The news reports and magazine articles are already starting about how this summer’s air travel will see record crowds, higher ticket prices, and staffing shortages (both from the airlines and the airports themselves).  All of this means that air travelers can expect more delays, more cancellations, and more frustration as they try to reach their vacation destinations.

Hooray.

There’s nothing I enjoy more than getting in a TSA line behind someone who acts like they’ve never been inside a lighted building before or waiting in a narrow plane aisle while some seventy-five year-old grandma struggles with a fifty-pound knapsack that they think qualifies as a carry-on.  You’re not walking the Appalachian Trail, Connie, it’s a weekend in Cleveland.  Tone it down.

Anyway, all I’m saying is that if you’re planning on any air travel this summer, practice your deep breathing techniques and think calming thoughts because you’re going to need them.  Here are some things to think about before you do battle at the airport this season.

Be Early

Have you ever been sitting at the gate and watched as some harried traveler is running at full speed through the terminal in a desperate attempt to get to their gate before the boarding doors close?  Yeah, don’t be that person.  Arriving early at the airport is always the better play.  You don’t know what the traffic is going to be like, what the crowd at the airport is going to entail, or how long that dreaded TSA line is going to be.  I’d much rather be sitting at the gate with an hour to spare rather than flop-sweating through my shirt as I struggle to park the car or get my luggage checked (believe me, I’ve done both).  That means for domestic flights, you should arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight.  Two hours?  Yes, two hours.  Make it three if you’re traveling to an international destination.  It may seem like a big time cushion, but hey, that’s what the airport bar was made for.

Be Prepared

The “scout’s motto” is a good one to follow when it comes to air travel.  Honestly, this will make your entire experience go so much better and stress free.  Download the airline’s app so you are aware of any last-minute flight or gate changes.  Check-in for your flight the day before at home.  Have your tickets and boarding passes ready (either printed out or on your phone).  Have your ID handy to show to various security or airline personnel.  Review the TSA rules so you’ll know what (and what not) to put in your carry-on and what is required for your airport security check (i.e. shoe removal, electronic devices, etc.).  Make sure your phone or other device is fully charged – and don’t forget to bring your charging cord or a power bank.  Pack an extra shirt or set of underwear in your carry-on (yes, you may need it if your luggage gets lost or there is an overnight delay).  Someday, you’ll thank me. 

Be Patient

Lastly, no matter how well you may plan for travel contingencies, things happen.  Weather may cause delays, the plane may be oversold, or sometimes, the flight crew or plane itself doesn’t show up on time.  Expect the unexpected, and be ready to roll with the punches.  Sure, it can be nerve-wracking and upsetting at times, but under no circumstances should you take out your frustrations on the flight crew or a gate agent.  You’ve seen the videos. Tell me how you think it ended for these folks when they went berserk at the gate or on the plane. Airline and airport employees are the people who you’re going to rely on to assist you with any alternative plans or contingencies, and if you poison the water hole by being rude or aggressive, trust me, they are not going to go out of their way to help you.  You’ll get the bare minimum – if that.  Kindness and a smile go a long way towards fixing your travel problems, and as any customer service person will tell you, a patient and polite customer always gets first dibs on any perks or adjustments that they have the power to grant.

Air travel can be a necessary evil and can make or break your vacation plans, but with a little planning (and a lot of patience), you can successfully navigate all of the airport pitfalls and be well on your way to enjoying your summer destinations.

Happy travels!