store. Let yourself become absorbed in meaningless gossip: When exactly did things take a turn for the worse with Ashton and Demi? Will Ali and Roberto from the Bachelorette get back together? Another great option is to download the latest Gossip Girl episode that you missed during reading week. You’re probably lose brain cells but you’ll have a great time doing it.
3. Don’t forget the ear plugs
Your iPod can help you tune out the sounds of the obnoxious children yelling behind you or the guy whose snores make you want to cringe, but if you’re like me, taking off and landing can do a number on your ears (this even caused me to get an ear infection once, right before a cruise no less). So invest in some earplugs, or at least some gum to avoid this painful and annoying outcome.
4. Pack a snack
If you’re flying coach, chances are all you’re going to get is a teeny tiny beverage filled with 95% ice that you’ll get about two sips out of. So load up on snacks to put in your carry on before you head to the airport so you don’t have to buy a 7-dollar bag of chips on the flight or be forced to choose from a variety of ten day old pastries in the airport that may look tasty but are always deceiving.
6. Bundle Up
Today I found myself wearing my long down coat along with my winter scarf, my face pressed up against the window of the plane trying to keep warm. Needless to say, I’m travelling with a blanket next time. Brookstone’s comfy nap travel blanket is going on my Christmas list. And maybe one of those little neck pillows too.
5. Avoid getting sucked into conversation
Sometimes, all you want to do when you get on a plane is sleep. Especially if you were out kegging the night before or left packing until the wee hours of the morning. Usually, it’s times like these when the person next to you can’t stop talking about what they ate for breakfast or the names of their 19 grandchildren and what each of them aspires to be when they grow up. In a dire situation like this, you might have to be a little bit rude, but believe me, it’s worth it. Try to wrap up the conversation as best as you can while slowly pulling out a book while innocently claiming you’re dying to get to the ending. Or you could go for the freak-them-out-by-saying-something-really-weird approach.