13 Things to NEVER Do at the Airport Before a Flight

ALWAYS protect passwords and credit card info when connecting to Airport WiFi with a VPN.

Planning to fly in 2024? Avoid these common airport mistakes that could ruin your trip. This video covers essential tips to avoid getting ripped off at the airport, common travel scams to look out for, and major mistakes that lead to terrible flights... or worse, not being able to board the plane at all!

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Welcome to Portable Professional: your go-to resource for stress-free travel. I’m Megan, and I’m here to share my tips and tricks from 300+ flights to help you feel confident about your travels while making the most of every trip.

Join over 5,000 travelers diving into smart travel secrets, receiving personalized advice, and uncovering savvy hacks.

00:00 Airport Mistakes in 2024
00:17 Mistake #1: Not Checking Your Gate
01:21 Mistake #2: Doing THIS at Duty-Fre
02:01 Mistake #3: Buying THIS at the Airport
02:49 Mistake #4: Using the Airport Spas
03:36 Mistake #5: Eating THIS at the Airport
04:13 Mistake #6: Drinking THIS at the Airport
05:12 Mistake #7: Using Airport Currency Exchange
05:38 Mistake #8: Using Airport Wi-Fi
06:34 Mistake #9: Forgetting to Charge Devices
07:13 Bonus Flight Hack
07:43 Mistake #10: Breaking This Airport Rule
08:17 Mistake #11: Hogging Seats at the Gate
08:49 Mistake #12: Not Getting Comfortable for Flight
09:22 Mistake #13: Not Being Ready for Boarding
09:59 About the overhead bin... yikes.

[PortableProfessional]

ALWAYS protect passwords and credit card info when connecting to Airport WiFi with a VPN.

[deandecoursey]

I should have listened to you, Megan. Going to Chiangmai last month, at LAX, I was sitting next to a young woman at the gate. She asked me to watch her belongings while she went to the bathroom. I thought that she would be 5 minutes. It was closer to 30 minutes. On coming back, she said she has a tradition of being one of the last persons to board. That’s not my tradition. My zone had already boarded. When I got to my seat, the overhead compartments were filled. I had to go 15 rows back to find a place for my carryon. Never again!

[pi-sxmb]

Commercial pilot of 33 years. Single biggest screwup before a flight is not monitoring the departures board for gate changes. Never assume that the gate printed on your boarding pass will be correct. Also if there is a gate change announcement often times people may not be in the gate vicinity to hear it or witness the stampede over to the new gate. I can't tell you how many times I've finished preflighting the plane after a gate change and then gone over to the old gate to check and find a handful of people peacefully sitting in a deserted boarding lounge with their flight not listed on the gate board.

[sunnyscott]

Buying things at the airport: My watch broke in my hotel room as I was leaving and the only watch I could find at the airport was in the duty free shop for about $299. I waited until I got to my destination and got a great watch in the hotel gift shop for $14.99. It still works to this day.

[MrShadowpanther]

You can show up WAY early, breeze through security, have breakfast/lunch waiting for flight... then the airline boards late and you land with 5 minutes to make your connecting flight which is 30 gates away... Only to be rescheduled on a flight 7-8 hours later.
So no matter what you do or how careful you are, the airline issues can still screw you.

[fourthgirl]

Thank you for reminding people to keep their feet off the seats.

[janenejones]

As I age I find that my mobility has become more difficult. (due to work related injuries) I have swallowed my pride and now use wheelchair assistance. I am so thankful for these ‘unsung heroes’. Days before my flight, I make sure to visit my bank and get 5.00 & 10.00 bills, and I tip generously, especially at holiday time. And ESPECIALLY if my assistant has to take me on the train from one gate to another, farther away. Other passengers have always been so kind also. I am very thankful!

[Rite.]

#1 mistake is being rude or losing patience with airport staff. Always be nice to airport staff.

[LePedantSemantique]

I’m considered a pretty seasoned traveler but recently got caught by a rookie move.
While visiting family over the holiday season, I bought a few last minute gifts from an airport vendor. Arrived at my connecting city to learn that our flight was cancelled and I was rebooked on the first flight the next morning. This means that I had to leave the secure area and return thru TSA but now my gifts (jams, wines) couldn’t be carried on.

