Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, Alaska
I keep a running list in a note on my phone about the random things that make my travels easier, cheaper and less stressful. Earlier this year, I shared five of my favorites and wanted to continue the series. Travel is more chaotic than ever—here are five tips to help things go a bit smoother!
1. Check your boarding pass. TSA PreCheck is one of life’s greatest inventions, BUT it has to be printed on your boarding pass for you to be able to skip the normal queue. TSA PreCheck is often NOT printed on boarding passes abroad because it’s a U.S.-only system. If you’re flying internationally to the U.S. and have domestic connections, be sure to have the boarding passes reprinted when you arrive or request them in your airline app if possible. The good thing about having your pass printed abroad is they don’t usually have boarding group numbers, so I go with the boarding group after first class every time.
2. Download airline apps. While it’s common knowledge, these apps make it easier to change flights and check in. They also make it easier to spot flight delays. Often, the apps notify you of a delay before the airport staff are even aware and also show you the status of incoming flight. This makes it easier to adjust plans or change flights in the app quickly before everyone else scrambles to do the same.
3. Research Credit Card Benefits. Pay for all travel expenses with credit cards, not debit cards. Most credit cards offer trip cancelation and rental car benefits that save you money. (My Chase Sapphire Reserve has a sweet rental car coverage policy, so I avoid paying extra for car insurance when renting abroad. When I rented a car in Tasmania (my first time driving on the left), I called to get ALL the details in advance.) When my December 2019 trip to the Philippines was canceled due to a typhoon, Chase also refunded my all the money for my non-refundable flights and accommodation, which you can read about here.
4. Check Your Downloads. Before you board a flight, put your phone and other electronic devices in airplane mode to verify all your downloaded books, podcasts, TV shows and movies actually play or load normally. The Disney+ app has failed me a few times, so I always, always check now. Also, sometimes, the content expires after a set amount of time so it’s always good to double check before boarding!
5. Check Device Charging Settings. Apple has this rather annoying setting on all devices, from computers to AirPods, called Optimized Battery Charging. To help maximize the life of your battery, it will delay charging past 80% based on your normal routine. While this is fine for everyday life, it’s not ideal when charging your devices for a long flight or trip. Be sure to turn it off so devices fully charge before any long trip so you aren’t fighting people for airport power outlets. (I also bring a backup pair of old school corded headphones just in case!)
6. Drink Electrolytes. Before and after any long flight, I drink a glass of electrolytes to stay hydrated because I’m terrible at drinking water on planes. I love Nuun’s sports electrolytes (affiliate link), which only have 1 gram of sugar. I always travel with a tube of these!
Hope you enjoyed these tips! Safe Travels!
