We all love traveling, but not everyone enjoys flying. Sure, we’re excited about the destination – for the trip we’re about to embark on. But the actual act of flying, or arriving at the airport, dealing with security and all the irksome quirks of the airport can put many travelers in a sour mood. While we personally enjoy flying and the airport experience, we understand where the dismay can come from. So we’ve gathered a quick list of 9 tips to ensure a better flight. These are all simple and easy to implement.

9 Tips to Ensure a Better Flight

Bring a Collapsible Water Bottle

Briana’s first tip is for you to bring a collapsible water bottle in your carry-on. We’ve found that some airlines – particularly budget – don’t provide complimentary water. And when they do, they give you a rather small amount and not when you need it, leaving you desperately thirsty for the entire flight.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve gotten on the plane to discover that I’m thirsty and then end up waiting for at least an hour before a flight attendant even begins to give out drinks and snacks. By the time the half cup of water is given, it is nowhere near enough to satisfy the building thirst. Then it turns into a battle to get the attendant’s attention to get more water, and/or you pay $5 for a small water bottle.

By bringing a collapsible water bottle, you can negate all of this. You can have your drink before security, and then empty it as you pass through. Collapse it to make for easy, light-weight carrying to the terminal, and then break it back out. Most airports will have water fountains near bathrooms, which means that you can then refill your bottle before boarding the plane with clean water.

I love this because I like to drink a lot of water, and on my own time. Our water bottles hold about a liter of water, and we’ll go through this on moderate to long flights. You can quench your thirst at any time, and not have to rely on flight attendants to help you out. Staying hydrated always ensures that you feel better on your flights, allowing for easier sleeping, and feeling better upon arrival. And, because it is collapsible, it can be of use at your destination as well, not just on the plane.

Bring Your Earbuds / Headphones

This is a tip I am guilty of not always following, and I regret it every time I don’t. Airlines nowadays are more and more frequently providing in-flight entertainment. Whether it is a long international trip or even just a quick domestic hop, planes are including back of seat screens complete with movies, tv shows, music, and games more.

If you are lucky, some airlines will provide you with earbuds free of charge. But most will try to sell you a pair, and a few just won’t even bother at all. While you can certainly get by just reading subtitles, not all movies and shows offer this option, and it makes the experience a little muted. Since most of us own a pair already and owing to the fact that they are so light, this is a simple tip that can make your flight a little better. Just remember to have them accessible! If you don’t have any of your own, try these out – – they’re large, but if you need good headphones to work remotely as we do, they’re perfect for public working spaces.

Bring a Snack

I don’t know about you, but we tend to get hungry on flights, at the airport, in transit – whenever. While we tend to get treated well-enough on long-haul flights, typically with a meal or even two – most flights will have you relegated to the standard bag of peanuts or pretzels. A few airlines have started to pick up their game and offer a wider variety of options, some of which can be quite good actually. But it still stands, that the quantity often leaves much to be desired.

Trying to find an affordable bite to eat in an airport can be a nightmare as well. As enticing as food in the terminal can be, the giant price tags often times dissuade us from making the purchase unless we just can’t wait for a real meal later.

It is for these reasons that we say, “Bring a snack!”. This way you can keep yourself satisfied on the plane or when your flight gets delayed. If you have allergies, this can ensure you know what you’re eating. And if you have children, then you have just avoided a tantrum at 30,000 feet. Once again, it is the little things that can help elevate your travel experience.

*Word of caution: be aware that some items can get you in trouble in you’re not careful. Some countries are very careful about allowing foreign produce in, such as apples, and you can get into a lot of trouble if the item is banned. Poppy seeds also can cause an issue – particularly in Arabian Gulf nations that have strict no-tolerance agendas, because poppy seeds can test positive as opium. Just read up on what can cause an issue, or be sure to finish your food before you land.

Bring Socks

Now, this tip applies more so for women, than for men – due to the nature of women’s shoes requiring socks less often than men’s – but it can still be important for both. Bring socks. If you are wearing the type of shoe that doesn’t typically use socks: flats, heels, moccasins, flip-flops, sandals, etc. – you may find your feet getting pretty chilly mid-flight. A pair of socks can fix that up real quick and allow you to enjoy your flight in relative comfort. As well, socks – especially compression socks – can help with blood circulation in the legs and feet, and help avoid the danger of blood clots and leg pain brought on by prolonged sitting.

