8 Ways to Prepare for Airline Travel
Do you still panic before an airplane trip? No matter how much travel you have done, this happens. When you're leaving, you remember many things you must do.
Or, even if you have done those must-do things, you still panic over the fact that you most likely have forgotten something. Somehow, you set yourself into airline travel mode, which signals panic for many.
Some people take anti-anxiety pills like Valium or Dramamine for motion sickness. It is best that you ask your family doctor about this.
Or, even if you have done those must-do things, you still panic over the fact that you most likely have forgotten something. Somehow, you set yourself into airline travel mode, which signals panic for many.
Some people take anti-anxiety pills like Valium or Dramamine for motion sickness. It is best that you ask your family doctor about this.
Tips to Make Airline Travel Stress and Panic Free
There is always stress when we are about to travel. However, we can reduce panic and prepare ourselves well before flying. Here are some valuable tips:
1. Put together your travel documents.
Pack these safely in a transparent envelope so you can see and access them easily.
These include tickets, passport, visa documents, extra visa pictures, address and telephone number of your hotel and office if you are on business, contact information of your sponsor/client/employer if you have one, a copy of your contract or a letter from your employer authorizing you to do the job, and supporting documents for products you carry with you. Make sure you leave photocopies of these documents with a trusted person in your residence. When you know you can access these documents easily, you relax more.
For your passport, check the validity. You do this earlier to give yourself time to get a new one in case of issues. Most countries require at least six months of validity. The more months, the better. Once you start work, you might have to travel to another country and may need more time. If you only have six months, and you have time, I suggest you renew it.
Check that you have enough pages left in your passport, not just one. Some countries will use a full page for your visa. Ask to have pages added before you go. It is better to be ready for the unexpected. This also gives you some confidence. Remember your credit cards and bank cards, of course.
Check your visa and its validity. You can get your ticket at the airport. Find out the requirements. You should apply online, like in Vietnam. Thai Airlines will only let you on the plane if you have Vietnam's acceptance of your online application.
There is always stress when we are about to travel. However, we can reduce panic and prepare ourselves well before flying. Here are some valuable tips:
1. Put together your travel documents.
Pack these safely in a transparent envelope so you can see and access them easily.
These include tickets, passport, visa documents, extra visa pictures, address and telephone number of your hotel and office if you are on business, contact information of your sponsor/client/employer if you have one, a copy of your contract or a letter from your employer authorizing you to do the job, and supporting documents for products you carry with you. Make sure you leave photocopies of these documents with a trusted person in your residence. When you know you can access these documents easily, you relax more.
For your passport, check the validity. You do this earlier to give yourself time to get a new one in case of issues. Most countries require at least six months of validity. The more months, the better. Once you start work, you might have to travel to another country and may need more time. If you only have six months, and you have time, I suggest you renew it.
Check that you have enough pages left in your passport, not just one. Some countries will use a full page for your visa. Ask to have pages added before you go. It is better to be ready for the unexpected. This also gives you some confidence. Remember your credit cards and bank cards, of course.
Check your visa and its validity. You can get your ticket at the airport. Find out the requirements. You should apply online, like in Vietnam. Thai Airlines will only let you on the plane if you have Vietnam's acceptance of your online application.
2. Confirm all information about your particular flight.
This information includes departure time, arrival in local time of your destination, transfers, wait times in airports, terminal numbers for departure and appearance, and, if possible, the type of airplane with a seating map and a map of the airport where you get your connecting flight. This knowledge will facilitate arriving early at your gate for connection and give you more time to relax. You can also inform the flight attendants of your connection so they can facilitate your disembarkation.
Last year, I made a costly mistake. My mind did not process the information correctly. The ticket said 12:45 am, and my mind told me there was a mistake in the ticket; it said am when it was supposed to be pm. I checked in early and went to bed, so I failed to see the email about checking in for the flight. When I woke up, I got a message that my flight had already left. I scrambled to get another flight and changed my connections. I did not need the hassle and the extra expense. These days, they offer insurance for trip cancellation for any reason, but you pay a lot for it. The traditional offering is only when the doctor testifies you cannot travel. Check the airline cancellation policy before booking.
Also, ask where your port of entry is, that is, the place where you clear immigration and customs. Ask for the procedures to follow around luggage. If you stay overnight in a country, before you move on to your final destination, find out if you need a transit visa and other procedures around luggage and check-in.
This information includes departure time, arrival in local time of your destination, transfers, wait times in airports, terminal numbers for departure and appearance, and, if possible, the type of airplane with a seating map and a map of the airport where you get your connecting flight. This knowledge will facilitate arriving early at your gate for connection and give you more time to relax. You can also inform the flight attendants of your connection so they can facilitate your disembarkation.
Last year, I made a costly mistake. My mind did not process the information correctly. The ticket said 12:45 am, and my mind told me there was a mistake in the ticket; it said am when it was supposed to be pm. I checked in early and went to bed, so I failed to see the email about checking in for the flight. When I woke up, I got a message that my flight had already left. I scrambled to get another flight and changed my connections. I did not need the hassle and the extra expense. These days, they offer insurance for trip cancellation for any reason, but you pay a lot for it. The traditional offering is only when the doctor testifies you cannot travel. Check the airline cancellation policy before booking.
