This document provides 4 tips for air travel during the busy holiday season: 1) Plan trips in advance to get good deals and flights, 2) Allow extra time for delays and traffic, 3) Pack lightly to avoid baggage fees, and 4) Take steps to stay healthy like getting a flu shot to avoid getting sick while traveling. Traveling during the holidays can be stressful due to crowds and delays, so following these tips can help make trips go more smoothly.

1. 4 Tips for Air Travel During the
Holidays
- Ivana De Domenico -

2. It’s finally that time of the year
again; the season for giving and the
season to be thankful, the season
for hot beverages on crisp
evenings and perhaps most
importantly, the season for sales
and discounts.

3. Everyone is on the sharp lookout
for the hottest deals, be it a half-priced
sweater or a stellar holiday
package deal.

4. Traveling during the holiday
season is a trend that has
rapidly grown in the past
few years and by the looks
of it, it is a trend that is
here to stay.

5. More and more people are now
keen on the idea of taking
advantage of the competitive
packages to escape to a warmer
destination during the winter while
some seek out adventurous winter
sport trips.

6. With everyone looking for a getaway, it
is not surprising that traveling during
the holidays is nothing short of a
nightmare with overpacked airports,
overbooked hotels and overwhelming
delays due to inhospitable weather
conditions.

7. Air travel is stressful enough on a
regular day and during the holiday
season, the prospect is made extra
daunting by regular delays, extended
waits for luggage, missed connections
and cramped flights.

8. The very thought of an unfortunate
combination of the above mentioned
air travel disasters is enough to
make anyone cringe at the thought
of traveling during the holidays.

9. And of course, there is road travel
with treacherous roads and
ridiculous traffic, but that we can
worry about another day.

10. Assuming we make it past the icy
death roads and the traffic that can
inspire the most dramatic of road-rages,
there are a few simple steps
that can lead to more a peaceful air
travel, even if a glitch-free trip can
never really be guaranteed.

11. 1. Plan in Advance

12. Seems obvious enough and yet many
a holiday trip has been marred by
simple oversights that could easily be
avoided by planning ahead.

13. Pre-booking, re-confirming and
double-checking are simple steps
that may seem time consuming,
but are more likely to save you time
in the grand scheme of events.

14. Also, planning ahead gives you the
opportunity to snag the best deals,
the off-peak cheaper flights and
good travel dates.

15. 2. Keep Ample Time in
Hand

16. There is almost always something left
to do last minute and in all the hustle
bustle, rushing to the airport, furiously
praying for empty roads and green
lights is not an uncommon scenario.

17. The domino effect of this is that
you will inevitably be five minutes
behind schedule for the rest of the
boarding process. Try to leave early
and anticipate appropriate travel
time to the airport.

18. Also, flights delays are not
uncommon at this time of the year;
be mentally prepared for long waits
and bring reading material to pass
the time as you wait for your flight
to be ready after de-icing.

19. 3. Be Prudent About
Packing

20. Most of us are guilty of
overpacking most of the time.

21. The idea of going to an unknown
place and finding yourself sans an
essential tool is enough to make most
pack a flashlight for a trip to Paris and
take a can-opener to the Bahamas.

22. Most airlines now practice
stringent baggage allowances and
a lighter suitcase can save you
money, and even time, if you can
avoid checked baggages
altogether.

23. You really do not need that third
pair of back-up glasses. Lose it.

24. 4. Take Care of Your Health

25. You do not want to contract flu and
cold right before your holiday and
spend the duration of your trip
sneezing in pictures and being able
to taste the foreign cuisine.

26. Get a flu shot before your trip and
use hand sanitizer as often as
possible to avoid germs.

27. Long time on aircrafts can lead to
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT),
clotting blood in your legs. Stretch
and walk around for a few minutes
every hour to avoid this.

28. Despite all the foresight, there will
sometimes be a lost bag or two, a
cold may sneak up on you as your
plane takes off; some of us will still
take that can-opener, just in case,
and some of us will rush through the
gates just as they are about to close.

29. The important thing is to keep a
positive outlook at times like this. Take
a deep breath and troupe through the
airport drama and keep your eye on
the prize - the getaway you’ve been
daydreaming about for months.

30. For more winter travel tips, visit:
http://www.travelsense.org/tips/
wintertraveltips.cfm

31. Have a happy holiday wherever
your travels may take you!