Bring Your Nighttime Essentials

Now I’ll be the first to tell you that I can’t get to sleep on a flight. Maybe it is the excitement of the trip, perhaps it is the noise of the plane – or more likely, I just can’t get myself comfortable enough to actually fall asleep.

Regardless, everyone knows what they need to get themselves to sleep, and should try to bring what they can to help themselves: eye masks, neck pillows, a little blanket – whatever. The point is to get yourself a little shut-eye so that when you arrive at your destination, you are a little better rested than you would have been otherwise.

But remember you still want to pack light, so don’t try to bring your whole bed along with you!

Pack Carry-On Only

This is us not using just carry-on.

This tip may be the hardest to implement, but if you can manage it, you’re golden. Do your best to make everything you’re bringing, fit into a carry-on pack. You still have a personal item too, if you need a little more space. By avoiding a checked piece of luggage, you are able to skip the fees associated with it, the time actually checking it, the worry that it is going to arrive in the wrong city, the extra item you have to carry around with you, and of course waiting for your luggage to appear at baggage claim – which your bags always seem to be the last off the plane don’t they?

Being able to simply walk on and off the plane, in and out of the airport with nothing but the pack on your back is such a freeing experience. Once you manage it the first time, you will think back to yourself that this is the only way to go about it. You discover just how much stuff you DON’T need to bring with you. Bringing as little as possible really opens you up enjoying your experience more, as you are no longer concerned with your possessions and more with the destination at which you’ve arrived.

But you want souvenirs you say? Well, pack at small, collapsible bag in your carry-on. Then you can check it on your return journey. Even if you just manage to have carry-on on one leg, it makes for a better experience all around.

Get “FlightView” App For Your Phone

So now that you’ve packed everything you need in one nice little bag, you need to ensure that the rest of your flight goes smoothly. Nothing can disrupt that as quickly as finding out your flight has been suddenly delayed, changed terminals, or worse – canceled.

FlightView is a great free app that allows you to check your flight’s information in real time from your smartphone. Want to know which terminal and gate you’re leaving from? It is there. Want to double check your departure and arrival time? It is there. Simple and easy to use, it provides the peace of mind to keep you on track.

Apply for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry

What is the most annoying part of travel? All together now: “Security”. Regardless of whether you think it is the most important part of the airport or just a waste of time, you are going to have to deal with it, and no one, in particular, enjoys it.

By getting TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry, you essentially vouch for yourself beforehand, allowing you to progress through security much faster. You can keep on your shoes and belt, don’t have to bother with removing electronics from a bag, and sometimes get to skip the body scanner. The process is much easier and less cumbersome to deal with.

Getting these can be rather involved and does cost money, so infrequent travelers may opt to skip this. However, if the idea of skipping security lines sounds good, the process essentially involves a background check, a bit of paperwork, and a very short and light interview. The paperwork can take a month or two to process, so you’ll want to take care of this in advance.

Global Entry is the best option as it offers a few perks as well as the possibility of TSA Pre-check (though not guaranteed – many people only get it ~10% of the time if they have Global Entry only), but it is also the more expensive option. TSA Pre-check still allows you to skip the lines, but you don’t get any perks. Both are good for 5 years. So getting these doesn’t just make your next flight better, it makes your next 5 years of flights better. We currently just have TSA Pre-check and are quite happy with it, however, you can still get both if you want. 

Arrange Special Accommodations in Advance

And finally, if you have any special needs to accommodate, address them in advance. If you’re allergic to animals, notify the airline in advance so that they can address any issues that may arise due to other passengers bringing their pets aboard, be it a service animal or just a furry friend. If you arrive without having informed the airline you’re allergic and another person has already paid for their animal to be in the cabin – well, sorry but you’re going to be sneezing and it is no one’s fault but yours.

On that note, if you have a service animal, be sure to double-check that your peacock does actually qualify. Airlines and nations do have various standards and guidelines that may not be in line with what you expect. 

On that note, if you are flying with a pet you will want to check your options before you even book the ticket. Airlines have varying degrees of rules regarding breed; if your pet can be carry on or cargo (we recommend you keep them with you if possible) and so on.

As well, some passengers may have special circumstances that can be difficult to accommodate without prior knowledge. If you have a meal for your trip, you might be surprised to know that there is a wide selection from which to choose, an important decision if you’re vegetarian, or need a kosher or halal meal. However, these are rarely provided by default and must be requested (free of charge) beforehand. By contacting your airline directly beforehand, you can ensure that they and you are prepared for your flight.

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