Whether you’re going to the airport for a family vacation or a holiday with friends, there is tons to keep track of. From making sure you’ve packed everything to collecting essential documents and booking a pet sitter, there are many things to do before setting off. Missing even one piece of the puzzle can end up throwing off your whole trip, so here are some tips to ensure that you’re all prepped and ready to go.
Check-in online
You can save a ton of time and hassle at the airport by checking in for your flight online. Each airline varies slightly on when it opens check-in, but typically it’s around 24 hours before your trip. You can log on to the airline website and enter all your passport details, and some will even let you print your boarding pass at home. When you arrive at the airport, you won’t have to wait in the long line ups for check-in and can instead just check any bags and go.
Book your parking
To make everything go as smoothly as possible once you arrive at the airport, make sure you book your parking in advance. Whether you’re parking your car for the duration of your trip or having someone dropping you off, book your parking in advance. Pre-booking means you can secure a spot and save some money. You can book both short- and long-term parking spots online at Parkon.com.
Prepay baggage fees
It’s also a good idea to check if there are extra baggage fees that the original ticket price didn’t include. Many airlines will charge you to add a checked bag and some even charge for a carry-on. If your airline does require you to pay for baggage, do so online before heading to the airport. It is another way to save yourself hassle and time at the airport when you arrive and is often cheaper.
Check baggage weight limits
Each airline has different limits regarding the weight for your checked baggage. If your bags come in overweight, there will be hefty fees to pay. Usually, airlines will charge per pound that you are overweight and have a maximum baggage allowance. If you surpass this, you must remove items from your luggage before they allow you to check in your bag. