The thrill of travelling only begins when you head to the airport for your adventure. But sometimes the last mile of getting through crowded terminals and ensuring a smooth pre-flight journey can be difficult to navigate.
If you have been flying for many years of your life, or this happens to be your first airplane journey, we’ve compiled a list of common mistakes that can cause added stress or discomfort.
Here are 13 things you can avoid at the airport before taking your flight.
13 Airport Mistakes to Avoid
1. Getting Lost in the Terminal:
Immediately when you get to the airport, familiarize yourself with where your terminal is and find out which gate you will leave from. It does you no good to calculate how fast you can walk 1½ miles if the terminal is an immense popular transport center.
Walking around aimlessly looking for your gate can create a lot of unnecessary stress and could possibly cause you to miss your flight. Spend a few moments looking up a map of the airport online, or ask at the information booth when you get there to find out what gate your flight will be departing from.
2. Overindulging in Perfume or Cologne
Airport duty-free shops can offer a tantalizing selection of perfumes to try out as well. Although you may initially assume that a light spritz of your favorite scent is best before jetting off, it comes with precautious tips to remember.
Too much cologne or too much perfume is not only an assault on the senses for your seat mates, but can also be irritating to people with allergies or respiratory conditions. Choose to not apply fragrances at all or a very light application prior to your flight.
3. Making Impulse Purchases:
In Airports you find a huge number of Shops from Souvenirs to Electronic Goods and Karstadt Causeways. Yet a typical error travelers do is getting to the vision of spontaneous buying.
It might be tempting to purchase that uber-stylish designer handbag or cutting-edge electronic gadgets, but just have a think about whether you definitely need it and if the inflated airport prices are worth the impulse buyer. Spending within your limits and buying only things you had in mind is the way to keep away buyer’s remorse.
4. Opting for Last-Minute Spa Treatments:
Spa services such as massages, facials and manicures are available at many airports for travelers who want to unwind before their flight. Although these treatments provide good comfort the hustle of booking a last minute spa appointment can be fraught with risks.
Take into account that airport spas are often quite crowded and not the most relaxing places to visit. Moreover, hurrying to avoid running late and possibly missing your flight can pre-flight pressure you do not need. Have spa treatment times planned in advance or do all the relaxing ones at your stop.
5. Sampling Unfamiliar Foods:
There are restaurants and food courts all over the airport ready to serve you dishes of international cuisines but it is better to stay away from those foods. But, one thing that many travelers fall short is tasting unknown or exotic food shortly before flying.
Sure, that spicy curry or strange sushi roll might sound great at the airport, but it may not be worth the indigestion on a 12-hour flight. Stick to familiar products and light meals, your tummy may not be your friend on a flight home.
6. Excessive Alcohol Consumption:
Alcoholic beverages include alcoholic drinks and brews, all of which are rumored to be relatively cheap.
For many travelers, having a few drinks before getting on a flight can help us to relax and loosen up. When it comes to moderate drinking, this has not known to be a problem for most; however, heavy drinking can have repercussions on your body, especially in lower oxygen environments like the mountains!
Alcohol will dehydrate the airmen and augment effects of jet lag, therefore causing headaches, nausea or discomfort while flying. Also, drink alcohol in moderation, or not at all alcohol dehydrates the body and if you are stuck on a plane for hours on end your chances of feeling queasy multiply!
7. Relying Solely on Airport Currency Exchange:
At a Glance Picking the wrong time or place to exchange currency can lead to losses: Travelers often need foreign currencies for international trips and foreign currency exchange at the airport is among options, but maybe not so great (especially dual mode operators). But the biggest one is that travelers still rely too much on currency exchange kiosks at airports, when there are so many other ways they can get cash in local currencies.
Travelers who exchange money at the airport may pay higher fees and receive less favorable conversion rates. To give yourself the best bang for your buck, trade money at a financial institution or usage neighborhood ATMs at your location.
8. Connecting to Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks:
Several airports have complimentary Wi-Fi access for passengers enabling them to download stream, and search on the web before getting halted. It’s an easy mistake, though and one that a lot even the most seasoned travelers make when connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Open Wi-Fi Networks are risk as hackers can use them to siphon personal information, and infect devices. To prevent this, make sure to never connect on unsecured Wi-Fi and use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection.
9. Letting Your Devices Run Out of Battery:
Today, with our dependence on smartphones, tablets and other gadgets for everything we do online or offline, they must be our ‘besties’ as travel essentials. Yet, one thing travelers frequently forget is to have all their devices charged before boarding a plan.
Starting a flight with your device battery nearly empty will force you to go without entertainment or anything else stored on the gadget, resulting in boredom and frustration. One way to avoid this is by thoroughly charging your devices before leaving for the airport and having a portable charger or power bank that can keep your devices charged throughout the journey.
10. Leaving Your Belongings Unattended:
Airports can be a hectic place and it only takes a minute of distraction to have you belongings separated from you.
However, some travelers have no care and leave their belongings unattended which is a security threat as you might end up losing your items. Even then, it is best if you have someone with you to watch your stuff whenever you need to move.
11. Crowding the Boarding Gate Prematurely:
As the time of departure nears, a number of travelers converge on the boarding gate waiting for their flight. But one error that travelers often commit is swarming around the boarding gate too early, which eventually causes them to fly into the boarding group even when it has not reached their name yet.
This can lead to overcrowding and misunderstandings that make it hard for airline employees to run boarding as easily. If you want to clutter the boarding line less, then don’t go to the gate until your boarding group has been called.
12. Wearing Uncomfortable Clothing or Shoes:
When you travel, especially long flights, wearing comfortable clothes is essential. On the other hand, a common error that many travelers make is to wear clothes or shoes uncomfortable in labor and it will become more difficult travel.
Some less-relaxed clothing choices (skin-tight tops and bottoms, heels) can be a literal pain in the neck or back or feet as well as potential contributors to foot swelling and blisters.
Choose loose, comfy clothing in breathable fabric and supportive shoes you can stand and walk around in for hours to keep yourself from going nuts.
13. Ignoring Boarding Instructions:
Follow the airline staff directions while boarding your flight, you should perform according to boarding order in sequence.
But, one mistake travelers do is not following the boarding gate instructions or getting in line before they are called.
This may interfere with the boarding of other passengers, leading to delays. If your number has been called, then you should approach the gate and board the aircraft.
Conclusion
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure a stress-free and enjoyable pre-flight experience for both yourself and those around.
Remember to plan ahead, stay organized, and prioritize your comfort and well-being as you embark on your journey. Safe travels!
