While the holidays are often filled with joy and merriment, holiday travel is synonymous with chaos, crowds and commotion. But you don’t have to succumb to the holiday travel blues this season or any other. Check out these three top tips on traveling during the holidays that will halve your stress.
Don’t travel on the Friday before Christmas
While the Friday before Christmas might work perfectly with your work schedule, this day is the worst to travel during the holiday season. In fact, it’s projected that 3.1 million people, about four percent more than last year, will depart via airplane the Friday before Christmas, according to The New York Times.
Instead, try to depart on another week day or even wait until the weekend. In addition, keep an eye out for often cheaper red-eye flights if you don’t mind snoozing during takeoff.
Register for fast security checks
If you can’t avoid traveling on one of the busiest days of the year, consider registering with CLEAR, an on-site computer security screening program that bumps you to the front of the line. At just $179 per year, CLEAR is worth it if you’re a frequent flyer.
In addition, don’t wear your knee-high Converse to the T.S.A. line, and leave your snow globes at home. Wear simple clothing and easy-to-take-off shoes, and read the airport guidelines thoroughly to ensure you aren’t going over the liquids limit or accidentally bringing in a hazardous item.
Arrive early to the airport
Different airlines recommend different airport arrival times. American Airlines recommends arriving one and a half hours early for domestic flights and two hours early for international flights. Other airlines, such as United Airlines, recommend different arrival times depending on whether or not you’re checking in any luggage.
However, perhaps the most comprehensive advice comes from the TSA—arrive at least two hours before your flight to the airport for domestic travel and three hours for international. In short? It’s better to be early than late, and this is especially true for holiday travel. If you’re early, you can rummage through tacky state-themed sweaters and gorge yourself at the food court. If you’re late, you might have to pay an extra fee or even for a new ticket to get where you want to go.
While even thinking of holiday travel might give you anxiety, if you register for fast security checks, arrive early to the airport, and refrain from traveling on the Friday before Christmas, your trip might turn out to be a Christmas miracle.
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