Be Mindful & Enjoy the Journey
How to Navigate the Airport More Efficiently and Mindfully
Traveling by airplane can be an anxious experience, especially if you do not do it often. Airports are extremely busy places with a number of check points such as baggage claims, security points, kiosks and gates. All of which can be stressful, as you are also on a clock. At this day in age, it is important to navigate the airport efficiently, as it is the most practical way to travel, not to mention it saves a lot more time to fly across country than to drive.
Furthermore, airports are constantly shifting as planes come and go. Sometimes a storm in Omaha might impact your flight time of arrival or departure for a Chicago flight. This is all out of your control but there are several things that are in your control and that is what this article will focus on. The following are 8 great tips that will help you travel more efficiently and mindfully through the airport.
8 Great Tips to Navigate The Airport Efficiently and Mindfully
Tip # 1 Wear slip-on shoes
Before you can go to your departure gate you will need to go through security screening. At the security screening they will ask you to put your carry-on luggage through a special x-ray machine and ask that you remove all metal and paper from your pockets. In addition to removing objects from your pockets, they will also ask that you remove your shoes. That is why we suggest wearing footwear that does not require you to tie shoelaces or buckle them.
When you are leaving for the airport, it is best practice to wear slip-on shoes to the airport. This is the most efficient way to get in and out of security a little faster. Slip-on shoes allow you to take your shoes off quicker during the security checkpoint line. This will save you a few minutes while everyone else is untying their shoes or unbuckling their sandals. Furthermore, this makes taking shoes off and putting them back on much easier, and the people in line with you will appreciate it as well. In addition to slip-on shoes, it is also recommended to wear socks under those shoes. This will make going shoeless through security a little more comfortable.
Tip # 2 Leave extra space in your carry-on for documents and items that will trigger security.
Security in airports has become increasingly strict and each airport is different. I always recommend leaving a little extra space in your carry-on luggage that is easily accessible. This could be a small zipper pocket. That way you can put a belt, wallet, cell phone and anything else that might trigger security. To go through security smoothly you want to have empty pockets without any metal on your body. So, make sure you empty those pockets.
Additionally, boarding passes and wallets should always be with you, and this extra space allows for those items that you will need to be easily accessible while traveling through security. You do not want to put your boarding pass and wallet into an open bin for the whole world to see. Things happen, and sometimes security checkpoints do not go as smoothly as we would like. It is much safer to have these items stored in a zipper compartment away from prying eyes because you never know if someone could accidentally or purposefully take your items.
Tip # 3 Use a digital ticket for gate personnel to scan.
As technology progresses every year, large companies who are now dominating the global market have introduced a more technical approach through apps. We should embrace this technological time and use some of this tech, especially if it makes life much easier. Most people, including you will likely have a cell phone on them, which will allow access to email and the digital receipt of your purchased ticket. Each ticket has a scan code on it whether it is a paper copy or a digital copy. By simply accessing your email or airline app, you can retrieve this code and display it to the personnel at the gate where your plane departs.
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This can be much simpler since we are already used to traveling daily with our phones. I find the phone ticket scan option to be much easier and more convenient as paper can slip or be misplaced, especially during security screening. Now, do not get me wrong, I still print out a boarding ticket just in case as a backup. We never know when technology might fail us, so it is always good to have a backup just in case. You do not want to have to make that phone call saying you are going to be arriving later because you were not prepared for mishaps. Mistakes can arise from either side, so it is always good to be prepared with a printed copy for your records.
Tip # 4 Download the app for the airline you are traveling with
All major airlines, if not all airlines, have an app which allows you to check yourself in, check your baggage in, and make a payment for your baggage. In addition, the app will keep you up to date with arrival and departure times, tell you what gate your flight is at, and provide you with many other features. This is just handy as it allows you to get the information you need at your fingertips rather than try to finagle it at the kiosk or a flight board. Moreover, these apps tend to have reward programs that can be beneficial, especially if there is a particular airline you enjoy flying. We will talk about reward programs in another blog post at a later time.
