5 Airport Hacks to Follow This Holiday Travel Season, According to a Flight Attendant

The holidays might be the most wonderful time of the year for some, but anyone who plans to fly home (or anywhere) during the festive season might respectfully disagree. Truth is, if you’re spending any time near any airport, the holidays are poised to be one of the most chaotic and stressful times of the year. The United States’s Transportation Security Administration (a.k.a TSA) estimated that 18 million Americans will travel by plane this Thanksgiving—and that stat doesn’t even include the Christmas and New Year’s Eve surge. 

With so much going on at the airport, it’s almost guaranteed your holiday travel will experience a little turbulence—literally or figuratively.  “Overcrowded airports and unexpected delays are undoubtedly the biggest issue, followed closely by overbooked hotels,” explains James Tong, co-founder of Quest Excursions, a travel company based in the Bay Area. To help you keep your cool, we tapped a few seasoned jetsetters to share their top travel tips.

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1. Arrive Early

Seriously. Though very few people want to spend more time at the airport than they need, the holidays are not time to be sprinting to your gate. “During the holidays, get to the airport about two and a half to three hours before takeoff,” says Kat M.*, a flight attendant based in Northern California. “I know it’s hard to allot that kind of time, but it truly will ease your mind and stress.” 

Speaking of being prepared, Kat also recommends checking into your flight a full 24 hours before takeoff. “Several airlines are changing check in cut-off times to 50 mins before flights,” she adds. “If you don’t check in on time, you’re out of luck.”

If your itinerary has a connecting leg, Kat recommends booking flights with a longer layover time. “With weather and sometimes a new terminal, you don’t have enough time to deplane and get to your next flight,” she says. “Give yourself enough time where you do have weather delays, gate delays, and tarmac delays.” Tong agrees and recommends booking flights with at least a two-hour layover.

2. Make the Most with a Morning Flight

Come the holidays, one delayed flight can have a domino effect on the rest of the day’s arrivals and departures. To increase your chances of an on-time flight, Tong says the early bird gets the worm. “Although arriving at the airport at 3 a.m. is never fun, we recommend that you book flights for early morning because there’s typically less of a chance of delays.” If you are catching a flight at the crack of dawn, make sure you pack the right in-flight essentials. Kat, for example, recommends traveling with noise-canceling headphones and a book should the in-flight WiFi be down.

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3. Be Strategic About Your Suitcase

After spending hours in line for TSA, the last thing you want to do is waste even more time at the airport waiting for your luggage to roll out of baggage claim. While it’s always possible that you will need to gate-check your bag, Tong recommends getting in line before your boarding group number is called. “It ensures the best odds that there will still be remaining carry-on space near your seat,” he says.

But if you do need to check your bag? Hey, it happens—just make sure you’re able to find it at your destination. “I suggest putting a tag  or a scarf on your luggage to help you and others to identify it as yours,” Kat says. Also, make sure you put important items such as medications, cash, and identification in your carry-on in case your checked bag gets lost.”

4. Keep It Kind

Holiday travel is difficult for everyone, but a little bit of kindness can go a long way—starting with the crew and travel agents. “They are all trying to keep the operation running smoothly and weather delays, tarmac delays, mechanical issues are all out of their hands,” Kat says. “If you’re kind to them, they will pay it forward tenfold to you!” Psst… looking to stay on your crew’s staff’s “nice” list? We asked some flight attendants about their biggest pet peeves.

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5. Opt for Air Travel Apps

From finding your family at baggage claim to finding your gate, navigating an airport can be tough. Fortunately, the right tech can help. Tong says many major airlines have apps that can help walk you through an airport. Looking for something a bit more versatile? Kat recommends the Flighty app. “It will track your flight and what gate or terminal you are coming into,” she says. “It will also give you an estimated time of arrival if there is a delay.” Turns out, navigating an airport is just a few taps and swipes away. 

*Names have been changed.