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14 Airplane Hacks That Will Change the Way You Fly

Before you book your next trip, learn these insider tricks that will make flying a whole lot easier and more pleasant.

Aerial view of airport. Airplane taxiing to runway before take off.
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The only way to fly

Flying is such an amazing way to get you around the world, but it often comes with airport delays, baggage issues, and security nightmares. COVID-19 adds another layer of difficulty and concern for air travelers hoping to remain safe and healthy during necessary travel. Fortunately, some simple hacks can make your trip just a little easier and your entire travel experience a whole lot better. We got the lowdown from travel experts on everything from getting through security easily to skipping baggage claim even when you have a ton of luggage. Trust us: These tips will change the way you look at flying. Air travel is full of complications and hurdles both new and old, so it’s important to understand the new air travel rules before booking. Bonus: This viral AirFly gadget lets you connect your AirPods to airplane TVs seamlessly and is also compatible with a ton of other devices.

Many plugs plugged into electric power bar
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Bring your own power strip

Yes, we’re talking about your basic multi-outlet surge protector. Why is packing this in your carry-on such a genius idea? Because when you get to the gate and find that all the plugs are taken, you can nicely ask one of the plug owners if it’s OK to swap your power strip so both of you can plug in and power up, says Cindy Richards, editor-in-chief of TravelingMom.com. Further, with germ concern at an all-time high, your own power strip can minimize both cybersecurity risks (airports are another place you should never charge your phone) and health risks. A power strip is also useful in hotels, when outlets are limited or when you only have a single electrical adapter to use in another country. These are the things to always pack in your carry-on.

travel toiletries, small plastic bottles of hygiene products on the suitcase and cosmetic bag
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Give yourself easy access at security

One of the worst things about flying is emptying out your suitcase filled with electronics and liquids at the TSA checkpoint. But Allie Phillips, the owner of Soarin Travel in New Orleans, has a smart hack. “Packing your carry-on bag with easy access to anything that needs to be scanned separately helps,” she says. If you group all of your electronics and liquids together in a separate travel bag within your larger bag so you can grab it all at once, you won’t feel quite so frazzled.

Suitcase on pastel beige background
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Use a shipping service

Now that airlines frequently charge massive fees to check bags, travel expert Valerie Joy Wilson of Trusted Travel Girl opts to use a luggage shipping service like LugLess. “This way, you don’t have to carry your bags through the airport or wait to get them at the chaotic baggage claim—and you avoid the high baggage fees, since their prices start at $15 per bag,” Wilson says. “It makes traveling so much easier, especially during the holidays, when the airports are extra crowded and luggage space comes at a premium.” Don’t want to ship? Here are a few brilliant tricks for squeezing everything in your luggage.

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Time your travel right

Try to avoid a departure time that coincides with rush-hour traffic, says George Morgan-Grenville, CEO and founder of the U.K.-based luxury travel company Red Savannah. “It’s a pointless and stressful way of missing a flight,” he says. And while that may seem like common sense, this isn’t: If possible, avoid arriving in a destination very late at night or early in the morning, when it’ll be trickier to find a car service to take you to your destination. While pandemic-era rules do adjust flight schedules, trying to avoid popular flight times can also minimize the risk of transmission. Flying after a long time? Here are some new airplane travel rules to keep in mind while flying.

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Research luggage allowance for connections

Even when you’ve sufficiently packed for an international flight, your bag may be overweight for a connection, as many domestic connections have lower allowances, Morgan-Grenville says. He advises weighing your luggage ahead of time since it’s much less expensive to buy overweight allowance in advance. For example, United Airlines doesn’t allow you to exceed 50 pounds for checked bags when flying economy, while Spirit Airlines won’t let you exceed 40 pounds.

Passenger holding bottle of water about to drink preventing dehydration while traveling on the plane
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Watch what you eat and drink

To avoid bloating and making jet lag worse, Morgan-Grenville recommends drinking lots of still water, which will flush out your system and keep headaches at bay. Avoid carbonated drinks, which cause major bloat, along with alcohol, since it can be particularly dehydrating when you’re flying. Also minimize food intake, especially carbs, which your body will have difficulty digesting at high altitudes, he says. If you’re hungry, feast on fruits and veggies. Many airlines have discontinued or temporarily postponed in-flight meal and drink services, which means having your own source of water is especially important. Here’s exactly what happens when you eat on a plane.

US passport and a boarding pass on a suitcase
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Check your passport

Many people aren’t aware that their passports have a hidden expiration date, says Jose Bone from The Passport Office. “What I mean is that depending on where you are traveling, you may be required to have a few months of validity remaining on your passport,” he explains. “For example, if you attempt to travel to any EU country with a passport with less than six months’ validity remaining, you will be denied entry.” In other words, if you’re heading to Europe, your passport will expire six months earlier than what is printed. This rule varies from country to country. (Mexico and Canada only require three months’ validity remaining for entry.)

