We all know that airports are notorious for being busy during the holidays. Last year, more than 2 million people in the United States went through TSA each day of the holiday season, up from the average of 1.6 million people. Airport counters filled with people and TSA lines out the door, not to mention the parking lots filling up, everyone has somewhere to be.
But, we don’t want long lines to get you down this holiday season so Discover Corps created a simple list of four tips to help you navigate airport travel with ease!
- Pack Light, Bring A Carry-On
It might be tough in some circumstances, but we recommend you leave that 50 pound suitcase behind and bring a carry-on instead. If you’re anything like us, we all know we only wear half the clothes we bring anyway. Airport counter lines can be during peak seasons and this is one way to avoid them. Simply check in online and head straight to TSA.
Since this is the holiday season, you may be thinking, “but I have gifts to bring!” Well, remember that you can always ship gifts or give gift cards to lighten the load.
2. Leave For The Airport With Plenty Of Time
We all know how stressful it can be walking into an airport and seeing lines of travelers in every direction. We start counting backwards seeing if you can make it to our gate by boarding time. Avoid the stress this holiday season by giving yourself more time at the airport. We recommend 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight.
If you want to be more calculated about it, you can check TSA wait times by downloading the My TSA App.
3. Organize Transportation The Day Before Your Travel Day
Not all of us are lucky enough to secure a ride from a family or friend to the airport, especially for those of us that have early morning flights!
Some of us may be taking a rideshare option to the airport. Great! It’s the best way to avoid the time it takes to park at the airport. But we recommend scheduling a ride in advance. You can do this on any major rideshare app and it ensures that your driver will arrive exactly when you need them to.
If you plan to drive to the airport and park, be sure to check the airport’s website for parking availability in advance. If the airport is full you can always arrange online to park on an off site lot and take a shuttle to the airport (this usually saves you some $ too!). But, you’ll want to do this ahead of time so you’re not scrambling when you arrive at the airport.
4. Prepare, Accept, & Have Fun
If you have prepared for all the obstacles ahead of time, you know that you did all you can do to ease the process. Now it’s time to be open to the experience and accept what may come. Maybe you have some extra time in the airport to dig into your new book, catch up on some emails or simply just enjoy people watching.
The Discover Corps Team wishes you the best this holiday season! If you already have a trip scheduled, safe travels! If not, and if you are interested in joining a trip in the coming months, be sure to check out our Trip Calendar or schedule a time to chat with Angela. Our trips are filling up and we want to be sure you secure spots for you and your family. There is no better way to spend the holidays than a purposeful international adventure.
