Airports can be intimidating places for people who don’t travel a lot. Between the prospect of a random search during security or even the basic idea of soaring through the air, flying can be an anxiety-inducing experience.
It’s easy for seasoned globetrotters to take their comfort with these processes for granted. Whether you’re an inexperienced flyer or perhaps just rusty after spending months in lockdown, you can probably learn a lot from people who have done a great deal of flying.
Drive Yourself to Save
Once, people took cabs to the airport, and then they took Ubers. Today, a new model lets people save on the airport commute by making airport parking affordable so that they can drive themselves.
Park at a lot adjacent to the airport and spend way less for parking, and it’s even cheaper than taking an Uber. For example, if you’re looking for parking at Toronto Pearson Airport before your trip, just reserve your spot online, then show the attendant your reservation when you arrive and board the free shuttle to your terminal.
You don’t need to book a hotel room to reserve a parking spot. This model liberates you from having to wait for someone else to pick you up when you’re trying to make a flight and lets you enjoy the familiarity of your own vehicle.
Dress Appropriately
Some people wear clothes well suited to the climate they’re coming from, rather than the region they’re going to. Another mistake is dressing too formally for a long flight because you may be ready for fine dining when you touch down, but you’ll spend hours in discomfort in the air.
Ideally, look for clothes designed for travel that are wrinkle-resistant, stretchy, comfortable, but also smart enough to wear out. Practically speaking, they’re easy to keep clean and presentable, and you can remain comfortable all flight without having to change clothes before you hit the town.
Pack Strategically
If you fit everything you’ll need for your trip in the overhead compartment, then you won’t have to pay baggage fees for checking-in luggage. This is the smart play, so long as you can manage to fit all you need into two bags and aren’t carrying any prohibited items you’ll need to check in.
Bring Everything You Need from Home
The airport sells everything you might need before a flight, from sandwiches to headphones, but it won’t be cheap. If you forget to bring something from home, you’re at their mercy because there’s nowhere else you can shop.
Pack your own snack or meal and bring every creature comfort you may want while flying or waiting for your flight in the terminal. The easiest way to eat the sandwich you love or read your favourite book is to bring it from home.
Flight is an incredible thing and a privilege that previous generations couldn’t have imagined. You should embrace the opportunity to fly, and hopefully, the above tips help you become more comfortable with the process.
