Best Air Travel Tips

An air trip can easily be ruined when something goes wrong. Don’t take the risk – use this list of tips to help plan and execute your air trip without mishaps. This is a useful checklist for any air traveler.

Make sure your passport is not about to expire. Most people never think of this until it’s too late. It needs to be valid for at least six months beyond your return dates of travel. Some countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months or you may be refused entry.

Decide well in advance what you will be taking with you as hand luggage and what you will be sending separately. The luggage restrictions are much tougher for accompanied bags. Do this several days before you plan to travel as it may affect your luggage plans and other travel arrangements.

Check and confirm flight times and dates for all sections of your trip to make sure that it matches up with your travel plans. If the trip involves several modes of transport, prepare a separate itinerary.

Make a copy of your air travel itinerary and your passport photo page, and leave copies with your key contacts (workplace, family, travel agent or friend). This can be useful in case you suffer a mishap or in case you need to be contacted urgently. Remember to include telephone numbers and addresses of where you can be contacted during your trip.

If traveling internationally make sure that you have the correct visas that may apply. Check whether you need a business or tourist visa and apply accordingly.

Make a master copy of your critical documents (passport, visas, travel itinerary, hotel bookings, etc). Pack this copy in your luggage as a contingency just in case the original information is lost, stolen, or misplaced.

Take a copy of your medical history with you in case of a medical requerement. This simply means listing any medical conditions, blood type, etc. If you are allergic to any medications, or have special medical needs, include this information. When traveling internationally try to have this document translated to the local language of travel.

If you are traveling internationally try to have key phrases written in the local language such as please, thank you, where is, help, and so on. You just need a small slip of paper with a dozen or so key phrases.

Thieves and opportunists also travel by air. Therefore do not assume that the airline cabin is a theft-free zone. Never leave valuables on or near your airline seat – always take them with you when leaving your seat.

Always be aware of your surroundings while at the airport. Thieves go to airport specifically to steal.

For the latest tips relating to the air trip itself, see Air Travel Safety Secrets (see contact details below). This free ebook reveals air travel information that airlines don’t tell you. Anybody traveling by air should see this ebook.