Got me! 🤷‍♂️

[fortissimo]

The built in head rest on the plane seats are fine for people who are of average height or taller, but when you're short they do not work. Signed, a person they do not work for...

[figmo]

Good suggestions! Some alternatives:
. As soon as you get through the security checkpoint, unless you know where your gate is (I've done a particular flight so much over the last 2.5 years that I know where the gate is), go there FIRST. After that, IF you have time, THEN you can wander around and get something to eat or drink.
. Instead of using a seat in the waiting area as a legrest, use your rolling suitcase.
. The Duty-Free store is fine for browsing, but nearly always the prices there are way higher than you'd pay at a regular store.
. Travel with a portable charger and appropriate cables in case there's no charger under your seat or the charger doesn't work.
. The stores that sell travel supplies at the airport exist for those times when you rushed out of the house and forgot something, such as your travel blanket and pillow or a cable for an electronic device. . DO travel with an extension plug that has multiple outlets. If there aren't enough outlets to go around, this guarantees that you and the people sitting in your row will all be able to plug in. It'll also make you popular. 🙂
. Don't waste your money on booze in the airport. If you MUST have alcohol, it's probably going to be cheaper on the plane (really!).
. The only way you can absolutely guarantee that you won't be forced to check your carry-on bag is if you fly in Business or First class. Depending on how much luggage you're traveling with, it may be only slightly more expensive to fly in the higher class. When I was shlepping back and forth between my house and my mother's house, it was only around $150-$200 more on an $800 airfare to fly First when I added in luggage and food costs.
. Don't worry about what you look like at the airport. Worry about what you SMELL like. Nobody wants to be seated next to someone with bad BO or an extra stinky cologne.
. If you fly more than once a year, TSA PreCheck is a MAJOR win. The amount of hassles you have to go through goes way down, as you no longer have to take your shoes off or unpack your bags.

[antinancy]

I always go straight to my gate when I get to the airport. More often than not lately, when I find it I am told the gate has been changed, sometimes far from the one listed or even in a different building. I've even had to request special transportation to get there in time.

[bella-bee]

You may not need a neck pillow for your neck, but I’ve found them very useful to wrap around my knee to prevent pressure against an arm rest if I’m needing to sit at an angle, to get comfy.
If your device isn’t charged and working you may not be allowed to take it through security. You have to be able to prove it’s a working device, not something sinister!

[ellesmerewildwood]

Last time I traveled, before covid, I was taken aback at the size of people's carry on luggage. Used to be a time when you were only allowed 5 or 10 kilos, depending on aircraft, for your carry on. Now the carry on luggage is about the size of the check in luggage.

[lisaspikes]

I have always gone straight to my gate, then determine how much time I have, and go from there. There always seems to be a few stores and restaurants around, no matter where your gate is. I also plan to use the nearest restroom just before boarding, so I can maybe avoid having to use the airplane restroom.

[johnmaillet]

Here's something I learned when travelling from Canada to Asia with connections between different carriers, there is a likelihood that the second carrier will want to reprint your boarding pass on their stationary so it is advisable to go straight to the boarding desk to inquire rather than have to be called along with all the other passengers with the same itinerary.

[eugeniustheodidactus]

Take handiwipes to wipe down your seating area.

[thedavidguy]

I got delayed by over an hour because someone left a suitcase unattended at CDG airport in Paris. They cleared out a large area and brought in the bomb squad. All the nearby gates were closed and all of the flights from those gates were delayed. Please don’t forget about your luggage.

[petertarantelli]

Wild? Absolutely! Nice to see you Megan and as always a video chock-full of great tips! #1 got me, but only once. I fell for the “oh, there’s #10 so my gate is right next to it” one time. Now, I scout out exactly where my gate is, then I go exploring! Thanks 🤗

[HaimTabibi]

I had to use air travel 22 times for work in 2023. I am on three this far in 2024. Got it pretty dialed in, but I have learned to let much go and to quit stressing about travel.