Leave Early

One of the most important things you can do when travelling by air is to give yourself plenty of time. We all know things can go wrong in your commute. Traffic jams, accidents and other delays are commonplace, so we recommended leaving early enough so you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure for domestic flights or at least 3 hours ahead of time if flying internationally.

Make Sure to Bring Valid Photo ID, Passport and Visa if Needed

All passengers on domestic flights are required to present an unexpired government issued ID. A passport is required for all international travel and Visas are necessary if you'd like to travel to a country that does not have a visa policy in place with your home country. If you want to save a little time going through airport security, you should keep all these documents readily accessible so you can easily get to them when needed.

Look up Airline Bag Regulations

Before deciding on what to pack and what bags you should use it would be wise to check with the airline to confirm your baggage allowance. You should verify the number of carry-on bags allowed as well as size and weight limits. Most airlines charge for checked baggage so if you need to check any bags you should also confirm the size and weight allowance on those as well. It would also be wise to put your contact information inside and outside of every bag. These tags are an incredibly useful tool to identify your travel bags easier. In addition, if the airline happens to lose your luggage these tags will make it easier for you to get them back.

Always Carry Travel Insurance

This isn't necessarily a time saving tip at the airport that everyone will use but insurance can come in handy during flight delays, cancellations and lost luggage. Depending on what type of vacation you choose it can be quite expensive. If you want to protect that investment it is vital to always carry travel insurance. Unforeseen circumstances ruin travelers vacation plans every year. Tour operators can go out of business and family members can become ill. Travel insurance policies provide peace of mind and protection if the unthinkable happens. Most of these plans cover a wide range of trip safeguards such as death and dismemberment, emergency medical coverage, trip cancellations, baggage loss and more. Knowing that your long-awaited vacation is protected can put your mind at ease and give you one less thing to worry about.

Pack Smart

Whether you are an experienced traveler, or this is your first airplane flight, packing smartly is essential. Checked baggage fees can run high sometimes so if you can get by with just a carry on you can avoid those fees. Keep in mind that these carry-ons need to be a certain size so make sure you stay within those guidelines. In addition, avoid packing too many toiletries as most airlines will take any liquids over 100ml. Most importantly, be realistic. The less you take the more of a chance you will stay within those carry-on limits. If it turns out that you desperately need something you can always pick it up when you get to your destination.

Check-in Online

Most airlines will give you the choice of checking in online. This option gives you the opportunity to skip the long check-in lines at the airport. Depending on the class of ticket bought checking in online could also allow you to choose your seat ahead of time. Checking in online will provide you a smoother, more expedited process once you reach the airport.

Get Parking Before Heading to the Airport

Most airports will have limited parking and with the high number of people flying each day there is no guarantee that parking will be available when you arrive on the day of your flight. We recommend making your parking reservation as early as possible to ensure you will have a spot. Booking in advance will allow you to get better prices and more peace of mind when planning your travels.

Research Prohibited Items

Knowing what you can and cannot pack in your luggage is vital and can certainly ease your travel experience at the airport. From obvious items like sharp objects, weapons, and flammable liquids to lesser know prohibited items like offensive t-shirts and gel insoles. We recommend checking with the TSA banned list at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all-list  to see if any items you want to bring along may be on the prohibited list.

Make your Electronics TSA Friendly

One of the greatest things about a vacation is capturing the moment. Keep in mind that the more electronic items you bring with you the longer it will take for you to get through the security lines at the airport. TSA requires all electronic items to be inspected so if you must bring a pad or laptop pack it in your carry-on bag so they are readily accessible and can easily be removed when passing through TSA.

Apply For TSA Precheck

TSA Precheck is a passenger screening program and there are currently close to 100 airlines who take part. This program is available to US citizens, permanent residents who have applied and been enrolled in TSA Precheck and members of the armed forces among others so if you travel a lot this could benefit you. You can apply for the program at https://www.tsa.gov/precheck. It costs $85.00 for five years and offers several screening benefits that could save you precious time at the airport.