8 Brilliant Tips to Keep You Sane While Flying ...

Katherine

8 Brilliant Tips to Keep You Sane While Flying ...
8 Brilliant Tips to Keep You Sane While Flying ...

Traveling by air can be extremely frustrating and anxiety-inducing. That's why you need some tips for staying sane when flying. Because it doesn’t have to be! There are things that you can do ahead of time to keep yourself sane while traveling. Below are just some examples of tips for staying sane when flying.

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1. Write a List of Things You Will Need

A list is one of the best tips for staying sane when flying. This sounds elementary, but it is so key to keep your traveling items organized so that it is one less thing that you have to worry about. Make a list of what you need to pack, but also keep a list of what you need to do. Make sure your list is not overwhelming and that you can actually get everything done before you leave (leave out work projects, kids laundry, etc). You want to keep your list to two simple things: what you are packing and what needs to be done to pack.

2. Do One Less Check before You Leave

Essentials are the only things that you need to worry about during your double check. Phone charger, contacts/glasses, boarding passes.

Frequently asked questions

3. Make Sure You Know Your Timelines

What time is your flight? Do you need to get to your parking spot before your flight leaves? How long does it take you to get to the airport? Make sure you keep traffic and rush hour in mind. If you know what time you are to be leaving, you will be more inclined to not rush around. Not rushing equals fewer frustrations and less anxiety. Leave with enough time to settle in and get yourself situated before you need to get to your flight.

4. Know the Parking Situation and Shuttles

Shuttles usually run every 10 to 15 minutes at airports. Make sure you know where you are parked by taking a picture of the closest light post with the number of the parking lot on it. Trust me, you will be completely lost if not. You want to make sure you know where the shuttle stops as well because sometimes that can get you all types of turned around too. These parking lots and garages are quite large.

5. Make Sure All Your Documents Are up to Date

This is not a joke, but looking back it was pretty hilarious. Just recently, my husband and I went to Texas to see a friend. Little did I know that my documents were not sufficient to be traveling on the plane. My license did not reflect my new married name but my boarding pass had my married name. I was pulled aside (ON VALENTINE’S DAY) and patted down. All my items were searched with gloves and tested for chemicals. To say that I was having an anxiety attack would be an understatement. So learn from my unfortunate event and check your boarding pass versus ID. Also, check your state traveling information to see if you need your passport to travel.

6. Always Pack the Essentials on Your Carry-on/purse

Make sure you have a sweatshirt or light jacket as you never know what weather you could experience getting on/off that flight. Always make sure that if you have a connecting flight that your next boarding pass is readily available. You would be surprised how common a mistake this is. If your flight is arriving late to your connecting flight and you do not have your boarding pass available quickly enough, it can cause more stress than needed. Always pack your charger and headphones in your carry-on/purse. You never know when you need a distraction from that screaming child next to you on your travels.

7. Make Sure You Have a Plan for the Departure of Your Trip

Do you know how far away the airport is, traffic patterns and what their airport is like? Do your research. Make sure you know the answers to all of these questions. Make a plan and know what time your flight leaves.

8. If You Are Checking a Bag, Make Sure Your Luggage is Easily Recognizable

Again, another personal mistake I have made. Our luggage looks like everyone else’s luggage. I saw two strangers pick up our luggage and throw it back down. You don’t need that added stress. Put a colorful luggage tag on it, a sticker or some sort of colorful accent so that you can see if from far away. You can be the first one to pick your luggage up and get out of the airport faster.