14 ways to survive a holiday flight
December 17, 2009 ·
It’s the season…for long lines and frayed nerves. Here’s how to cope.
Lighten up
Do yourself a favor and ship your presents. Nearly every U.S. airline charges a fee to check a bag, so shipping gifts is now cheaper and more convenient than carrying them in your luggage. If you decide to tote your gifts aboard (we warned you!), don’t wrap them first — the Transportation Security Administration reserves the right to open anything, including the presents you so painstakingly prepared.
Weigh your options
Not knowing what you’re going to pay for your luggage is annoying. So calculate your overweight-luggage fees at home. You can scope the fees out in advance by visiting new site Luggage Limits, which provides the latest info on more than 90 airlines.
Have a drink later
Bottles of wine and gin? Perfume? Gift baskets? You can’t take any of ‘em on through security. Liquids in containers larger than three ounces are a no-no, and even three-ouncers must be stored in a single quart-size, clear bag. You can bring cakes and pies through airport security, but you may be subject to additional inspections. For full rules, go to the TSA’s site.
A blue Christmas
Fly nonstop, even if it costs a little more. The combination of huge crowds and bad weather is a massive delay waiting to happen: One big storm and the system backs up, leaving you and all the others stranded. And that’s a terrible way to spend the holiday.
Cut your wait time
During the holidays, the longest lines at airports aren’t at security; they’re at check-in. You can usually check in for a flight and print your boarding pass 24 hours beforehand, and you should. If you’re checking bags, pay for them online in advance, too: You’ll save time and money, because airlines typically charge $5 or more extra if you wait to pay at the airport.
Pick a prime spot
It’s the nightmare scenario: You get to the airport, and the parking lots are sold out. You won’t have to worry about that as long as you book a spot in advance at an off-site parking lot via airportparkingreservations.com or airportdiscountparking.com. The best part? Off-site lots are almost always cheaper and typically have free shuttles to the terminal.