Also, ask where your port of entry is, that is, the place where you clear immigration and customs. Ask for the procedures to follow around luggage. If you stay overnight in a country, before you move on to your final destination, find out if you need a transit visa and other procedures around luggage and check-in.
3. Pack only the allowed baggage allowance.
Pack your computer where it is easy to take it out at check-in. Empty your pockets of anything that will trigger the security detector.
A piece of metal foil that wrapped the gum you are chewing can trigger a going over that will remain in your memory forever. Lace shoes can be a bother, wire supports in undergarments will hold you up, and extra heavy jackets and boots will require so many trays to look after.
Pack your carry-on per security instructions, only the allowed limits of toiletries in a transparent bag. Read the security instructions on your airline site and remove items that are not allowed from your luggage. You can now easily buy many of these items wherever you are going.
Pack your computer where it is easy to take it out at check-in. Empty your pockets of anything that will trigger the security detector.
A piece of metal foil that wrapped the gum you are chewing can trigger a going over that will remain in your memory forever. Lace shoes can be a bother, wire supports in undergarments will hold you up, and extra heavy jackets and boots will require so many trays to look after.
Pack your carry-on per security instructions, only the allowed limits of toiletries in a transparent bag. Read the security instructions on your airline site and remove items that are not allowed from your luggage. You can now easily buy many of these items wherever you are going.
4. Label your luggage with your destination address.
Place your home address inside your luggage or pockets to avoid confusing the handlers. It is a good idea to mark your luggage so it is easy to spot it in the conveyor belt. So many luggages look alike now. Ribbons of a particular color do well. Please take pictures of your luggage so you can show the photos to the airline staff in case they get lost.
When you have your sports equipment or extra-sized luggage with you, call the airlines not on the day of your departure but when you start planning your trip so you know their requirements. Make sure you ask them where to pick it up. There is often a particular counter for oversized luggage. Upon arrival, ask the airline staff where to claim your large luggage.
5. Check in online. In many airports now, there are counters for those who have checked in online and are just checking in luggage. Often, these counters have only short line-ups. Check-in kiosks as well. This speeds things up, leaving you with time to enjoy a cup of coffee. Make sure before you check in you have everything ready.
You may need your address at your destination besides your passport and ticket. Look around if you also need to fill out the immigration card. This is usually true when you clear customs and immigration in the place where you check-in. Many airlines now provide these forms before embarkation.
Place your home address inside your luggage or pockets to avoid confusing the handlers. It is a good idea to mark your luggage so it is easy to spot it in the conveyor belt. So many luggages look alike now. Ribbons of a particular color do well. Please take pictures of your luggage so you can show the photos to the airline staff in case they get lost.
When you have your sports equipment or extra-sized luggage with you, call the airlines not on the day of your departure but when you start planning your trip so you know their requirements. Make sure you ask them where to pick it up. There is often a particular counter for oversized luggage. Upon arrival, ask the airline staff where to claim your large luggage.
5. Check in online. In many airports now, there are counters for those who have checked in online and are just checking in luggage. Often, these counters have only short line-ups. Check-in kiosks as well. This speeds things up, leaving you with time to enjoy a cup of coffee. Make sure before you check in you have everything ready.
You may need your address at your destination besides your passport and ticket. Look around if you also need to fill out the immigration card. This is usually true when you clear customs and immigration in the place where you check-in. Many airlines now provide these forms before embarkation.
6. Check the weather and your notifications from the airline.
The weather can affect changes in your flight. When there's a change in the flight, they often want you to confirm this. Sometimes, when there's a disturbance, they might want to reroute you or put you in an earlier or later flight.
7. Be mindful.
So many things are happening all around you in airports. They tend to be distracting. Discipline yourself and pay attention, especially after security check and check-in, as you have your documents to worry about and all your carry-on things to put back neatly in your more than-usual overstuffed bag. This is when things get left behind. Take your time and make sure you have accounted for all the items.
There are always seats beyond the security check. Sit down and ensure you have all your carry-on items and documents.
The weather can affect changes in your flight. When there's a change in the flight, they often want you to confirm this. Sometimes, when there's a disturbance, they might want to reroute you or put you in an earlier or later flight.
7. Be mindful.
So many things are happening all around you in airports. They tend to be distracting. Discipline yourself and pay attention, especially after security check and check-in, as you have your documents to worry about and all your carry-on things to put back neatly in your more than-usual overstuffed bag. This is when things get left behind. Take your time and make sure you have accounted for all the items.
There are always seats beyond the security check. Sit down and ensure you have all your carry-on items and documents.
Walk around so you stretch your legs. And remember, enjoy that drink in the lounge, but make sure you watch the time. Go to your gate early so you will be ahead in the line unless you have first-class or business tickets or a gold card. Overhead racks may be complete by the time you get into your seat.
As you stride through the crowd of travelers, breathe in their sense of purpose and anticipation. Smile at the differences you see around you as groups come in and leave. Take a book that you can enjoy.
Take the things you need during the flight out of your carry-on and put them in the seat pocket or a small bag you can tuck in under the seat.
Relax and enjoy your flight.
As you stride through the crowd of travelers, breathe in their sense of purpose and anticipation. Smile at the differences you see around you as groups come in and leave. Take a book that you can enjoy.
Take the things you need during the flight out of your carry-on and put them in the seat pocket or a small bag you can tuck in under the seat.
Relax and enjoy your flight.
What do you find most stressful in your travel?
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