subject: A Few Quick Tips To Make Your Flights Easy [print this page] Taking a trip where you will be making connecting flights will be much easier if you do some planning and preparation before leaving for the airport. Taking time to get familiar with the system that you will be navigating prior to boarding the flight will make your entire vacation get off to a better start.
It is very important that you have all of your documents in place and within easy reach throughout your processing. This is going to be vital if you are leaving the country and will be going through the various safety checkpoints at more than one airport.
Putting your passport, identification, airline ticket, and baggage claim ticket in a clear plastic envelope that you can get to easily will be very helpful when you are working your way through checkpoints. You will be required to show your identification or passport at several points in the airport and having these documents available will save you a lot of time.
Instead of trying to figure out what you can and cannot take on the plane in your carry one luggage, plan on taking only a change of clothes, a toothbrush and a book or magazine. Security officers do not enjoy going through your carry on anymore than you enjoy waiting for them to examine every small article that is in it.
On way to make the carry-on check process much easier on yourself and the security officers is to keep the items you are putting in your carry-on limited to what you absolutely must have if your luggage is lost. Items that can be purchased when you arrive at your destination should not be included in the carry-on.
Get through baggage claim much quicker by following a few simple steps. Most people think that attaching a piece of bright ribbon or a bungee cord to their luggage will make it easy to see when it is coming through the claim area. However, when this idea is multiplied by the thousands of travelers who are picking up their luggage at the same place, you will not be able to find your luggage easily.
A unique and creative way to make your bag easy to see is to use heavy duty glue to affix a piece of unique fabric or laminate to each side of the bag. Another great idea is to glue a large letter on the side of each bag that is brightly colored. When you have the bag clearly marked in a unique way, it is very easy to see the bag coming and get ready to grab it off the conveyor belt.
When you are planning your departure time add at least two hours if you are traveling nationally and three hours for international flights. A smoker will want to add some gum or other aid so that when you have been processed through the check points, you do not have to leave the airport to smoke and begin the check in process all over again. It is important to go to the bathroom, get a magazine and a drink of water before you start the check-in process. It will take time to navigate completely through the security check points and you will not want to become frustrated because you are not prepared for the wait.
