Being a flight attendant for many years gave me a bird’s eye view of some travel tips that can make your air travel more comfortable and your packing less cumbersome. 

For packing:

Always pack less than you think you need.  I know firsthand how hard that is to do.  When we went to Europe with our 8, 9, and 10 year old we were way overpacked.  Granted it was winter and we needed heavy clothes to go skiing, etc.  We barely made it on and off the train in time.  I honestly felt like we were going to hold the train up while loading and unloading our multiple suitcases.  On the contrary, the trains will not wait for you.  Renting a car on that trip was equally difficult as we needed a large vehicle to handle all 5 of us plus our enormous amount of luggage.  I laugh now when I think about it.  The cars and hotel rooms in Europe (and cruise ship cabins) tend to be smaller so that poses another challenge, not to mention the work of unpacking and repacking.  Remember you will probably shop a bit on your trip so there needs to be room to accommodate new items and gifts.  If you’re fearful you might forget something just remember that most anywhere in the world you go you will be able to find something that is a true need.  Now I tend to pack like doing a rough draft.  I start with everything I think I want to bring then I edit.   I start this early, at least a couple of weeks before a trip.   I pare down more than once over the next two weeks.  This means I can’t necessarily bring all my favorites, but I know I will have plenty.  Think of mixing and matching.  Bringing mostly neutrals can help too with adding that splash of color with a lightweight scarf, etc.  There are companies that specialize in travel clothing that stay mostly wrinkle-free or coats that are compact and very small.  This is a huge benefit when packing and also planning what to wear during a flight.  In all honestly I still struggle with this but with each trip, I feel I am getting a little better.  Do you know how they say you wear mostly 20 percent of what is in your closet?  When you overpack you tend to not wear many of the items you have to lug around.  One special note on shoes, think stylish and comfortable.  Shoes do take up a lot of room, this can be especially difficult especially if you are doing multiple activities.  Try your best to keep it to three pairs or less if possible.  Lastly, don’t forget about all the travel-size toiletries that help save room in your bags. 

For Air Travel:

Plan for airport transport.  Are you driving yourself to the airport?  If so know where you are going to park.  Usually, there are short-term and long-term parking lots.   Allow extra time for shuttles if you decide to park further away from the airport.  Using Uber or a family and friend to drive you to the airport can alleviate parking hassles. Uber usually runs at all hours.  Plan ahead for your transportation upon arrival at your destination.  This varies a great deal depending on the type of trip you are going on.  Many cruise lines offer shuttles from the airport.  Trains are popular in Europe, and in many destinations, a rental car will be needed.  Rental car companies do run out of cars so plan ahead. 

Know the security rules:

Even as an experienced traveler I still have occasionally had things taken away from me at the security checkpoint.  My kids laugh each time this happens to me.  I have learned the hard way about some things that I thought were considered a solid that TSA considers a liquid.  Familiarize yourself with all of the current TSA rules.  They can change from time to time.  Know what you can and cannot bring on the plane.

Get to the airport early:

How many times have you rushed to catch a plane?  I have and it’s not fun.  Sometimes things happen that are out of your control, but leaving early will help even if unexpected travel delays on the road should arise.  I know it can seem boring getting to the airport early and having to wait but thankfully these days with technology to entertain us and most airports having plenty of restaurants and coffee shops it helps to make the time go by faster.

When I was a flight attendant I used to laugh at how much people complained about airplane food (including me at times) but ate every last bit of it.  Something about hot meals delivered on an airplane is a luxury not seen very much anymore.  I remember one of the first fights I ever worked and the number of special meals served on that flight made it feel like a full-service restaurant. I think that flight was less than 2 hours on a huge plane with elevators.  We worked hard on those.   When I used to work first and business-class flights overseas the choices were plentiful.  These days I recommend bringing snacks along.  Sure you can always get something extra at the airport or there might be the occasional meal service on a longer flight but it never hurts to have some extras.  Also, remember to bring your medications in your carry-on bag.  You need to be able to access those and if they are in checked baggage that can be risky, and sadly luggage does get lost from time to time.  The good news is usually found and recovered quickly and rarely happens. 

Dress for comfort:

Being an airline employee we had to adhere to a strict dress code when traveling on our airline as a passenger.  If you’re my age you probably also remember when people used to dress up to fly.  Fast forward and it’s all over the map.  I have seen it all.  I personally think the trend of athleisure a word created to express both athletic wear that can be worn other places than the gym is a popular choice that is comfortable but can be stylish.  That means different things to different people but the thing I like to emphasize is comfortable and classy.  Thankfully we don’t have to dress up as much as generations before us or even like I did when traveling as an employee.  Also, remember temperatures on airplanes vary widely.  We used to have blankets we would pass out in overhead bins.  I do not see that as much anymore and looking back unless they were new and wrapped in plastic I probably wouldn’t want to use one.  I highly recommend a layer or two.  Also, there are blankets that are made for travel that wrap up very small to throw in a carry-on bag.  Speaking of carry-on bags know your airline’s policy so you do not get caught at the gate with too many bags.  Backpacks can be a great idea for travel and they come in a variety of styles to match everyone’s preference.  Options for carry-ons are endless.  Just remember, you might have to carry it long distances so pack it accordingly.  Think of bringing an e-reader like a Kindle to minimize weight from books etc. Also, consider an RFID shield wallet for extra security. 

Be flexible:

This is a huge one!  I’ve been on both sides of the airline world both as an employee and a passenger.  Flying can be frustrating at times.   It is inevitable you will have issues from time to time.  Hopefully, most will depart and land exactly as planned or even ahead of schedule if you have a good tailwind.  However, there will be delays and the occasional cancellation, airplane mechanicals, etc.  Weather is one of the main issues for delays.  I have had passengers get irate about missing their upcoming business meeting when lightning bolts were striking the ground near the plane.  Safety is most important and when there is weather it tends to shut down airports for a time and the the whole system might be affected.  The weather might be great where you are but your inbound plane might be coming from an area experiencing a blizzard.  Most airlines do their very best to keep things on schedule but if you know ahead of time things can change you will handle stressful situations better.  Keep in mind if you are traveling to catch a cruise or an important meeting please leave a day early and allow that cushion rather than missing the first part of your trip.  Other delays can be mechanical issue on an airplane.  This does not mean the airplane is unsafe.  Pilots have a checklist to go through and if something needs to be checked out based on something they see then it might cause a delay.  Another issue that can cause a delay is a medical emergency.  Again be flexible.  The crew is doing all they can to help that passenger.  Sometimes it is a crew issue and the crew is late from their inbound flight.  It is truly amazing how an airline keeps everything flowing as they do.  It is a huge operation and the amount of people it takes to get one plane off the ground utterly amazes me to this day.  I have a huge respect for aviation.   To be assured I flew 3/4 days a week sometimes multiple flights a day for many years and most flights go according to schedule but when they don’t please be patient and understanding.   I still have to remind myself of this as a passenger too!

I hope this helps a little as you plan for your upcoming vacation.  As a travel designer, we will provide packing lists to help with your particular destination, and many other suggestions to help your trip go as smoothly as possible.  We are also standing by and ready to help you navigate a situation should you experience a delay or cancelation of a flight.