Flight Attendant Travel Tips:
Sharing my favorite TRAVEL TIPS to help make your trip a little easier and your travel experience a whole lot better!
Check your passport expiration date when planning your vacation. If you attempt to travel to Europe with less than six months of validity remaining, you’ll be denied entry. Mexico and Canada require only three months of validity remaining for entry.
Email a picture of your passport to yourself and print a copy to keep with you.
Travel a day early to important events. Flights can get delayed so avoid arriving on the same day you have plans you can’t miss.
The best time to fly: Fewer people fly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It’s cheaper to fly on those days.
Early morning flights are smoother and almost always leave on time. Storms roll in later in the day and flights get delayed.
Consider getting Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to save time at security.
Download movies the night before your flight. Wifi can stop working or might not work great. It’s a good idea to have a backup plan, especially if you’re traveling with children.
Try to fit everything in your carry-on luggage. You’ll save time and money and you won’t risk having your bags get lost.
Bring versatile clothing you can mix and match in your carry-on. The key is to not bring more than two pairs of shoes.
Attach a colorful ID tag and a bright ribbon or scarf to your luggage so people don’t think it’s theirs. And keep an eye on your bag!
Use a travel bag locator like this. I don’t usually check my back but I always have a locator in my bag. Some International carriers only allow you to board with one carry-on item and when bins fill up bags get checked. This will help you locate your bag if it goes missing.
Wear your bulky items on the aircraft…jacket and boots, etc. This will save a lot of space in your carry-on bag.
Use the restroom in the gate area before boarding your plane, especially when traveling with children.
Bring the travel items you’ll need during your flight in a separate bag. Place this in your seatback pocket once you board the aircraft. You’ll spend less time in the aisle digging through your bag and holding up boarding. You can buy this bag on Amazon or put these items in a clear Ziplock bag.
Use Clorox wipes to clean your tray table and your seat area.
Keep your devices charged and bring a portable charger. Not all airlines have charging capabilities. Make sure to bring headphones or earbuds.
Pack healthy on-the-go snacks: I recently flew on Air Canada from Phoenix to Toronto and wasn’t served any complimentary snacks or food. Come prepared! Some good options: trail mix, granola bars, fruit, energy bars, apple sauce packets, dried fruit, popcorn, hummus & veggies, jerky, chickpeas, pretzels, turkey slices, string cheese, cheese crisp, hard-boiled eggs, and sandwiches.
Hydrate: Bring a reusable water bottle to fill once you get past security. Here’s a collapsible water bottle that is perfect for air travel. I always bring drink mixes in case the airport water tastes bad. Sometimes flights are too bumpy for flight attendants to get up and get a service out. Always be prepared, especially when traveling with children. You should drink 8oz of water for every hour in the air.
Pack activities for your kids. Bring their favorite electronic device, coloring books, playing cards, etc.
Not all airlines have blankets. If you need one bring one.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and dress in layers. You never know when you might have to dash to catch a connecting flight. I always bring a lightweight jacket, even in the summer.
Take a picture to remember your parking space number.
Check the turbulence forecast for your flight on Turbli.com. It will tell you what part of your flight will have turbulence so you can plan your potty breaks accordingly.
Always wear your seat belt, you never know when you’ll fall asleep. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Don’t walk around the aircraft without shoes. The liquid on the lavatory floor is probably not water. Keep shoes on your kids as well.
Consider bringing your fun-loving/hard hard-working flight attendants a treat. We love getting treats (chocolate, etc.) and appreciate the gesture! You’ll get extra attention on your flight and usually a free drink.
Keep yourself busy so the time goes by quickly. Bring a book, watch a movie, or get work done on your laptop. I like to delete photos on my phone before my next vacation starts.
To combat ear pressure caused by cabin pressure changes, pack lollipops or gum for kids. Have them chew during takeoff, and encourage them to swallow or yawn to ease the discomfort.
Don’t fly sick, especially if you're having ear problems. The change in pressure can be excruciating. Over the years I’ve flown with flight attendants who damaged their eardrums while flying with ear problems.
Do you need to ring the call light? If it can wait, ask as we walk by or come to the galley. I get it if you’re in the middle or window seat it can be challenging to get our attention.
After your flight, you should always check around your seat to make sure you haven’t left anything behind. Due to security reasons, flight attendants won’t let you back on the plane once you de-plane.
Dealing with jet lag: After an overnight flight you’ll be tempted to go right to sleep when you arrive. I recommend powering through the first day until bedtime to help you adjust to the new time zone. Spend as much time outside, drink caffeine, and stay busy.
Travel apps to add to your phone:
•Download your airline mobile app. It will give you access to your boarding pass, seat assignment, and flight status. You can also check in on the app 24 hours before your flight.
•Rome2Rio: Learn the best option for getting from point A to point B. It compares the time and cost of traveling by plane vs. train, bus, car, or ferry.
•Lyft and Uber app: Usually cheaper than taking a taxi.
•Hotels.com: Earn a free night after you book 10 nights on the app.
•If you’re traveling Internationally add the Translate app to your phone. You can quickly access words and phrases. I also use this to translate medicine, food, etc.
•Download the myTSA mobile app. It tells you how long the security lines are at specific airports. It also gives an estimate of how busy it will be from past historical data.
