Before You Fly

Pre-Travel Preparation

Download your airline's mobile app and turn on push notifications. It's the fastest way to get real-time updates on your flight status, straight to your phone.

Even Seasoned Travelers Forget These

Flight Prep Tips

💺Confirm your seats early. Especially important if you're traveling as a couple or family. On partner airlines, this sometimes has to happen at check-in.

🧭Seat strategy. Pick a seat over the wing for less turbulence, a good call for nervous or motion-sick travelers.

🕒Timing. Arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure for international flights.

💧Hydration hack. Bring an empty water bottle and fill it after security. Skip the $8 bottle, and you'll have it with you the rest of the trip.

📘Documents. Double check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date.

🚶Jet lag tip. Land in the morning, drop your luggage at the hotel, freshen up, and walk the neighborhood around your hotel to learn the lay of the land.

🚻Restroom tip. Use the restroom on the plane before landing so you can head straight to customs and beat the line at passport control.

🎒Carry-on musts. Meds, chargers, valuables, and a change of clothes stay with you, not in checked luggage.

Why this matters: your carry-on can get force-checked if the plane runs out of overhead bin space. If that happens, the airline checks it all the way to your final destination. Pull anything you'll need out of it first, in case that bag gets lost or delayed.

Pack Smart, Just in Case

Baggage Contingency Planning

Always keep prescription medications in your personal item. Beyond that, pack these essentials in your carry-on to manage any baggage delays:

Complete change of clothing
Additional undergarments
Sleepwear
Basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, facial cleanser)

Checked baggage precaution: never pack high-value items in checked luggage, to keep your exposure to loss as low as possible.

When Things Don't Go to Plan

Flight Disruptions: Delays & Cancellations

Immediate Response

Accept alternative flight options through the airline's app right away.

Be prepared for an overnight stay, rebooking can extend your timeline more than expected.

Accommodations

Time is critical during widespread delays. Use Google Maps to find nearby hotels and book directly with the property or their site.

Arrange a taxi or rideshare and keep every receipt for reimbursement.

Customer Service Reality Check

Vouchers are typically offered only when the delay is the airline's fault, and even then, less often than before.

In-person lines can run over an hour. Stay professional and assertive. If wait times look manageable, try the check-in counter instead of the gate.

Travel Insurance Claims

Save every receipt and document delays with screenshots of airline texts or emails, they help establish fault.

Call your insurance carrier's 24-hour line with your policy number in hand if you're ever unsure of coverage.

If a Bag Goes Missing

Lost Luggage Quick Reference

Losing luggage is stressful, but a clear next step keeps you calm and on track.

01

File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) on-site with the airline before you leave the airport.

02

Record the PIR number. You'll need it to track your bag and to file any insurance claim later.

03

Start the follow-up cadence. Polite, persistent, and documented gets results. Most bags turn up on the next flight within 24 hours.

Ask about an amenities kit and reimbursement for essentials while you wait, and keep every receipt. If no update comes after 3–5 days, follow up directly with the airline.

Download the Full Lost Luggage Guide

Air Travel Tips