7 Ways To Make Your Airport Experience Less Stressful

Pack light

Making this simple change will completely transform your experience at
the airport. Whether you’re travelling for two days or two months you
can survive with just a carry-on luggage. Unless you are travelling with
something big such as a bike or guitar, there is usually not a good
enough reason to have to bring a checked bag with you on your trip.

Pack 2 days in advance

Packing 2 days earlier makes packing so much easier and way less
stressful. All it takes is setting your bathing suit, shorts, and other
wears aside. Dust off your luggage open it up and set it aside in the
corner of your room. As you think of things start throwing them in. By
the time it comes to leaving all you’ve got to do is zip up your
suitcase and go. So simple, but so effective.

Record your travel info right after booking

Avoid having to scavenge through your emails looking for your travel
information. Odds are that you’ve booked your trip months in advance. By
this time hundreds of reminders, promotions, and correspondences will
have flooded your inbox. Recording your travel info right after booking
makes tracking down your booking reference, flight time, and terminal
number so much easier. This also makes online check in a lot quicker and
more efficient. 

Never travel on an empty stomach

If your basic needs aren’t meet, you’re going to undoubtedly be more
prone to stress. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get ‘hangry’. So do
yourself a favour and have a good meal before starting your journey. If
you absolutely must skip out on a meal at least bring some easy snacks
with you. This way when you feel the monster taking over you can grab
something quickly to subdue the hangry beast inside you.

Avoid morning flights if you can

This isn’t always possible, but whenever you can; always book an
afternoon or evening flight. If your basic need of sleep isn’t being
met, you’re much more prone to stress and anxiety on the day you are
travelling. Who really wants to wake up 3 hours before their 7am flight
and go through the airport on only 4 hours of sleep? Also, booking an
evening flight will help avoid jet lag in some cases. 

Arrive early

This is a given, but you always have those who never consider hitting
traffic or queuing for an hour at security. Arriving early helps avoid
any stress related to time. Plus it gives you time for a nice cup of
coffee and a bit of duty-free shopping.

Book seats at the back of the plane

This is key, especially for getting the full benefit of travelling with
only a carry-on luggage. If you book seats that are closer to the back
of the airplane, you’re more likely to be boarded first. This is
important so that you get your bag into the overhead compartment.