TRAVEL TIP: The Changing Face of Air Travel

I can remember the days when we actually dressed up to get on an airplane, had lunch served and baggage checked for no additional cost and changing airlines in the midst of a trip didn’t up the price of the ticket. Those days are gone. The airline industry has definitely changed and even though many of the changes affect our pocketbook, they have come out of necessity to keep up with the changing economy. I’m not defending the airlines, I’m just stating the obvious facts. Can you imagine our life without air travel? Three days by train to Chicago, five days to cross the Atlantic from New York to Dover, England, and several weeks to get to Sydney, Australia. It takes 14 hours by air from Los Angeles to Sydney. So lets look on the positive side and figure out ways to make airline travel easier.

Today most airlines enable you to get your boarding pass online. Many airlines have made traveling more convenient through new features on their websites. Travelers can obtain their boarding passes from the comfort of their own homes up to 24 hours before the time of the flight. You can ensure that you will be in an early boarding group and can save yourself a step at the airport. Make sure to print out the boarding pass! Many concierge desks at leading hotels also offer this feature. Call ahead to see if the hotel you are staying at offers this option.

Another feature offered by some airlines is paying for that “extra” legroom. Are you the person at the counter negotiating for an exit row seat for each of your flights? If so, many airlines have new programs that guarantee a better seat at a better deal than paying for first class or business class. United Airlines offers its Economy Plus seating starting at $14 more per flight. For lots of travelers, it is a marginal fee to guarantee stretch room and extra comfort for a long flight.

To block out the noise of the plane I’ve started traveling with my own set of headphones. These headphones are great and effectively block out surrounding noise, and definitely help me sleep better on long flights. It’s also much better sound when watching the in flight movies or listening to music.

On domestic flights I’ve also started bringing my own food, or picking something up before I get on the plane. Most of the time the food is better and I definitely have more choices. The food on the plane is also expensive for what you get.

Wear easy to remove footwear for both on-flight comfort and breezing through the security line. It is now customary to remove footwear, jewelry and jackets or over sweaters before walking through security. Save yourself and the people behind you in line some time by wearing easy to remove shoes. They will be just as easy to slip off before you start dozing off on your flight.

Nothing can put a damper on travel plans more than missing a connecting flight. To avoid this, take the time and go online and check out the connecting airport and its terminals. Check out the airport's website to gauge how far you have to walk from your arrival terminal to your next departure terminal. Give yourself the extra time to make the flight, especially if you need to board a tram to travel from terminal to terminal.

Different airlines have varied rules on how much luggage can be carried on board. For certain airlines, passengers are only allowed one small carry-on and a personal bag. This means if you have a carry-on bag, a computer case, and a purse, you are out of luck. Be prepared ahead of time and not when you are at the front of the security line. Also, travel with only what you are able to comfortably carry, wheel or haul. If you are checking luggage, make sure you stay underneath the maximum weight or be prepared to pay a hefty fee.

Have a change of clothes handy. Don't let luggage woes ruin your trip. In case of a mix up with your luggage, keep a change of clothes and other important items such as a cell-phone charger and a spare set of contact lenses handy. This will help get your vacation or business trip off to a decent start even if your luggage is stuck in another city.

I hope some of the ideas that have made air travel easier for me will also help you. Enjoy your trip and make that changing face of air travel a happy face.