Are you ready for your holiday trip? Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it's the busiest travel weekend of the year. Then there's the Christmas break, which is between Dec. 17 and Jan. 4. It doesn't matter where you're going -- you're going to have plenty of company.
Let's assume you've already got your tickets to fly south. That's just the beginning. Here are some timely tips to make sure you are well-prepared for your holiday journey.
Global Entry: If you don't mind trading your personal information and $95 for a pass to TSA's pre-check line, sign up for "Global Entry." Designed primarily for frequent international travelers, Global Entry lets you re-enter the U.S. using a kiosk at the arrivals lounge instead of going through the line. But admission to the pre-check line is a side benefit. It takes a little extra time to apply for Global Entry and you have to go to the airport for a personal interview. You might not make it for Thanksgiving -- but if you're traveling at Christmas, there's still time, as long as you already have your passport.
Your itinerary: Take a moment to review your flights. Do you have assigned seats? If they are lousy seats, take a moment and look at the flights online to try and get better ones. Here's a tip: Check within seven days. As people get upgraded, more seats may become available. I typically check one or two days prior to my flight to find better seats. Also, if you're flying on the red-eye, make sure you know to check in the night before.
Your checked baggage: Although carry-only is a noble aspiration, sometimes you have to check a bag. Thankfully, Alaska Airlines and Delta allow two free checked bags when you're traveling from Alaska. Your checked bags have to be less than 50 pounds or you'll pay an extra fee. Don't check your medicine, your car keys, cash, camera gear or anything you don't want stolen, lost or broken. Security rules mandate that you check liquids and gels, like shampoo, sunscreen and wine. I always wrap the wine bottle in some clean socks and stick it in the middle of the bag.
If you are traveling with handguns, rifles or shotguns, you must present them in a locked (a real lock, not a "TSA-compliant" lock), hard-sided gun case. The ammunition must be packed in the original manufacturer's box, or in a sturdy ammo box.
Checking in for your flight: If possible, check in before you leave for the airport. Many people use the "mobile check in" option to get their boarding pass on their phone. I still print mine out, because I don't want the TSA to touch anything that belongs to me. During the check-in process, though, you should be able to tell if your flight is on time.
Plan to arrive two hours before departure. In fact, if you're leaving from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, it's recommended that you get there between two and three hours ahead of time because of increased congestion. This, by the way, is another good reason to get the "Global Entry" card. The TSA's pre-check line always moves much faster than the regular security line.
What to bring on the plane: If you're traveling with children, there's a special set of requirements. Extra clothes, snacks, games and books are at the top of the list. That doesn't count the stroller and car seat, of course. Thankfully, airline staff are well-trained to accommodate babies and small children along with their extra gear.
Don't feel compelled to move as fast as the nimble, quick frequent traveler flying alone. Take your time through security and through the boarding process. Take advantage of the pre-board opportunity to push the stroller down to the bottom of the jetway or to set up your child's car seat on the plane, if necessary. Everyone will wait for you.
For grown-ups, remember all of those things you couldn't put in the checked bags: money, medicine, car keys, camera gear and electronics. All of those things, plus any other gear, goes in your carry-on bag. My must-fly list includes:
- Headlamp for reading (in case the overhead light is busted)
- Noise-canceling headphones for the flight
- Smartphone or tablet with all your music
- Carry-on food from the terminal to eat on board
- Credit card for food or beverage purchases (most flights are "cashless" now)
- TSA-compliant tube of lotion, nasal spray and lip balm for those long, dry flights
- Cords for charging electronics, since many planes now have power outlets at your seat
Some travelers like the inflatable neck pillows. I don't bring them since the seatback barely comes to the top of my shoulders. Others bring eyeshades and their own blankets.
What to wear: There's a short list of must-have items in my travel bag, including a raincoat, hat, gloves and sturdy walking shoes. Since my feet swell up on long flights, I wear standard-issue compression socks. For long trips, ExOfficio makes quick-drying travel underwear that I can wash in the hotel sink. I'm also a fan of their mesh T-shirts. Check out their store at Sea-Tac, right across from Anthony's Seafood bar between the C and D concourses.
In-flight etiquette: For the most part, planes are flying at close to capacity. That's especially true during the holidays. Here are a few tips for enduring the flight.
- Greet your flight attendant with a smile when you board the plane.
- Lend a hand to your fellow passengers if they are having trouble cramming that big bag in the overhead bin.
- If I am lucky enough to get the window or the aisle seat, I yield the armrest to the poor soul who gets the middle seat.
- I do not recline my seat. There's not enough room in coach. If you are sitting in front of me and you try and recline your seat, you may get some resistance, since I am 6 feet 5 inches tall. That said, I promise you'll get excellent lumbar support from my knees.
- Go easy on the parents of screaming children. Sometimes little kids can be difficult, especially if the pressure of ascending or descending planes bothers their ears. Plug in those noise-canceling headphones and turn up the music.
- When you get off the plane, thank the pilot and the flight attendants.
Sometimes it's tiring and claustrophobic when you're headed "over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house" with thousands of other people. But that's the nature of air travel around the holidays.
Still, the way we travel across the country and around the world is nothing short of a miracle. Bon voyage!
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others. Contact him by email at zoom907@me.com. You can follow him on Twitter (@alaskatravelGRM) and alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.