Photo Courtesy of - St Stev
For most, traveling is a fun, exciting experience that can be just as anticipated as the vacation destination itself. But when it comes to dealing with the struggles of airport security, in-flight inconveniences and other nuances associated with flying, a serious damper can quickly be put on that excitement.
Use these nine simple hacks for making flying more enjoyable, from the moment you reach the airport to the moment you land at your desired location:
1. Try to exercise as close to your flight as possible. By getting in a good workout before a flight, you’re allowing your body to destress and sleep more soundly the next time you go to rest. For those who are soon to have long flights, this is a great way to catch up on some sleep and energize yourself for your upcoming trip. Plus, for those who experience anxiety while flying, getting physical activity can help calm your nerves and relax you in preparation for your flight.
2. Choose the left checkpoint. Because most of us are right-handed, people have a tendency to go to the airport security lines that are farthest to the right—which means the longest wait times tend to be in those right lines. To avoid this, simply head to the left lines and enjoy a shorter wait time!
3. Try a red-eye flight. Many times—even when you get to the airport early and have everything all set for boarding—there’s always some kind of unexpected delay that happens when you try taking a “rush hour” flight. If your schedule allows for it, try booking one that leaves at some point past 10 p.m. You might even save a little on the cost of the ticket for it being a later flight.
4. Check your airport’s real-time conditions before you leave. You’ll never know if there are flight delays, long wait times or other issues unless you check the real-time conditions or just wait until you arrive at the airport. Check the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website (or the airport’s own website) to find information about your upcoming flight.
5. Wear your heaviest clothing items on the flight. If you’re concerned about your carry-on items going over the weight limit, put on your heaviest layers in order to get past security. You can always change clothes or pack them back in your carry-on bags before the flight. Or, if you’re headed somewhere cold, you might even keep those items on (or out) to prepare.
6. Sit by the wing of the plane. Sitting in the middle of the plane lets you enjoy your flight with less turbulence than in the front or back. Airplanes already make you feel queasy enough with their dry, recirculated air, so avoid even more nausea with this simple seating tip.
7. Invest in a truly unique luggage set. Unfortunately, having a brightly colored name tag on your suitcase doesn’t cut it anymore. Try investing in one that’s noticeably different from across the entire baggage claim area (i.e. one with polka dots, stripes, paisleys, checkers or a solid bright color).
8. Use a portable battery charger. Though airports usually have outlets for charging devices, many are quickly occupied when you need them most. And there certainly aren’t any available during flights. So try using a portable battery charger, which can usually provide your device a strong charge for about three to four days.
9. Wear your glasses instead of contacts. In terms of comfort, wearing glasses instead of contacts is a much better option. Wearing contacts for an extended period of time (especially if you take a nap on the flight) can often cause dryness and irritation in the eyes. If need be, switch back to contacts after you’ve left the airport.
For making flying a more enjoyable experience, use these helpful tips that might not always come to mind first. Plus, find even more travel resources from E-Z Rent-A-Car, including exclusive E-Z discounts, travel-related blog posts, special coupons and more.
Photo Courtesy of - givingnot@rocketmail.com
