It would be an understatement to say that, as a species, humanity has created some fantastic traversal methods and ways of traveling around the globe. Among them, human flight is undoubtedly at the top of the list.
However, air travel has long stopped being an exciting novelty — today, it’s just as fresh and new as getting on a bus, but with many more steps in between. There are plenty of things to do before you board your flight—from taking care of your accommodations to packing essentials like your visa documents and passport. In the weeks and days preceding your flight, there are plenty of things to do, and it’s crucial to prepare on time.
Still, it’s the most enjoyable and easiest way to travel — provided you do the necessary prep work before your flight. With that in mind, we’ll look at some of the most important things to do before a flight right here!
Arm Yourself With Patience
Remember, air travel can get pretty hectic. From a battle for space in the overhead compartment to the annoyingly long line for security checks, there’s almost always some frustration before the plane takes off. Plus, your flight can always be delayed due to weather difficulties or other logistical issues. That’s why so many people have received American Airlines compensation in the past.
All in all, you must prepare mentally for the difficulties you might encounter. Just go to the airport knowing that some minor thing will inevitably tick you off, and try not to get too wound up about it. With enough organization beforehand, air travel can be pretty enjoyable.
Take Care Of Accommodation
This is more of a general travel tip than something specifically airport-related — but finding the best possible accommodation is still a task you need to complete well before the day of the flight. It’s not only cheaper to book your stay in advance, but you’ll also feel more secure knowing you’ve already dealt with the most crucial part of your travel arrangements.
Generally, Airbnbs and hotels tend to be the most affordable around a month before the start of your trip, so book your stay accordingly. If you’re a frequent traveler, you probably know this already, but there are three websites the overwhelming majority of people use for these purposes while traveling:
- Airbnb
- Hotels.com
- Booking.com
Confirm Vacation Plans
Planning a trip is much easier when you’re a teen or college student — the financial aspect of the trip is your primary concern, and you don’t need to worry about much else. However, all of that changes once you get a real job. At that point, you need to run your vacation days by your supervisor or boss, any team members you work with closely, and any potential clients you interact with (depending on your line of work).
Check Your Travel Documents
If you’re getting ready for an international flight, there’s one thing you need to do above everything else — make sure that your visa documents and passport are in order. Check to see if your passport hasn’t expired or won’t expire soon. It’s essential to travel with a passport that won’t expire half a year before the scheduled end of your trip. Otherwise, you’ll find that many countries will view you as a security risk and deny entry.
Also, if you’re flying to another country requiring entry visas, ensure your visa is in order. And there’s another thing to remember — check your visa and passport well enough in advance. If you realize that there’s something wrong with them (or they’ll expire soon), you may not be able to do much about the problem a day or two before the flight. Usually, passports and visas come with complex administrative procedures, which you may not be able to go through in time.
So, check your travel documents at least a month before your flight, and you’ll have time to straighten out any issues.
Deal With Travel Insurance
This isn’t strictly necessary — you can board your flight without travel insurance. That being said, it’s probably not the safest way to travel. In most cases, travel insurance isn’t extremely costly, though that depends on your destination and other factors. And having that insurance gives you some much-needed peace of mind. Even if you don’t use it, you’ll know you’ve got something to fall back on in case unforeseen issues arise during your trip.
Look At Frequent Flier Miles
If you fly more often than most people, you can save some money in the long run by using frequent flier programs. There are plenty of different ones, and most large airlines have their own. So, if you fly with one particular airline in most cases, research their frequent flier program and see what it takes to reach gold status.
Once you’ve done that, don’t forget to book your flight (and any flights in the future) with your frequent flier designation or number attached. Otherwise, the flight won’t count toward your miles.