Airport Travel Tips: 20 Things to Know Before You Fly

20 tips to help you have a calm and stress free experience on your next trip through an Airport. Air travel can be a hectic and miserable experience for inexperienced travelers. But if you know the tricks of the frequent flier you'll be able to relax and not be stressed about your trip.

1 - Check in online

2 - Print your boarding pass AND itinerary

3 - Check your flight status before going
Know what terminal you are leaving from and what airline to check in with
Subscribe for flight updates

4 - Download the mobile app for your airline

5 - Bring an empty bottle for water

6 - Get to the airport early

7 - Consider arriving at the airport on the “Arrivals” level

8 - Parking at the airport? Take a picture of your parking spot.

9 - Look at the airport monitor when you get there

10 - Get in the best line to “check in”
Self check in, status, class of service

11 - Hungry? Figure out where food is before security

12 - Get in the best security line
Sometimes it's not the closest
If lines are long might be worthwhile to go to another terminal
Status, class, short connection

13 - Security tips:
Wear easy to take off shoes
No metal on your clothes
No big belt buckles, no jewelry
Put all your metal in your bag before you get in line
Keep all your liquids together in an easy to access spot
Same for electronics
Pre Check - Global Entry
Did you get the SSSS boarding pass? Prepare for extra screening
Be nice, they are just doing their job

14 - Check the airport monitor again - and regularly

15 - Fill up your water bottle, buy food

16 - Go to the restroom

17 - Lots of time before you flight?
Relax in the lounge
Go for a walk

18 - Get to your gate 15 minutes before boarding time
Sometimes gates change, it might be a long walk to the new gate
Check the monitor on the gate to make sure it hasn't moved

19 - Get your “plane stuff” ready so once you are on board it's easy to take out what you need

20 - Flight delayed, cancelled?

Don't just wait like a sheep at the gate line
1 - Call the airline while you are standing in line
2 - Use the mobile app to rebook
3 - Self service kiosks in the airport
4 - Agents in the lounge if you have lounge access
5 - Go back to the front ticket counters

Yellow Productions on Social Media:
TWITTER: ChrisRaney

Check out my blog at:

[brendalogan]

I just found your site and love your tips. I know this is an old Video but it is totally on point. I travelled for about 12 years across the country as a military health rep... I think I was in the air more than I was on the ground and your tips are invaluable I'm going to look at the newer broadcast you have but this one is really on point. Thanks for all the great tips for all those people that are just starting to travel

[NothingMaster]

That Yellow Productions number holding hand is definitely a creative touch.

[StamfordBridge]

Tip number six is my big one. I set off for the airport very far in advance and never stress over any delays in getting to the airport, checking in, or getting through security. I’d much rather be surprised because I’m at my gate with a lot of time to spare, than be surprised that the delays were far worse than I thought they’d be.

[hutokshiirani]

Grea8 Tips. Holly from Karachi, 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰

[m.l.moorhouse]

Greetings from Toronto, ON Canada!
CSA standards are safety standards for electrical appliances, medical devices, machinery, equipment, etc.
Just subscribed to your channel and thoroughly enjoy watching your videos! Your energy and vibe is infectious. You rock! Mary 'Moo' 🐮

[otu-ekonggeoffrey]

Hi Chris, i enjoyed the video u tried in listening all 20things at the airport u did very well and i love ❤️ using phone to check in and get seat assignment

[colleenhuntley]

Hi Chris, I really enjoy all your live streams. When I can't watch them live, I enjoy watching them at my leisure. Always great info, I have learnt tons. Thanks you have a great travel channel .

[jeannettevelasquez]

Just found your live stream. Excellent tips…..I do like Jet Blue Airlines

[normandea]

Good common sense list and discussion. Good reminders, especially taking a picture of your parking spot. Thank you!

[heleneg]

I enjoy your videos. Here are some things I do while flying. First, I do wear tied athletic shoes on the plane because those are the shoes I walk in while in London. However, I loosen (and re-tie) the laces once I get into my seat so that your feet can be more comfortable. Also, I never, ever remove my shoes! If something nasty happens, and I have to exit the plane in an emergency, I don't want to waste time putting on shoes (wasted time could be the determining factor between life and death). Along those "nasty things" lines, I always loop my small cross-body day purse under my jacket throughout the flight. Again, if I have to leave the plane in a hurry, at least I have my money, credit cards, passport with me already on my body. If my overhead suitcase can never be recovered, at least I have the financial resources with me to purchase whatever I need. Lastly, I never, ever check baggage -- only one overhead bag and a personal item. I wash my socks, undies and T-shirts every night at the hotel to trim those items from my bag. You'd be surprised how little you need when you actually think about it. And if you run out of something, you can always buy it at your destination.

[rayruddles]

My favorite airlines of all time is Pan American Airlines. Love your program going to Uk this coming Fall.

[mullerrich]

I love using the phone to check in and get seat assignments. However, I always print out my itinerary and flight information. It can often be easier to read that and show to an agent.

[Melissa]

Coming from someone who works at a Travel Agency, this video was great and so informative!

[mauiwowee]

Aloha from Maui. Thank you for your tips.

[scottman]

Great video and tips! Detroit is one of the airports in the US where you can only get food after security. One useful tip I recommend is to study the airport maps before going to the airport especially if you have not flown to or from that airport before. It will help navigating the airport much easier. Also, if you have a connecting flight especially at a major international hub such as Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Toronto, the airport websites (or possibly a third party site) have guides on where to go for a connecting flight and they explain if you have to go through a security checkpoint or customs. It was helpful when I had to change planes in Toronto last year.

[tiffanysteen]

I’m blue United and I like that I could check on through their app I would also get updates about flights which was great because my return flight was delayed due to a storm

[buckeyes]

I recently stopped at Dulles enroute to Charlotte Douglas. I do agree that the food isn't that expensive. I was surprised. I was flying United from PIT to CLT

[MountainTop]

The Venetian is part of IHG
This is from a Vages video and I just thought of it.
Good work

[janmosley]

We put a tracking tiles in our bags when we travel. Each suitcase gets its own tracking Tile. We always know where they’re at even if the airlines do not.

[laureljaneg]

Love the take a picture of where you park asked by freind to do so and she did not. Get back and can’t find car sheriff on bicycle in garage he located with my VIN. Love to travel love listening to your tip and other videos. I’ve noticed some airports have filtered water stations. SNA and SFO