Top Tips for Air Travel
Here is a list of tips to help you plan and execute your air trip without mishaps. These tips are a useful checklist for anybody traveling by air.
Check your passport expiry date. Ideally it needs to be valid for at least six months beyond your travel return date. Some countries actually require that your passport be valid for at least six months into the future.
It is important to decide what you will be taking as onboard hand luggage and what you will be consigning separately. Do this several days before you travel as it could affect what luggage bags you take. It could also affect your air ticket booking, particularly if booking online. Check that you know what luggage restrictions may apply.
Confirm flight times and dates for all portions of your trip to make sure that it matches up with your information.
Make a photocopy of your air travel itinerary and your passport photo page, and leave copies with your workplace and family members or friends. This is a very useful contingency in case you suffer a mishap or in case you need to be contacted in an emergency. Include phone numbers and addresses of where you can be contacted.
If traveling internationally make sure that you have the correct visas that may apply. Check whether you need a business or tourist visa and apply accordingly.
Make a master copy of your critical documents (passport, visas, travel itinerary, hotel bookings, etc). Pack this copy in your luggage as a contingency just in case the original information is lost, stolen, or misplaced.
Take a copy of your medical history with you in case of a medical requerement. This simply means listing any medical conditions, blood type, etc. If you are allergic to any medications, or have special medical needs, include this information. When traveling internationally try to have this document translated to the local language of travel.
If traveling abroad here is a great tip: prepare a list of key phrases written in the local language such as thank you, please, where is, help, how much, and so on. You just need a small piece of paper showing a dozen or so key phrases.
Theft is always a concern at airports, but it also happens on flights. Therefore never leave valuables on your seat or near by - take them with you if you leave your seat.
Always be aware of your surroundings while at the airport. Thieves go to airport specifically to steal.
For the latest tips relating to the air trip itself, see Air Travel Safety Secrets (see contact details below). This free ebook reveals air travel information that airlines don’t tell you. Anybody traveling by air should see this ebook.