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It is quite common It’s normal to feel nervous before a flight, especially if it’s been a long time since your last plane trip. What if you forget an important document at home? What if you get lost at the airport and miss your flight? What if you fart while the plane is in the air and everyone turns to look at you in disgust?
Well, I’m not sure how to help you with that last concern, but I can give you some good tips to keep you calm before your next trip. As someone who has flown tens of thousands of miles over the past few years, I feel qualified to share some hard-learned tips that will help you cope with long-distance travel.
Keep your documents with you and on your phone
You already know you should bring your photo ID and/or passport and anything else your destination requires. But before you leave, take photos of all your documentation and save them to your phone. Make sure the photos are clear and easy to read, and back them up to the cloud if you can. That way, if anything happens to your physical documents, you’ll have a record of them. For added peace of mind, email photos of your documents to yourself so you have another place to access them if your phone gets damaged or lost. Additionally, some destinations may require proof of vaccination, so bring those documents (and photos of them) with you, too.
Label and track your bags
AirTags and similar devices are a great way to keep track of your luggage when you don’t have it with you. I put an AirTag in my purse, backpack, and all checked luggage, so whenever I travel I can see where my stuff is and how far away it is from me.
This was especially helpful when I left my checked luggage on a flight from the US to Australia – I could see the bags on a map that were still at my home airport, I could see when they arrived at my airport in Australia, and I could show the baggage agents that my bags were nearby when I went to pick them up at the terminal. As panic-inducing as it can be to arrive somewhere without your luggage, it helps a lot to be able to at least see where your bags are at any given time, even if they’re thousands of miles away.
I finally managed to get mine back after a lot of back and forth with airlines, and the AirTags gave me the confidence to keep pushing until I had my bags back in hand.
Bring several adapters that will work at your destination
If you’re traveling to another country, chances are the outlets there won’t match the ones you’re used to using. Many hotels and airports now have USB charging ports built into their outlets, but just in case, research what outlets are used in your destination country and pick up some adapters. We have some suggestions here.
Yeah, some; Carrying only one can mean a lot of frustration when having to switch devices from one outlet to another. I usually travel with three adapters, but even so, I thought I’d ask for more. You can never be too prepared when it comes to plugging things in.
Make sure you are not carrying contraband
When I first arrived in Australia, I learned that this country has some pretty strict entry requirements, including a ban on many types of food and agricultural products. Even the loose dirt left on your boots after a trip to a farm can be a source of contamination for the local flora and fauna.
Make sure you don’t accidentally bring in things that could cause delays and confiscations at customs. This can include seeds, nuts, dairy products, meat products, plants, herbs, and rocks or soil. Make sure your medications are in prescription bottles with your name on them and aren’t prohibited at your destination. Each country has its own list of prohibited items and those lists change frequently, so be sure to check the website of the tourism or state department of the country you’re visiting before you go.
For example, Customs and Border Protection The United States maintains a list of prohibited and restricted items for anyone entering the country and links to other departments if permits are required. When in doubt, leave it at home; there are few things as frustrating as a long wait in customs after a 15-hour flight.
Pack your carry-on luggage for easy access
My carry-on bag has the same things almost every time I fly: my laptop, my charging cables and a charger, a bottled drink, a change of clothes, some toiletries, some snacks, tissues, gum, a book, and headphones.
Some of these things I’ll want to have within easy reach on the plane, but others I won’t touch for the entire flight. Because I have limited space under my seat and a deep-rooted desire not to disturb the people around me with my fidgeting and pulling, I’ve developed a method for reaching the things I need most. The outer pocket of my backpack, which is the easiest to reach, holds tissues, gum, snacks, and charging cables. The inner part of the backpack holds items I’ll likely want to keep at the top, where they’re easiest to reach.