Just a few tips for holiday travel.
Book early. Yes you can save money on travel is you book your flight early. The holiday season is well, the season for travel. Everyone and their mother is traveling to see their mother! And, saving cash during the holidays makes everyone happy.
Avoid peak travel dates? Yes avoid the busiest travel day of the year, Thanksgiving. Also, avoid the day before Thanksgiving, these two days are more expensive, generally. But, the best-kept-secret travel day…wait for it…Christmas day. Now, I know it’s not ideal to leave your family during Christmas dinner, but the airports are dead on the 25th. If you can skip out late that evening, you’ll save for sanity avoiding long security lines, packed planes and crazy, cranky people—and you just may get a whole row on the plane to yourself to stretch out and relax.
Know your airports and the security rules. My parents are both commercial pilots and I have been traveling for years, going through security lines and flying standby. Nothing drives me more crazy than the people who abruptly stop with their 15 roller suitcases so you run smack into the, or the people who somehow missed the security restrictions and hold up the lines (because they aren’t long enough already) practically unpacking their suitcases finding all their liquids and getting mad because they have to get rid of their expensive 7 ounce perfume. The rules of the TSA (Transportation Security Authority) in every airport in the U.S. for liquids or gels is…3.4 ounces or 100ml. Please check your personal belongings before you enter the security line and have your items in a clear plastic sack before so you don’t hold up the lines.
Check your flight status, during the holidays and winter weather, flights get delayed and/or canceled. For which ever airline you are flying, there will be an 800-number with an automated system asking you the flight number, day of departure and you’ll get up-to-date information about your flight.
Pack lightly. Yes, during the winter months you need boots, jackets, sweaters and whatever else to stay warm. But remember, it’s the holidays and you will come back with more gifts than you will need, so on the way to your destination pack less than what you think you will need.
