17 Air Travel Tips

In which Hank imparts some wisdom that he has gained through the last four years of getting on planes once every four months. An act that, to be clear, makes my carbon footprint so dramatically higher than average that I am deeply embarrassed by my own life.

[l.tc.]

Here's another tip. Read The Odyssey.
No matter how bad your travels get for you Odysseus still had it worse.

I did this when I was stranded in Germany for six hours waiting for my connecting flight home.

It really helped. I still had food, shelter and my iPhone and the worst I felt was bored.
Odysseus was battling monsters nonstop for years.

[wendytaylor]

This year my parents moved away from the boarding school I attend, so I flew home a lot. I promised myself in September that whenever I encountered a downward slope in an airport hallway I would run down it with reckless abandon. Many startled passerby later, I keep the streak. It makes traveling a little less stressful, and never fails to make me smile

[TheFIRSTSoprol]

Bit of background about the no electronics during take off and landing from an aviation nerd; ideally, the inflight crew (pilots and flight attendants) want you to be paying attention during that time as those are the most critical parts of the flight, and if they need to get you out of that plane in 45 seconds, they will be shouting commands (not in the PA system) at you which are completely useless if you are absorbed in a movie with headphones in. Also, yes, the pilots can miss a landing spot as they descend if enough people forgot to turn their electronic devices into airplane mode and all of a sudden at ten thousand feet, they all connect. This causes a lot of noise in between the pilots and air traffic control and important messages can and have been lost due to this. If your airline of choice says that you can use your electronic devices gate to gate (meaning during all parts of flight including take off and landing) that means that they have gone through extensive testing and certifications with international and federal aviation regulators to get that permission. This took my airline of choice four years to get. But, if they don't have permission yet, please don't argue about it. There are airline rules, and then there are federal aviation rules (Department of Transportation and Transport Canada to name a few) and then there is the International Air Transportation Association Regulations. If it a rule that the airline has, more than likely it is due to one or more of the higher up regulatory bodies enforcing them to have said rule.

[chrisng]

I am actually reading The Fault In Our Stars right now
found a Hanklerfish
it's from the library
what a posh library

[Roma-kpqg]

"This is one artery, and if you're clogging it, _everyone's dying_"

[macncheesetv]

My travel tip: pack for what WILL happen, not what MIGHT happen.(exceptions: first aid kit and duct tape)

[alexray]

1:53 the idea of waiting until final boarding to actually get on the plane shows that Hank doesn't suffer from travel anxiety

[lucyspencer]

One time when I was going through security I kept on triggering the metal detector. I had no idea why but around the sixth time I checked my pockets and found a single penny. I had to run that one penny through the scanner that's meant to check bags.

[Ellipsisgirl]

Another related tip: when majorly switching times zones, do not eat a large meal during your flight and then eat at the next regular meal time of your destination.


Tried it on my last UK to USA trip and it seemed to help! Thanks psychology teacher!

[Nebulous]

When going through security: avoid wearing a belt, wear shoes that are easy to get on and off, and leave the big jewelry at home. Also, bringing a reusable water bottle with you is GREAT advice! Very economical and environmentally friendly in the long run.

[phantomstrider]

Seeing everyone line up and hurry to get on boarding has always puzzled me too.. I find the airport way comfier and like to avoid feeling like a sardine as much as possible. Cheers for the great tips Hank :)

[vlogbrothers]

has some tips for any and all jetsetters.

17 Air Travel Tips

[effervescentsloth]

This video, ten years ago, was what introduced me to Biscoff cookies. So many years later, my addiction has progressed to the point that I pretty much buy out my local walmart once a month to sustain my desire for tea-dipping deliciousness. I regret nothing.

[belengarcia]

"Get out of There is one artery and if you're clogging it everyones going to die"😂😂

[AndrewPitmanator]

#10 depends on the airline. Sometimes you don't have an assigned seat. If that's the case, jostle for position like you've never jostled before!

[LauraHeems]

I just got back from a two week clean water missions trip to Kenya (in the name of ending world suck!) and all I can say is that after four, 7+ hour flights I appreciate EVERYTHING said in this video. Hank, you're awesome.

[LIW]

I've worn a hoodie and havent gotten pulled aside. Then again I carry a 50cm long stuffed sealion animal so that might make me less of a threat (after it gets scanned and there is nothing found inside).

[sarahhumphries]

Advice from someone who worked for an airline:
1. Put all electronics bigger then a cell phone in one pocket: this will make pulling them out for security so much easier
2. Wear shoes you can slip on and off easily: so you don't have to fight for a bench after security
3. Powdered creamer pings as explosives when checked: don't bring it, including hot chocolate mix
4. Do not own a smart bag: if it has to go under the plane, you will have a difficult time
5. Do not get a connection under 30 minutes: they close the gates 15-20 minutes early and it takes time to deplane

[mydigitallog]

Dear Hank, That last tip saved me big time last year. My flight got cancelled and I immediately called Southwest to try to get on another one. I was one of the last people go get on the last flight that night. When I got to the desk I asked them to print my new boarding pass and the desk guy was so shocked I had gotten on that flight.

[toborbf]

Eat five sheets of toilet paper while discussing the political situation in Nepal. it is a reference to a punishment John got a while ago