Getting Safely Through the Airport with Less Stress

I don’t know about you, but to me one of the most stressful parts about air travel is just getting through the airport.  Between the check-in process, keeping track of all the documentation needed for travel during COVID, new TSA rules, boarding and just trying to stay ‘healthy’ through the whole process, I find myself a bit worn out by the time I finally get seated on the plane.

The key to reducing stress is to know what to expect and to prepare for it the best that you can.  In this post, we will be sharing a number of tips for streamlining the process of getting through the airport and on to your flight.  So, if you share any of these concerns, I hope this post will help!

Preparing for Your Trip

Before you start packing for your trip, you should really think about the whole process of arriving at the airport, checking in with your airline, passing through the TSA line and boarding your flight.  You are going to need your documents and/or your phone handy throughout the entire process.

In the past, when I first arrived at an airport for a departing flight, I had my documents and phone in one spot.  As I used each document, i.e., passport, boarding pass, phone, etc., I tended just to stuff that item anywhere that was immediately handy.  Of course, then when I needed that item again, I had to hunt through my pockets or purse looking for it.  I know it seems like a simple thing to do, but now, I have one place where I put everything and I put it there every time. 

So, my first tip is to bring along a bag that you will keep with you constantly and that has an easily accessible pocket that can hold all of your important documents and phone. 

Also, if you are traveling with others and one person is going to be the ‘keeper of the documents’, make sure everyone in the party knows where those documents are going to be stored.  And, if you are the keeper, make sure you return everyone’s documents to the designated spot, every time!

Checking In at the Airport

Another tip for reducing stress is simply to make sure you arrive at the airport with plenty of time to get to your gate.  Keep in mind that boarding usually begins 30 to 50 minutes before actual departure time.  So, plan to arrive at the airport early and then if you run into unexpected delays checking-in or getting through security, you will not be stressing out trying to rush to your flight.   

When you are packing your luggage, make sure you know the airline’s size and weight restrictions for checked luggage, carry-ons, and even personal items.  And, since the rules of each airline may be different, you need to know this information for each of the airlines on which you will be flying.  We have found that international flights are much more restrictive and rules seem to be more enforced than similar rules on domestic flights.  We have been on at least two international flights where either the size or the weight of our carry-on bags was challenged during the check-in process.      

So, be sure to select bags that are of the appropriate size and be sure to weigh your luggage before you leave home.  Otherwise, you may be scrambling at check-in to redistribute things between your pieces of luggage or you may be assessed an expensive excess baggage fee. 

If you are waiting in line to check-in, be sure to have all of your documentation ready to go when it is your turn.  Oh, and be sure to have luggage tags on all of your luggage, even if you are not planning to check it.  You never know when you will have to gate-check a bag, so always be ready for that eventuality.

Going Through TSA

If you have not flown for a while, you may be unaware of some changes to the TSA rules.  You still need to adhere to all of the familiar rules concerning liquids, so make sure all your liquid items are stored in a one-quart baggy or some other TSA compliant, clear pouch.  In addition to your one-quart baggy, you are now allowed to bring up to a 12-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer and a tub of disinfecting wipes.  These two items are over and above any of the other liquids in your baggy.  Both the 12-ounce sanitizer and the tub of disinfecting wipes need to be placed in the bin along with your other liquids when passing through the TSA inspection, but they do not need to be in a baggy.

Take note that even if you have TSA PreCheck – you still need to have your liquids in the quart baggy.  I know there is some argument about this point, but according to the TSA it is still necessary to bag your liquids. Also, keep in mind that sometimes small airports may not have TSA PreCheck or the PreCheck line could be temporarily closed and you will need to proceed through the regular security line.  In that case, you can notify the officer of your PreCheck status and ask if you may leave your liquids in your suitcase, but there is no guarantee that they will allow it.  In fact, if I found myself in this situation, I probably would just remove my liquids and proceed like everyone else, so as not to disrupt the flow of the line.

Another change is that the TSA no longer wants you to place your phone, belt, wallet, watch or keys in the bin.  All of these items now need to be stored in your carry-on bag before it passes through screening.  Take the time to place these items in your carry-on bag well before you get into the TSA line, so that you are not scrambling to do so at the last minute.  In fact, if you just pack them in your bag before leaving for the airport, that will be one less thing to worry about when you are passing through security.

Food items must now be removed from your carry-on bag for screening.  All food items must be in a clear bag and placed in the bin for screening.  I recommend double-bagging your food so that you can dispose of the outer bag after it has passed through the screening process.  I don’t know about you, but I really do not want anything that I am eating to be in direct contact with the same bin that has just held someone’s shoes!

Speaking of shoes, depending on the airport, they still need to be removed, unless you have TSA PreCheck.  So, have them unlaced and ready to remove when it is your turn!  Place them in the bin and proceed through the scanner when the TSA agent signals for you to proceed. 

Once you have been through the body scanner, grab all your stuff off the belt and move on immediately so that other folks can retrieve their belongings too.  There are usually some benches located nearby where you can sit down to put your shoes on and get all your personal items back together before proceeding to the gate. 

If you have flown since these new rules have been in effect, you may have been able to pass through the TSA with food in your carry-on or with a liquid that was not in the quart baggy.   Enforcement of the rules may vary, but we wanted to provide you with current information so that you are aware of the rules and can prepare yourself accordingly.

