Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Pack the Essentials in Your Carry-On

12 Things You Should Do Before Boarding a Plane

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Flying is usually pretty exciting, whether you’re heading on vacation, meeting up with friends, or starting an adventure. But let’s be real: it can also get pretty stressful, especially if you mess up before your flight.

From showing up late and packing wrong to forgetting your travel documents and not being ready for security, there are a bunch of things that can make your trip a hassle. The good news? We’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll walk you through 12 things you can do before boarding a plane to make your flight smoother and way less stressful.

Check the Airline’s Luggage Requirements 

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Check the Airline’s Luggage Requirements
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The first thing you must do before boarding a plane is check the luggage requirements. You should do this before you pack your bags to know precisely how much you can take onboard the plane. This is important for two main reasons. Firstly, you don’t want to underpack and then find out you could’ve packed more.

Secondly, and more importantly, you don’t want to exceed the airline’s luggage requirements. If your bags exceed airline luggage requirements, you’ll likely have to pay a set fee on top of the airline’s standard rate. You can check luggage requirements on your booking reservation or in the terms and conditions on the airline’s website. Luggage requirements and fees vary by airline.

Read also: Best Airlines in the World

Arrive at the Airport Early

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Arrive at the Airport Early
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One of the biggest mistakes you can make before boarding a plane is arriving at the airport late. By arriving late, you put yourself under unnecessary pressure and stress. All it takes is one long queue or a technical error at the security gates, and you could miss your flight.

Arrive with plenty of time to spare to enjoy a more relaxed airport experience. Generally speaking, airlines and airports advise passengers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before domestic and three hours before international flights. This leaves you plenty of time to sort out your boarding pass, check in your luggage, pass through security, and reach your departure gate.

Read also: Cleanest Airports in the World

Pack the Essentials in Your Carry-On

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Pack the Essentials in Your Carry-On
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If you haven’t yet mastered the art of packing your carry-on, that’s okay, but there are certain things you must pack in your bag for a relaxed flying experience and vacation. First, pack any medication you need in your carry-on, not your checked bag, so you don’t get caught short when it’s needed. 

Other essentials you can pack in your carry-on include gadgets, travel documents, and money. These things should go in your hand luggage because they are too important to risk losing should your suitcase go missing. You should also pack a spare change of clothes in case your checked bag goes missing. It’s also worth noting that you need to place lithium batteries in your carry-on luggage. 

Read also: Budget Tips for Last-Minute Flights

Put Your Liquids in a See-Through Plastic Bag

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Put Your Liquids in a See-Through Plastic Bag
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To quickly pass through security, you must separate your liquids from the other things in your carry-on bag. At most airports, all travelers must place liquids in a see-through plastic bag. Furthermore, all liquids must be less than 3.4 ounces (100 millimeters). Any liquids over the limit will be confiscated and disposed of.

To avoid any issues with your liquids at the security check, place them in a see-through bag before approaching the conveyor belt. Leaving liquids in your bag and not in a plastic bag will cause security to hold up your bag, search it, and swab it. If you don’t have a plastic bag, you should be able to pick one up at the security entrance.

Read also: Safest Cities in the World

Charge Your Devices

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Charge Your Devices
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There’s no denying that long-haul flights can be tedious and boring, even though most long-haul aircraft have TV screens. Therefore, don’t make things worse for yourself by forgetting to charge your devices. During long flights, your phone, tablet, and handheld games console can help you pass the time.

We recommend charging your devices before you leave the house because some airports have poor-quality charging points. We also recommend downloading games, TV shows, and YouTube videos to keep you entertained while on the plane. Keeping your phone well-charged is also crucial because you’ll likely need it for your accommodation booking, onward transport, and maps once you land.

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Download Your Airline’s App

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Download Your Airline’s App
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We highly recommend downloading your airline’s app for a more effortless flying experience. Most airlines have their own app, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding it on the app store. Downloading an airline app gives you easy access to the latest information regarding your flight, itinerary, and boarding pass.