Checking trip details. Full length of serious senior wife and husband are standing with suitcases at international airport and looking at flight tickets with concentration. Copy space in left side
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Arm yourself with information

Now more than ever, travel is full of worry and potential pitfalls. Airlines and travelers alike are doing everything they can to protect themselves, both from a health and liability perspective.

“Travel is not always an easy experience, so try to prepare yourself for potential problems,” says Liz Dahl, a travel agent based in Louisville, Kentucky, and the founder of Boomer Travel Patrol. Dahl suggests researching what to do if your luggage gets lost, if your flight gets delayed, and if bad weather changes your vacation options. It’s also smart to bring along books, magazines, snacks, and water so you don’t have to pay high prices at the airport, she says. “The most important thing to bring is a good sense of humor, and remember to be polite to the people who can actually help you at the airlines and airport,” she says. “Then, you will have a great trip.” Don’t miss these things you’re probably doing on a plane that flight attendants wouldn’t.

overhead view of man with passport and air ticket sitting at wooden table with coffee and leather bag
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Set your watch to the local time

No one likes jet lag, and this trick can, well, trick your body into adjusting a lot quicker if you’re traveling across time zones. According to Scott McNeely, COO and co-founder of the experiential travel company Modern Adventure, the key is to do this with an old-fashioned watch, not your phone—and to do it early. Start wearing your time-adjusted watch for a day or so before departure to make your brain adopt the local time and reset your circadian rhythm ahead of your arrival. And on the flight, adds McNeely, avoid looking at any clock except your watch. Here are other smart ways to outsmart jet lag.

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Get priority boarding if you’re traveling with carry-on bags

This depends on the airline and their specific COVID-19 policies. Some airlines are restructuring boarding and deplaning practices to minimizing passengers passing each other in the crowded aisles. In more normal times in the near future, however, there may be merit to paying extra for priority. You may have to buy a more expensive seat, pay an extra $10, or have the airline’s co-branded credit card, says Miguel Suro, a Miami attorney and lifestyle writer at The Rich Miser, but it’s worth it. “Otherwise, you might be forced to gate-check your bag because the overhead bins are full by the time you board,” he explains. “The problem with this is that if there’s a delay in baggage claim at your destination airport, you can get stuck there for half an hour or more upon landing.”

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Travel like a local

Andy Abramson, the CEO of Comunicano who was named Business Traveler of the Year by Business Traveler magazine in 2015, suggests always using local SIM cards in mobile phones to get better speeds, connectivity, and quality. “Uploads of photos go faster; if you need to be on a conference call, the quality is always better, as you are connecting locally to the provider’s point of presence; and there’s no need to buy any add-on bundles from your USA carrier,” he says. You can get a SIM card at most local and international airports. And if you’re using public Wi-Fi, make sure you know this one-click trick that can keep your information safe.

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Sign up for free business programs

If you have a business—even if it’s not incorporated or profitable—sign up for free business programs like American’s Business Extra, Suro advises. You’ll get points every time you or your employees fly, which are over and above your frequent-flier miles. Suro says that you can redeem those points for free flights, lounge access, upgrades, elite status, and other goodies. If you’re still worried about how flying while a global pandemic rages, check out the truth about recycled air.

Teen girl using smarthphone while waiting for international flight in airport departure terminal. Young passenger with backpack travelling on airplane. Teenager tourizm abroad alone concept.
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Access information without Wi-Fi

Chloe Vallencia, a frequent flier and the owner of Couple-Gift, realized that she often doesn’t have easy access to Wi-Fi when she’s traveling abroad. So she uses the app Maps.Me to search for itineraries, maps, and locations. It’s easy to use and doesn’t require an Internet connection. But getting Wi-Fi isn’t always as impossible as you might think, especially when you’re on the way to your destination: Make sure to bookmark this map with airport Wi-Fi passwords all over the world.

Calendar And The Toy Plane
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Check on transferable flights

Plans change, and sometimes, vacations are canceled. To add to the disaster, many flights are non-refundable, and travelers end up losing everything they shelled out for their holidays. “A very costly mistake many still do is not checking whether their flight is transferable,” says Galena Stavreva, a London-based frequent flier and travel expert. “If it is, the name of the passenger can be changed, the reservation can be sold to someone else, and the seller can recover at least some of the cost of the flights.” So before booking your flight, check ahead of time to see the restrictions—and consider not booking the flight (even if it seems like a good deal) if it’s not transferable. Next, check out the 22 things your flight attendant won’t tell you.

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Danielle Braff
Danielle is a freelance writer specializing in travel for Reader's Digest. Her stories have appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Real Simple, Marie Claire, Travel + Leisure and more.