Travelling can be a stressful event for many of us and airplane travel is top on the list of the stressors that we experience on what is supposed to be an exciting and fun event. A few simple steps can remove most of the stress of air travel.
Make a checklist
Make a checklist of all the things you want to check to secure your home before you leave. Walk through your home checking off each item. Do this at least an hour before you leave your house.
Doing this will make sure that you don?t have that awful feeling when you get to the airport of ?did I lock the back door?? or any of the other little nagging worries you might have while on your travel.
Pets
Be sure your pets are taken care of. Make any kennel reservations well in advance of your trip to be sure you have a reserved spot at a kennel you trust. This is very important during the holiday seasons.
Fly in the morning
Morning flights are often the best. Most people do not want to wake up early for a flight so you will more often than not find the plane and airport less crowded and more spaces available in the Airport Parking lot.
A good idea is to book into a hotel close to the airport the night before so you can get to the airport early enough.
Avoid peak flight times
Even if you are unable to get on the earliest flight, it is recommended that you avoid peak flight times as this is when the flights, Airport Parking and the airport itself are most crowded.
Additionally, security will be heightened during peak times making longer queues.
Use online check-in
Many airlines offer online check-in and this will save you time otherwise wasted standing in line to check-in at the airport - time that can be better spent at home or in the airport lounge. Unfortunately, you won?t be able to utilise this feature unless you are traveling without luggage that needs to be checked-in.
Pack your bags
Make sure all your packing is done at least the night before and that you have all your bags in one central location for easy and complete loading into your car or taxi. Have all your travel paperwork organized and in one central location.
Get there early
Arrive at the airport as early as possible. Call the airport and airline the day before to see how early the recommend you should arrive for a smooth, stress free check in. If they tell you to arrive three hours early and you arrive just 30 minutes early, you will probably feel great stresses about missing your flight. While 5 hours ahead of time might be a bit too far in advance, you never know what could go wrong on the way to the airport or while you are there. Also ask if there are any parking restrictions you should be aware of. Airport Security check-in takes longer these days, and many airlines are recommending arrival 3 hours prior to flight time.
You?ll feel far more relaxed if you are not rushing to get to your plane and can enjoy a drink in the airport bar or some duty-free shopping instead. If you have trouble arriving early, think about staying in an airport hotel the night before.
Book non-stop flights
Non-stop flights will save you a lot of time. Non-stop flights usually cost more, but they can be worth it if you want to have a more relaxing journey.
Make sure there?s enough time for connections
If you can?t get a non-stop flight, make sure your agent books connections with ample time for plane changes. Even if you get your boarding pass ahead of time and your luggage is checked through to your final destination, it could be a long hike to the gate once you are in the transit lounge. Additionally, if your first flight is late, you risk missing the next flight without a good buffer zone.
Fight Jet Lag
You can prevent jet lag by drinking water instead of alcohol on the flight, keeping your body well hydrated. It?s also wise to walk around the plane and stretch while in your seat so you keep your blood circulating. Sleep according to the time zone of the location you are heading to, and if you get there in the daytime, do not sleep until the night!
By following these simple steps, you will find that your stress levels from your air travels will be much less. A well planned trip agenda ensures that those little stress points stay little stress points and don't balloon into a full blown crisis.
Try it any you will be amazed how just a small amount of up front planning dramatically improves the enjoyment of your travel.
Obviously, traveling business or first class is going to be more relaxing. Here are a few steps that will improve your chances of getting a free flight upgrade:
Be polite and friendly
Upgrades are usually at the discretion of check-in staff so a bit of flirtatious charm can go a long way.
Be subtle and discreet
Staff are unlikely to upgrade you if other customers are within earshot. ?Have you got seats anywhere else on the plane?? is a rather nice way of asking for an upgrade, or alternatively request ?an aisle seat next to the window!? ? think about it!
Scrub up well
Staff will prioritise customers who look the part, so that rules out any jeans and beach wear - however much you're in the mood for a tropical holiday! There's no need to wear a full suit as this can be uncomfortable on long flights; smart trousers and a shirt should do it.
Join a frequent flier programme
If you're a frequent flier, then you should definitely consider becoming a member. After all, they're completely free to sign up to and usually you'll be given priority over low fare economy ticket holders when upgrades are available or necessary.
Get friendly with staff
Having friends or family who work for the airline will always help. Also, if you regularly fly on the same route, get to know the staff and they'll be more likely to keep you in mind.
Avoid regular business hours
Flying during the working day obviously means more business people taking up seats and less opportunity for you to fill them. If possible, fly at the weekend or unusual hours to increase your chances.
Fly on planes with larger first class sections
It goes without saying the more first class seats there are, the more likely it is you'll get one. You can either check the airline's website or use a site like Seat Guru to investigate a specific plane's layout.
Get bumped off
Companies often over-book flights, especially in busy times like school holidays, and hope people will cancel or not turn up. Then they'll ask passengers to voluntarily fly on the next available flight and more than likely offer you an upgrade as well as compensation for the inconvenience.
Celebrate in style
If you're celebrating a special occasion like your honeymoon always let the staff know. A good tip is to take your marriage certificate with you so you can prove it. You never know, you may get lucky!
Use Frequent Flyer Miles
If you prefer a guaranteed way to travel in comfort without shelling out, you can always use your Frequent Flyer miles to top up the flight.
Ditch the family!
It's easier to get upgrades when you're traveling on your own. Families and groups aren't likely to be offered them.
Chat up the travel agent
Try and get the travel agent to annotate your booking with SFU (suitable for upgrade) or CIP (commercially important passenger), while it won't assure an upgrade, it should increase your chances. Marry a pilot! It speaks for itself!
And what not to do??.
Be demanding
While it might work for celebrities, having an attitude isn't going to warm the staff to you and they'll be less inclined to give you an upgrade.
Undersell yourself
While this won't definitely secure you an upgrade, if you're a Doctor or Reverend, make sure you book with this on the ticket. Some peoples' experiences suggest this will help you on your way to getting a luxury seat.
The next best??.
If you don't rate your chances of getting an upgrade, there are ways to improve the likelihood of getting those much sought-after bulkhead seats with the big leg room. While airlines say these seats are only allocated on the day of flying, frequent flyers may actually be able to pre-book them.
If not, why not try checking in online? As well as saving time, you might be able to grab aisle or bulkhead seats this way. If you've a back injury, get a certificate from your doctor to help persuade staff at check-in. Be aware, though, to sit by an emergency exit you have to be deemed ?physically fit'.
Also use the airline's website or an online guide to airline seating to compare the amount of leg room you get. For example, Air New Zealand offers their lucky passengers three inches more leg-room as standard compared to BA.
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