7 Tips for Smoother Travel Days At the Airport
/Having a bad travel day is the worst way to start or end a trip. We’ve been there, done that. If you’re looking for ways to make your travel day easier, you’re in the right place.
Arrive early!! The most basic and easiest airline travel tip around
We fly a lot. As a matter of face I’ve taken over 130 flights with my kids and many many many more without them. We’ve learned a few things over the years. While no one can ever guarantee a perfect travel day, we can do things to help ourselves have the best travel day possible. Traveler numbers are high, airport systems are strained, and staff shortages are real, so let me share my 7 tips to help avoid a disaster travel day and help prepare yourself for disruptions.
1.) Choose Travel times earlier in the day
We all know the early bird gets the worm and this applies to airline travel as well.
Book the earliest flight of the they day if you can. This way, if you get delayed, there is a chance for you to still make the connection or catch a later fligth in the day. Also, the airplanes are more likely to already be at the airport waiting for their first flight of the day.
Based on data collected from June to August 2023. Over 80% of flights departing between 6 and 9 a.m. took off on time, while less than 60% of flights between 6 and 9 p.m. left as scheduled. This data is from the 30 largest airports in the United States.
watching the sunrise on a very early flight from Barbados to new york. the early bird gets the worm!
2.) Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need
The number one tip for any travel day is to give yourself more time than you think.
If the airport says arrive 2 hours early, get there 3 hours early. In 2023, I was held at the check in counter for FOUR hours one time while they worked through some ticketing issues. You never know when you’ll need the extra time.
Schedule longer layovers. 45 and 50 minute layovers are almost never enough. 1.5-3 hour layovers are going to be your best bet to make the next flight.
If you MUST make a specific date, try your best to arrive early the day before OR even two days before. Flight cancelations and major delays can mean you might miss the event you’re traveling for.
if you take the morning flight, you could have the rest of the day to relax somewhere like this!
3) ALWAYS Book Nonstop flights if you can afford it
We fly a ton. Nonstop flights are always my go-to and I will pay more to take a nonstop flight versus a flight with a layover. Nonstop flights ensure that if there is a delay, it is only on the one flight. If you have a flight delay and a connection, you’re risking missing the connection completely.
On average, 21.32% of all flights in the US were delayed in 2023 and less than 2% of all flights were canceled in 2023. For a nonstop flight, this means that a 2 hour a delay is just that - a 2 hour delay. However, if you’re trying to make a connection, this could mean a missed flight for several more hours or even more than a day!
And different airlines have different disruption percentages — check some out HERE.
if you can find a direct flight to your intended destination - take it!! we prefer to fly direct from barabdos to washington dc (about 5 hours) versus laying over in miami and our travel day being 12+ hours.
4) Packing light saves time. (And money)
It’s becoming more and more popular to travel with only a carry on bag. Why? Well, for starters, more and more airlines are charging insane prices to check a bag. Who wants to pay hundreds for a flight and then another $50 to bring their stuff?
we flew with soooo much stuff on a 3 week trip back to the usa for the holidays! it was insane and it took us forever to check in for our flight and forever to wait to collect all the bags.
Secondly, when you arrive you have to wait for your bags. Recently, in Miami, I had to wait for OVER and hour at the carousel to get our bags. I was really wishing we had only traveled with our carry on bags.
Finally, lost luggage is a real thing and can wreak havoc on your travel plans. While you can be compensated for the loss monetarily, you will never get back the time you spend hunting for your bags and waiting for your reimbursement.
Pro Tip: ALWAYS put an Apple AirTag or Samsung SmartTag in your luggage to track it’s location. This has actually saved us a few times when our “oversized” luggage went to a completely different area of the airport. Also, ALWAYS put valuables in the bag you carry on to the plane - watches, phones, electronics, computers, etc. Never check anything valuable.
if you can fly with a carry-on only - you will save yourself time at check in and after you land!
5) For International Flights be sure to have Global Entry or Mobile Passport Control
Global Entry is a program the United States and Canada uses to help it’s citizens by-pass the long immigration queues at the airport. All 5 members of my family have Global Entry and it saves us hours when we go back to the USA (Or Canada). We have our faces scanned and walk right through - we do not wait in the endless lines at Customs.
this was the customs queue in atlanta on our flight from costa rica back to washington dc. we skipped this insane line and walked right through with our global entry
Global Entry is not free - it costs $100 per person every 4 years and requires and online application and then an in person interview with an agent. The process includes a background check. If approved, you get Global Entry for 4 years and TSA Pre-Check is included. (The cost is going up to $120 in October 2024, but children under 18 will no longer require the process if their legal guardian has it)
Mobile Passport Control is FREE and does not need an prior approval. It is an online system where you upload all of your travel documents (Passport, Customs Declaration, Photo, etc) and you get to move through a shorter customs line. This is a simple and GREAT way to save some time on your next trip.
Pro Tip: Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check is covered by many major credit cards. Our Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum, and Delta Reserve Credit Cards cover this fee as part of their perks.
currently, every person needs their own global entry card. (all 3 of our kids have their own card) however, in 2024 they are going to change the requirements for children under the age of 18. if their guardian has global entry, they too can walk through with them.
6) Download the Airline Apps Prior to Travel
Before any airline travel, it’s imperative to download the respective airline’s app. Inside of these apps you can track your luggage, change your seat, see updated flight information like delays and cancelations, and even rebook flights. With automation taking over the globe, the apps will sometimes be the only way you can rebook your disrupted travel plans as the airport may not be staffed to handle the load of hundreds of angry passengers.
you can even find airport maps and access onboard entertainment through the app
Also - some airlines require you upload your credit card information to the app in order to pay with a card on the plane. This means you can not order alcohol or special snacks on the plane with a physical card or cash anymore.
READ NEXT: 9 Tips to Get Your Child to Sleep on a Plane
7) Have your documents complete and organized
We have a family of 5 and we also carry all 5 Global Entry Cards. Our Passport Holder can keep all of the documents organized and together so when we need to show them, they are easy to access.
obsessed with our passport holder! a pro-tip for family travel is to put a piece of wasabi tape on the back of each with a single initial so you can easily identify each person’s documents without having to open it each time.
Before you enter any country, you need to go to their government website to check any customs documentation, immunization requirements, or visa requirements for entry. We live in Barabados, so everytime we re-enter the country we fill out our customs forms online so that we can walk straight up to the counter without going to the kiosk. Surprisingly this saves us about 15 minutes in the queue which is a lifetime for 3 kids.
With these 7 tips for an easier day at the airport, you'll be on your way to transforming your airport experience from stressful to seamless. Whether you're jetting off on a family vacation or a solo adventure, a little preparation goes a long way. Remember to pack smart, stay organized, and give yourself plenty of time to navigate the hustle and bustle of the airport. Here's to smoother, more enjoyable travel days and making every journey as pleasant as the destination itself. Safe travels and happy adventures!
Fly Brave, Travel Often, See Everything,
AMAZON AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE:
There are links on this site that can be defined as “affiliate links”. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links provided.
Big Brave Nomad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.
