It’s time that time of the year again to start organizing your travel plans for the holidays.
While the world is technically still experiencing a pandemic, traveling already comes easier this year compared to previous ones as long as the public follows proper health protocols.
Holidays are typically spent with long-distance family members as a season of reunion. People travel from near and far to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year as the ideal chance to unwind from the pressures of daily life and rekindle relationships with loved ones.
However, regardless of your mode of transportation, the chances of encountering frustrating lines, traffic, delays, irate travelers, and more unexpected issues may be likely during the holiday season.
Luckily, holiday travel may not need to be as challenging as it usually is through these travel tips.
Download Your Airline’s App for Convenience
Utilize technology to its fullest to make your already hectic travel experience easier.
Mashable reports that downloading your airline’s app on your smartphone is the fastest way to learn about your flight details and other personal information that could come in handy. Additionally, the airline apps will also indicate whether your flight is delayed or canceled.
While printing your flight details or taking screenshots may be fine, your airline’s app already has everything you require in one safe location and can be scanned.
Watch Out for the Best Flight Deals
As inflation has increased the cost of everything, including groceries and gas, some people may be on a tight budget when traveling during the holiday season.
Families looking to travel may have difficulty finding cheap flights, leaving people to wonder if any deals are still available, especially since the few weeks from Christmas to New Year’s Day are one of the highest prices.
If you have not already bought your flight tickets months before the holiday, we recommend that you look in the right places when searching for hotels and transportation deals during the holidays. Acanela reveals that Expedia, Kayak, and many more websites are helpful options for finding cheap flights.
Pack as Light as Possible
Holiday trips could last anywhere from a short and sweet weekend or full-blown weeks of family vacation. However, with the holiday rush already having travelers on edge, consider packing only the essentials to avoid overloading during baggage check-in.
While packing light during the Christmas season may be difficult, consider shipping your gifts to the country or family residence you will stay in ahead of time to avoid any issues from lost baggage.
Invest in Trusted Traveler Programs
If only one could completely skip the long hassle of going through airport security during a busy holiday, which already proves difficult on a regular day.
However, it turns out that one can save time by legally skipping the process. Consider investing in a trusted traveler program such as TSA PreCheck or CLEAR. Additionally, you might be eligible for a discount on CLEAR if you frequently fly with renowned airlines like United or Delta.
Essence attests that having one or the other can let low-risk travelers skip long security lines by investing in trusted traveler programs. These would be especially advantageous for families traveling with children or the elderly.