Using an airline app, you can also pay for any extras, such as a seat, extra luggage, meals, and airport transfers. Better yet, if you’re not checking a bag, you only need the app and your passport to get through security and on to your flight. I also often find that airline apps update flight gate information before the large screens at the airport, allowing me to see my departure gate quickly.

Read also: World’s Most Dangerous Spots

Organize Your Travel Documents

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Organize Your Travel Documents
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Organizing your travel documents is critical to passing through an airport quickly and boarding your plane without hassle. As such, you should make sure you keep your essential travel documents separate from the rest of your belongings and organized in a way that makes them easier to access.

We use a travel wallet that neatly organizes and separates our travel documents from other things, such as foreign currency and medication. We keep the wallet out when passing through security and passport control. It might sound obvious, but also make sure you don’t leave any important documents, such as your ID or passport, in your checked luggage. This would be a costly mistake that would cause you to miss your flight.

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Purchase Your In-Flight Snacks

12 Things Not To Do on a Plane Get Intoxicated Before or During a Flight
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This next tip is essential for passengers on long-haul flights and, generally, anyone who loves snacks. During most flights, the flight attendants will come around the plane with a food trolley, selling food and drinks. Many long-haul flights will also include a complimentary meal, snacks, and beverages. However, we still recommend packing snacks and a water bottle for the flight.

Typically, food on planes isn’t super filling, so you’ll likely still feel peckish once you’ve eaten. Worse yet, food and drink prices for items not included in your flight ticket are usually significantly marked up. With that in mind, why don’t you pick up your favorite snacks, a light bite, and some drinks for the journey?

Read also: Affordable Travel Alternatives

Check Into an Airport Lounge

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Airport Lounge
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If the route to your final destination includes multiple transfers and long-haul flights, it could be worth checking into an airport lounge once you’ve cleared security. While this isn’t a necessity, it’s a great way to relax, unwind, and escape the hordes of travelers before boarding your plane. 

A haven from all the chaos, airport lounges provide you with a sanctuary. Here, you can read your book in peace, sleep for a few hours, grab something to eat, and forget about the stresses of travel. Many airport lounges even have shower facilities and designated coworking spaces you can use. You can usually pre-book airport lounges in advance online or through the airline.

Read also: Travel Spending Tips To Save Big

Put on Compression Socks

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Put on Compression Socks
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The following tip might not suit everyone, but it’s essential for travelers with blood circulation issues. In fact, a pair of compression socks could be life-saving. Sitting in a restricted position for too long on a plane increases the risk of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots.

These two conditions don’t necessarily cause lots of pain, but they can cause serious health issues should the blood clots break off and move elsewhere in the body. Compression socks can help reduce the risk of DVT and blood clots by gently squeezing your legs, pushing the blood flow back toward your heart, and preventing your legs from swelling. You should also get up and stretch your legs during the flight.

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Go To the Toilet

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Go To the Toilet
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It may sound silly because most planes have toilets, but we strongly recommend going to the bathroom before boarding a plane. It’s common for planes to get delayed on the runway or experience turbulence. When these things happen, the toilets on the aircraft are often closed.

As a result, you can sometimes need the toilet and not be allowed to go for well over an hour. To make matters worse, when the seat belt signs have finally been turned off, there is usually a rush to the toilets, so you can be left waiting even longer while you queue. All of this pain and heartache can be avoided by going before the plane takes off.

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Get Lost in the Duty-Free

Things To Do Before Boarding a Plane Get Lost in the Duty-Free
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We’ll end this list of things to do before boarding a plane with a more enjoyable activity. Before boarding your flight, make sure you spend some time exploring the duty-free. For those who don’t know, duty-free refers to the act of being able to buy something without having to pay tax. 

Airports globally have large duty-free shops that sell a wide range of exciting items, including perfumes, luxury foods, watches, electricals, and fancy bottles of alcohol. Exploring duty-free is a great way to pass the time, sample luxurious products for free, and pick up a bargain. We also like to use the duty-free to pick up some last-minute souvenirs for our family and friends.

Read also: Top Destinations From a Travel Expert

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