Blogging from the sky: Air Travel tips

I seem to spend a lot of time sat in departure lounges and in the sky. 

Flying is not one of my favourite things to do so every little thing I can do to make it better makes a difference. 

Flights get delayed. Flights are cancelled. Connections are missed. Luggage gets lost (more often than I would like to remember right now.) Systems fail. Weather happens. Security happens. Waiting happens. 

It's essentially one big palaver from the moment you check in to the moment you grab your bags from the conveyer belt, (or fill out a lost baggage form and head home with no clothes.)  

I have learnt some ways to make all of these travelling fiascos a little less painful...

Hand luggage 

For most international flights you are allowed one carry on item and one small personal item. I always bring a small rolling suitcase and a handbag or backpack. The wheel along hand luggage is perfect for carrying electronics like a laptop and SLR camera.  It is also an ideal way to carry items that you couldn't bare to lose. In my case it's generally filled with teaching folders. This time it's packed to the brim with composition books, marking stamps, and some children's versions of classic novels that I picked up on sale in Target. 

• Pack things that you will not need to use during flight in wheel along carry on case that you can store above you in the overhead lockers.

• Place a spare pair of clothes or two in your wheel along hand luggage to avoid the hassle of being stranded without a change of clothes. 

• Place all liquids and gels in a small plastic bag ahead of time. You don't want to be the person scrambling around for your travel sized tooth paste at security.

• Bring snacks along. If you are like me you will want something chocolatey, something savoury and something fruity.

• Buy a big bottle of water after security at the gate. You don't want to get dehydrated or have to wait to be served. 

• Bring a book. You won't always have a screen in the back of the seat on front of you to keep you entertained. 

• Place phones and all of your chargers (with adapters) in your hand luggage. Your electronics may run out of juice if you become delayed.

• Bring headphones, music and a relaxing sounds app. It may help to drown out the sound of crying babies.

• Always pack medications in your hand luggage.

• Place all travel documents into a plastic wallet in your hand luggage to keep everything together and safe. 

• Pack baby wipes to freshen up with along the way.

• Bring moisturiser and lip balm to avoid waking up with chapped lips and a dry face.

• Carry hand sanitizer to use before and after in flight meals.

• Inflatable travel pillows are great if you are traveling solo and do not have a neighbours shoulder to rest your head on. 

Checked luggage:

You are allowed a 50lb checked bag on most international flights. This might sound like the weight of a premature baby elephant but when you are packing the kitchen sink it is barely any weight at all.  This piece of luggage is my ultimate nemesis. I always end up overpacking and having to juggle items between bags, jumping on and off scales to check the weight over and over again.

• Try to pack light. This is a perfect example of the phrase, "Do as I say and not as I do."

• Buy an extra large duffle bag instead of a heavy solid case. (The case is included in the weight and can save you precious pounds.)

• Pack shoes in carrier bags.

• Pack any liquid items (eg. black current squash or salad dressing) in multiple carrier bags.

• Buy multiple baggage tags with your name and address on them to attach to checked bag. They can and do fall off.

• Print an extra itinerary for your journey and place it inside bag incase you lose all of the address and tracking labels on the outside.

• Avoiding wrapping gifts.  The TSA may need to see what you have inside and will unwrap things.  

• 99.9% of luggage seems to be black. Place a coloured belt strap on yours to make it easier to spot on the conveyor belt. Also make sure to check you are carrying away your case and not mine. 

What to wear:

• COMFY CASUAL. The only person that will care if you are wearing tight jeans and insensible shoes is you; when you are 35,000 feet above the ground and packed uncomfortably upright like sardines in a tin can. Give up and get comfy. Today isn't going to be a day on the catwalk.  I routinely fly in long baggy yoga trousers, a strap top and a hoody to keep warm when you are in the air.

• Slip on shoes. Avoid hopping around at security trying to tie laces and buckle straps.

• Flight socks to avoid discomfort and excess swelling.

General tips:

• Take travel sickness medication if you can feel nauseous whilst flying. I find this also helps me to sleep as drowsiness is a side effect.

• Pick a seat online when making your booking to make sure you have a place on the flight. Airlines overbook and you can find there are no seats available on the day. 

• Be open to change.  Often when a flight has been over booked the airline will ask of anyone would like to transfer flights and receive a voucher as compensation for having to change their original plans.  This can work out well if you don't have a tight schedule. 

• Check seat allocation on the day of your flight to see the flight is full. If not you may be able to find a place with an open seat next to It. What is better than one seat? Two or three of course. 

• Move around. Keep exercising and stretching your legs.

• Sleep as much as you possibly can. Time passes fastest this way.

• If you are a female traveling alone pick an aisle seat. You don't want to be trapped next to someone trying to ply you with drinks.

• Book a connection flight that has at least 2 to 3 hours layover in an airport to give plenty of time to get through passport control, collect and recheck bags, go through security and find your new gate.

• Check gates regularly. They sometimes change and you are forced to run. 

Sit back, relax and enjoy your journey.