Be neurotic early on
Let’s start with the cardinal of the best travel tips: get the Airport Earlier than usual (ie at least three hours before your flight) and check in online whenever possible to avoid standing in more queues than you really have to. If you can afford it (or have miles/points saved), now is the time Update, to. Not only can you skip the lines, you can also head to a lounge in the event of a delay instead of replaying the terminal on a dingy metal bench.
Keep luggage to a minimum
walk Continue only. Nothing spoils a holiday quite like your luggage is MIA and with the general state of airports at the moment the likelihood of suitcases going missing is higher than ever. We’re adoring fans of Away’s The Carry-On, which is compact enough to meet size requirements – including budget airlines – but roomy enough for everything you might need. Bonus points for the portable USB charger built into the design, a godsend if you’re trapped at a gate with a dying man iPhone and not a socket in sight. If you absolutely must stow a bag, consider an AirTag as an extra precaution—especially if you’re carrying valuables. You can even get the Apple devices in one of the classic Hermès luggage tags.
Use any delays to empty your inbox
Most of us are guilty of boarding airplane with uncompleted tasks hanging over us and at least 72 messages clogging our Gmail. Take the opportunity to ensure you get a reasonable break from work; order a Bar, crouch at your gate and tie up any loose ends before you ramp up the wheels. Inbox 0 may be a pipe dream, but at least you can turn off urgent tasks.
have backup plans
If you’re worried about your flights being cancelled, decide in advance whether to postpone or take your vacation visit instead of this. Most bosses should be flexible about letting you work your scheduled OOO days in the event of a travel nightmare, but a courtesy email beforehand should give you peace of mind. Otherwise, make sure you have back-up plans at home.
Choose your reading material wisely
You will never finish Ulysses while I was at Heathrow. Stock up on literature instead page turner that will hold your attention even in a painfully crowded environment Starbucks: the girls by Emma Cline, Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt are all good starting points.
Do your homework
If you are someone who has always had a laissez faire approach vacation planning, a travel delay gives you a second chance to investigate before you travel. Those who prefer analog travel guides should bring a compact but indispensable directory that offers a bird’s eye view of various cities. Digital natives, on the other hand, can sift through brilliant design-driven recommendations from locals or plan their own route with an app. This is also a good moment to learn some basic words and phrases in your host country’s language or languages; you’ll never be fluent in Italian with Duolingo, but you might learn how to say hello, goodbye, and more Iceplease” in the hour or so while you are waiting for your flight.
Make a wise investment or two
Impulse purchases in a duty free Shopping is generally a mistake, but if you have a few hours to browse and are in the market for designer sunglasses or a classic purse, take full advantage of it. Just google before you hand in your AmEx; Not all duty-free items are necessarily cheaper than their home equivalent.
Put your Netflix subscription to good use
There’s no more reason to suffer from mediocre inflight entertainment. Download your favourite Netflix Watch titles without WiFi through the streaming giant’s app, starting with every trip or food documentation relevant to your vacation. Ugly delicious, Chef’s table and street food are all awesome. Podcasts are another great option to while away a few hours or — if you’re feeling completely overwhelmed — to temporarily escape field recordingscomposed of natural sounds recorded by audiophiles everywhere, from the frozen waters of Svalbard to the tropical rainforests of Congo.