Tip # 5 Weigh your check-in bag before you leave for the airport
This one is important as airlines are very strict when it comes to baggage weight. Most airliners only allow up to 50lbs per check-in bag. Anything over 50lbs will come with a hefty price that you will most likely not want to pay. My wife and I apply a not so traditional method when weighing our suitcase. After we finish packing our suitcase, we weigh ourselves first, and then we weigh ourselves while holding the suitcase on a digital scale. We then subtract our body weight and get a fairly accurate weight for our luggage.
Of course, you can try and see if your scale may give you the weight of the suitcase by placing it on the scale by itself. Unfortunately, that has not worked for us and instead has given us different numbers each time despite the fact that no new items were added. We never figured out why. Could be the scale, could be user error, but we thought it would be worth mentioning.
Either way, weighing your luggage helps mitigate any surprises you might have at the check-in. Furthermore, it is always helpful to try and leave about 5 additional pounds to compensate for the varying in scale weights that will occur. This way you are covered and do not have to worry about your bag being overweight.
Tip # 6 Pack and take an immune supplement.
As we travel through airports and the plane, we are encountering hundreds if not thousands of people, who have also encountered the same number of people. Airports have some of the heaviest people traffic in the world and it is no surprise that they also have some of the most germ-infested surfaces too. As you navigate through the airport you will most likely touch some surfaces that hundreds of other people have also touched. Depending on the time of year, there could be some kind of cold, flu or worse that is easily transmittable. Airports and planes are highly congested and with so many people sharing the same space and air, it is not unlikely that you will come across some kind of illness.
That is why it is better to beef up your immune system before you go to the airport and after you check in at your destination. Many times, our flights are early in the morning and we may not get as much sleep as intended. This can also compromise the immune system. Now, let’s add that into the mix with a large space crowded with thousands of people from all over the world. These factors may lead to getting sick very easily. You do not want to get sick, especially if this is your once in a lifetime trip to Bora Bora or some other place you have spent your entire savings on for the year. That is why we use Emergen-C for our vitamin and immune support.
Tip # 7 Bring carry-on luggage that allows mobility and versatility
My carry-on has been a backpack for as long as I can remember. This is a personal preference. I find a backpack to be easy to navigate in airports, security and in the aisle of planes. I do not need to worry about an overhead bin as I can just slide my backpack under my seat. To me this makes travel easier and more enjoyable. However, this may not be the case for you, especially if you are travelling for business and you have a meeting as soon as you land. The backpack’s shoulder straps will likely crease your dress shirt giving you a more weathered look than a polished one.
Therefore, we would recommend a smaller suitcase with wheels that is versatile in order to be able to navigate the long airport corridors but also have everything you will need upon arrival. If you would like more information on luggage, check out this article How to Pack Efficiently and Mindfully. Although I do not have a particular bag that I would recommend, I will recommend the Samsonite brand, as they make some great bags that will fit this bill.
Tip # 8 Give yourself time
You should plan ahead how much time it will take you to get to the airport. If you are self-parking, give yourself at least 3 hours before takeoff. This way you have a little extra time, in case you encounter traffic or have a hard time finding a parking spot, all of which can cause you to be late for your flight. Also, most of the time parking lots can be a great distance to the terminal, which means that you will have to wait for transit. This can take some time, depending on the time of day it is and how many people are at the airport. These scenarios can cut into your time to check your bag in, get through security, and find your departure gate.
Furthermore, if your travels take you away for longer than a week, it might be best to take a taxi or airport shuttle to the airport. This can save time and they will usually drop you off right at the terminal and baggage claim of your airline. The cost is about the same either way.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it, 8 great tips to navigate the airport efficiently and mindfully. We hope this helps in your travels and gives you some insight. Maybe you even learned something new. We know that airports are confusing and not always the easiest place to figure things out. This post is a collective piece of wisdom we have gained over the years from our travels. Mostly mistakes we made, how we learned from them and what not to do.
Now, you can benefit from our learned knowledge and not repeat the same mistakes we made. Sometimes failure is the greatest learning mechanism, but learning from someone else’s failure is even better. So, with that being said, Happy Safe Travels and Enjoy the Journey.
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