1. Arrive 2 to 3 hours before your flight

You need time to get through security and any other potential road bumps. This is especially important if you're taking an international flight. You could also just be like me and get anxiety before every flight and if you're not at least two early you're afraid you'll miss the plane.

2. Boarding is 30-45 mins before departure time & the plane will leave you

New travelers can get confused that the time on the ticket isn't when the plane boards. That's when it leaves (or is supposed to anyway). There is a separate boarding time that you will be given closer to your departure date or after you check-in. Make sure you're on time for that, because if you miss them calling your name on the loud speakers & that door is shut. You're out of luck and will need to re-book, often at your own expense. If you miss a connecting flight due to a delay, don't worry the airline will re-book you as that was out of your control!

3. Bring an empty water bottle

Water at the airport is EXPENSIVE! Water is actually one of the most overpriced things you can buy period. Instead you should pack an empty bottle, so it makes it through security, and fill it at a fountain once you get through. This way you have free water. Don't forget to top it off before you board!

4. Pack your own snacks

Did you know you don't have to actually buy all that overpriced food? You can actually bring your own snacks! People pack whole picnics for planes. I usually just grab a few protein bars but you can even make sandwiches if you want. Just remember food safety and still no liquids!

5. Bring over-the-ear head phones

Airlines do often provide headsets on longer flights to use the in-flight entertainment systems, but they suck. I'm also a huge fan of my AirPods, but let's face it, they do have to charge every few hours and you do need a special device to be able to use them for the in-flight system. This is why I recommend over-the-ear headphones so they won't press down on your ear (like on-the-ear headphones) which can cause sore ears after awhile, that also have a good old fashion audio jack! No charging needed & comfort for hours!

6. Download your airline's app before you get on the plane

I understand people are sick of needing an app for EVERYTHING, but hear me out. Having the app of the airline you're flying with is super helpful. They can send you instant alerts for flight changes, you can access your digital boarding pass, can use it to view your flight path when enroute on flights without screens, etc. There really are so many good reasons to have it! These days a lot airlines offer free messaging in-flight and sometimes you need the app to enable that perk! Make sure it's downloaded before you get on the plane because service can really suck once the plane door closes and then you're SOL.

7. iPhone users - save your ticket to your Apple Wallet

Android? I don't know. Haven't had one since 2011 or earlier. This is another good reason to have the app! When you go in you can tell it to add a digital copy of your boarding pass so you have a backup incase anything happens. This also helps if you have any signal issues when trying to pull it directly from the app when trying to board. So do this at home when you check-in on a stable wifi connection.

8. Get a paper copy of your boarding pass in case of tech failures

Even in the crazy tech age we're in, things still fail and they love to do it at the worst possible times. I would go ahead and grab a paper copy of your boarding pass when you arrive at the airport just incase this happens! Worst case if you don't use it, you can recycle it when you're done. 

9. Make your luggage unique

Have you ever noticed that everyone and their third cousin buys a basic black suitcase or duffle bag? That can make finding your bag at the carousel very stressful as you have to play the "is this actually my bag?" game. No one likes that game. It also makes it too easy for someone to confuse your bag with theirs and then all of a sudden your stuff is gone. To fix this you need to make your bag easily identifiable. You can buy a wacky color or design or invest in a decoration such as luggage straps, stickers, or luggage covers. Just make sure you'll know it's yours right away!

10. Bring sanitary wipes for seat & tray table

Did you know it's not the bathroom that's the dirtiest thing on the plane? It's actually the tray tables. One study revealed that tray tables contained more than 2,000 colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch. To put that in perspective, swabs of cell phones have shown around 27 to 30 colony-forming units per square inch. So ew. Bring some sanitary wipes and just clean off the surfaces before using them.

11. Check-in online

It's extremely important to make sure you're checked into your flight when it becomes available! People who check-in at the airport or are assigned seats upon check-in are more likely to be the ones booted if your flight is overbooked. So don't let that be you!

12. Keep your passport easily accessible

This is such an important document when traveling and if you lose it at any point in your travel process you'll be in quite a heap of trouble. You also need it during many stages of your journey so it's best to keep it somewhere you can grab it, but where others cannot. The last thing you want is your passport stolen and sold on the black market!

13. Have copies of all visas and documents printed and downloaded 

It's extremely important to have all copies of your documentation available. I recommend having both printed and digital copies downloaded to your device so you can always grab what you need. Many countries are still old school and want to see paper so it's best to have that just in case. You should keep these in a folder with you at all times! DO NOT put these in your checked bag! Being denied at a border because you're missing information would suck.

14. Make sure all full sized liquids are in your checked bag and sealed in a leak proof bag

If you've ever experienced airport security you know what a pain they can be over things that seem extremely trivial. If your whole bottle of shampoo must come with you, make sure you keep it in a plastic, leak-proof bag, to prevent it from getting on everything in your CHECKED BAG! Full-sized items (anything beyond 3oz.) are not allowed in carry-ons. Does it make sense? No. But those are the rules. I have personally had to throw bottles of things away because I accidentally put them in the wrong bag on the way home. Getting your checked bag back to put them in isn't worth it to me.

15. Long-haul flight? Wear compression socks

16. Bring a sweatshirt - it's cold in the sky

We can get this sense of delusion that because it's hot where we are or where we're going we should dress for that climate. Sure you can but you'll probably regret it. It gets pretty cold up there, so it's better to dress warmly and be able to take off layers if you get too hot. Make sure to wear closed toe shoes as well as your feet have very little fat on them and freeze easily! You can absolutely pick up one of our sweatshirts or tees for your next flight!

17. Have an extra set of clothes and underwear in your carry on

18. Have at least one pen

It's amazing how the flight attendants will be coming around, passing out the customs forms and you realize time and time again you forget to bring a pen. Maybe you'll get lucky and the person next to you will let your borrow theirs, but it's better to just have one. Beyond custom forms you never know what else you might need it for and it can come in super handy!

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