Holiday Travel Tips

It’s the holiday travel season and airports are at their busiest. Here are a few tips to make your holiday travels easier.

• Don't wrap your gifts before you go. Instead, wait until you arrive at your destination, as airport screeners may ask you to unwrap them for inspection at the security checkpoint.
• Pack a collapsible bag to bring back gifts that you receive, or avoid the need to pack gifts by shipping them.
• If you plan to bring a bottle or two of wine, remember that they must be packed in your checked luggage. Make sure they are well protected to withstand the rigors of the journey, and the luggage handlers.
• If you are planning on wrapping gifts at your destination, be sure to pack the scissors in your check-in bag. While the Transportation Security Agency has relaxed the restrictions on small tools and small scissors, much of it can still be subject to interpretation by inspectors, so it’s best to check in any sharp items to avoid confiscation. Or, avoid wrapping altogether by using gift bags.
• To avoid the crowds, you may want to consider flying on the actual holiday, when demand is lower.
• Delays are common at this time of year, so bring plenty of snacks and reading material. Fly as early in the morning as possible - delays become longer as the day goes on. If you can, choose less crowded airports.
• Avoid connecting flights if possible. Flights are solidly booked this time of year, and if weather or some other common delay causes you to miss a connection, chances are slim that you will find room on a later flight.
• If you must use a connecting flight, choose a connection with a minimum layover of an hour and a half to two hours. If you have just 30-45 minutes between flights, even a minor delay can cause you to miss your connection.
• Arrive early. At peak travel times you should plan for 30 minutes or more to clear the security checkpoints, and don’t forget to consider holiday traffic and long check-in lines.
• You will probably be asked for your identification several times in your journey through the airport. Use an ID/passport holder worn around the neck to keep your documents readily accessible.
• Wear slip-on shoes and avoid garments with metal to make your trip through security checkpoints easier. Dress in layers and avoid pullover garments when possible – if you need to add or shed a layer in a crowded shuttle bus, plane or terminal, it’s much easier when you don’t have to pull it over your head.