Being an out-of-state student who lives across the country, I have become quite accustomed to the bustling atmosphere of airports. Whether it be my home airport in Boston, LAX, or anywhere in between, I have spent a significant amount of time in my life preparing for flights, driving to airports, and getting on and off planes. Now, while participating in a semester abroad, my airport experience has continued to broaden to international airports across the world. With years of experience, I feel as if I have truly mastered my airport routine so that I am always prepared and low-stress while traveling. As a seasoned airport professional, I have compiled my ultimate airport guide, detailing the ins and outs of the airport, and my most helpful tips for an effortless and stress-free travel day.
What Time To Arrive
An area of much debate, what time you get to the airport is a crucial part of making sure that you don’t miss your flight but also don’t sit at the airport for hours. When traveling domestically, I tend to arrive at the airport approximately an hour before my boarding time which is usually around 30 to 40 minutes before my actual flight time. I don’t mind having to wait at the airport for a little, and this gives me a lot of extra time to get through the security line and drop off any checked bags that I have. However, this is not a rule that I follow exactly, and if I have multiple checked bags, am taking an international flight, or am arriving at the airport at a particularly busy time, I will try to get there a bit earlier. If I don’t have any luggage, I usually cut my arrival a bit closer to my actual boarding time.
Checked Bags
On the topic of checked bags, it is important to understand the rules, prices, and when you should even bring them. I pride myself on being an expert packer (here’s a link to another article on my tips for packing), and I try not to check bags unless I am moving somewhere for a long time, such as at the beginning of the academic year. I find that I struggle primarily with the weight limit rather than the space when I do check a bag, as most airlines impose a 50-pound weight limit for all checked luggage. Though this may seem crazy, I have found that it is almost always cheaper to check a second bag than to pay the overweight fee on a single checked bag. So, if you find yourself really struggling with that weight limit, adding a second bag will likely be the most cost-effective solution.
Airport Essentials
Activities for waiting in the airport and sitting on the plane are crucial to keeping yourself from being bored, especially on longer flights and travel days. I personally am someone who is not usually able to sleep on planes, so having enough activities to fill my time is essential. I usually download a movie or two on Netflix on my phone before I leave, but I also bring wired headphones that connect to the airline TVs that most planes are now equipped with. I usually bring a book as well, space-permitting, but if not, I keep one downloaded on my phone to read if I am bored of the TV. This gives me a wide range of options for long days of travel.
Plane Comfort
I absolutely refuse to wear jeans on a plane. My airport outfit always emphasizes comfort: usually a pair of sweatpants, a tank top, and a sweatshirt. Temperatures on planes always fluctuate, so I recommend layers, no matter where you might be traveling to. The last thing you want is to be sitting freezing cold or sweating for a six-hour flight. I very recently got a neck pillow as well which I would definitely recommend. It’s actually crazy how long I haven’t had one with the amount of flights I’ve taken, but just a few weeks ago I was taking a red-eye and finally broke and bought a $20 neck pillow at the airport. I don’t sleep much on planes anyway, but I honestly found that it helped with my overall comfort level in general, especially since I was stuck in a middle seat. Anyway, everyone is way too preoccupied at the airport to care what you are wearing, so I am a huge proponent of comfort over style.
Hopefully, these tips will help you to have a seamless airport experience and flight on your next trip. Remember to plan ahead for any difficulties you might encounter and try to relax throughout your travels.