As You Travel

On the Day :

  • Plan on getting to the airport at least two hours early (domestic travel) or three hours early (international travel)

  • Eat well— toast + eggs

  • Go for a run or hit the gym before your flight- helps reduce stress and potentially fall asleep easier

  • Check in any bags (as needed) - try for curbside check-in if possible as that can save time with a lot of baggage but few airports offer this

    • Ask for fragile stickers on everything

    Next go through Security - breeze through security by picking the checkpoint farthest to the left (typically shortest)

  • Confirm your Gate (should be on your ticket or on screen at airport) - go there first to confirm location is correct

    I use this time at the Gate to :

  • Here are a few tips for your downtime at the Gate:

    • For a desperate charge- there are sometimes USB ports in the back of tvs OR ask Lost and Found for a charger

    • Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to use public Wi-Fi - this provides you with added data security and privacy when using public Wi-Fi networks

    • If you are in need of wifi, here are some hacks to try :

      • in airports without free wireless for the public, sitting right outside of the airline lounge doors are a good bet for finding an open connection

      • Just add “?.jpg” at the end of any URL to bypass the expensive Wifi and access the internet for free

      • If the wifi has a time limit, get extra Wi-Fi time by rolling back your computer’s clock

Once on the Airplane :

Stick to routines- stick to usual bedtime routine (brush teeth, read a book, etc)

Sleep on the longest flights, and stay awake for shorter ones- or specifically around the time zone where you are going— sleep when you would otherwise be sleeping in the country you’re flying to (this helps with jet lag)

  • Wipe down things with a wet wipe

  • Take melatonin as needed, take emergen-C

  • Headache ? Ask flight attendant

  • Avoid alcohol— drink orange juice if needed to stay healthy

  • Stay hydrated

  • Prop feet up on carry on

  • Chew gum during take off / landing

  • Get up between meals / stretch

  • Every hour that you are awake you should get out of your seat to walk up and down the aisles and stretch the body. If the seatbelt sign is turned on, you can always engage the calf muscles and do a walking motion with your legs while sitting.

  • Utilize Flight Aware app (often better info than the airline apps about flight changes) - comprehensive flight tracking at your fingertips

    • Confirm Gate number on screens

    • Do things to feel better: brush teeth, etc.

    • Wifi Finder — NEED

    • Take the stairs— this helps with health

    • Eat - its harder to digest in the air

    • Stuck in the airport? Utilize Sleeping in Airports

    • Use the Grab app to pre-order and pay for items at participating restaurants and vendors at airports in the U.S., Mexico, and across Europe. Place your order on your ride to the airport and pick it up on your way to the gate without breaking stride.

  • At most airports coming in internationally, you have to go through security at each stop just to get to the next gate - not to leave the airport (that's next level)- Europe and America are the most intense

    Traveling between international / domestic flights makes things more complicated so be aware of layover times

Once on the Airplane :

  • Ask for a warm towel— wipe face

  • Drink tea / eat a granola bar

  • Put on some essential oils

  • Brush teeth

  • Chew gum

  • Meditate with headphones on for 20 minutes

Health :

  • Traveling by air can expose passengers to germs and viruses, and the close proximity to others in a confined space can increase the risk of catching illnesses such as colds or flu.

  • Limited Food Options: Airline food may not always meet passengers' dietary preferences or restrictions, and options can be limited on some flights, particularly on shorter routes.

  • Jet Lag: Traveling across different time zones can result in jet lag, which can cause fatigue, sleep disturbances, and difficulty adjusting to a new schedule.