TIP: If you need some ideas for reducing, eliminating or replacing some of the liquids that you normally carry, take a look at our blog post “How to Pack for the TSA – Fitting it all in that Little Quart Bag”.

Getting to Your Gate

As long as you are not rushing to the gate to catch your flight, hopefully you will be able to ‘take a break’ at your gate while waiting to board.  Take this time to ensure all your documents are where they should be and be prepared to show some of them again before you board. 

Listen to the instructions from the gate agent and try not to bolt to the front of the line before your group or row is called.  Be ready with your boarding pass.  For international flights you may need to show your passport again too.  Once you pass the gate and you are waiting to board, put all of your documents back in their safe spot.

Boarding the Plane

Once on board, locate your seat and wipe it down with a disinfecting wipe.  If you do not have your own, the airlines are now handing out large alcohol wipes for this purpose.

Hopefully you have already thought about all of the items that you will need during the flight.  Ensure that things like headphones, snacks, masks, medicines, lotions, lip balm, sweaters and jackets are easily accessible from your seat and not in the overhead bins.

Now, sit back and take a breath.  You are ready for your flight!

Tips for Trying to Stay Healthy

Now more than ever, there is a lot of attention on trying to avoid picking up an illness when you are traveling.  Frankly though, I have always been a little bit of a ‘germaphobe’ and other than wearing a face mask, I have always had my own ‘protocol’ for flying.

Here are a few of things I do when flying:

• Think about the clothes that you wear when flying. I try to minimize the skin contact that I have with the airplane seat, so I do not wear shorts or a skirt.  Instead, I opt for long pants and typically a long sleeve shirt.  Also, I do not wear any flowing clothes that could drag on the floor or brush against a lot of surfaces, especially in the airplane restroom!

• When passing through the regular TSA line, you are likely to be required to remove your shoes. I cannot stand to be barefoot in the airport, so I never wear sandals.  Instead, I wear comfortable shoes with some sort of a sock that I can remove once I am through security. Then I tuck those socks in a little baggy and wash them at some point during the trip.

• Think about all the surfaces that you touch when going through the airport. I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer handy and use it frequently throughout the airport. For example, self-serve kiosks are commonly used for check-in and hundreds of people use those kiosks every day. Do they ever get cleaned? Who knows, so use that hand sanitizer!

• On all of our recent flights, the bottles of water provided on the plane are very small, so if you want to stay hydrated bring your own water onboard. A lot of advocates recommend bringing your own water bottle and filling it before getting on the plane.  That may have been a good idea at one point.  However, now in a lot of airports the water fountains are closed.  But, even if they are open, they are probably a pretty germy place.  Alternatively, as long as it remains solidly frozen when you pass through TSA inspection, you can bring your own water bottle of ice and when it does melt you will have water.  Of course, the easiest thing to do is just purchase a bottle before you get on the plane.  

• Once onboard the plane, I always wipe my seating area as thoroughly as I can. I like to bring along my own wipes, because the single wipe provided by the airline is just not enough for me.  I recommend thoroughly wiping down the tray table, the touchscreen for the entertainment system, arm rests, seat belts, air flow and overhead lighting buttons, and if in a window seat, the wall area adjacent to the seat.  I also like to use hydrogen peroxide wipes, because unlike a lot of other disinfectant wipes, they are effective against norovirus. If you are really concerned, you can find disposable seat and tray table covers available on sites like Amazon.

• The seat back pocket is another spot that is incredibly unclean. People stuff all sorts of unsanitary garbage in there.  However, it is a handy spot for stashing stuff that you may need frequently.  So, I bring along an extra-large plastic baggy that I can tuck into the pocket.  It holds what I need, I don’t have to touch anything nasty, and then I just throw it away at end of the flight.  You can also purchase in-flight organizers that are designed to hang from the tray table.

• As you probably know, everyone is required to wear a mask throughout the flight. For a long flight, we use an N95 mask and change it at least once during the flight.  Recent research shows that the most vulnerable time on the plane is during meal service when everyone removes their mask at the same time. If it’s a short flight, I might consider turning down the drink or snack or eating my own snack at a different time.  If you do have a meal, try to eat quickly so that you can return to wearing your mask.   

• I have never been a fan of using the pillows and blankets supplied by the airline. They are not necessarily cleaned or sanitized between uses, despite being wrapped in plastic.  I just bring along my own sweater and I do not use a pillow at all.  If you do bring along your own pillow, keep it in some sort of protective pouch or bag when you are not using it, so that it stays clean.

• If you wear an eye mask on the plane, keep it clean too. You do not want it falling on the floor or coming into contact with unclean surfaces. After all, its going to be on your face!

• You have probably heard that you should not drink coffee, tea or non-bottled water due to the potential for bacteria in the plane’s water system. I have to admit that after a long overnight flight, I usually get a cup of coffee even though I probably should give it a pass.  But, if you can avoid these beverages, you probably should do so.

• Bring along a baggy in which you can collect your used Kleenex, face masks, wipes, etc. That way you can easily dispose of all these items at the end of the flight and no one else has to touch them.

The goal is to feel as comfortable and safe as possible when you fly, and we hope you have found these tips helpful.  You may even have a few of your own, so please feel free to leave a comment and share your ideas with other readers!

Until next time, safe travels.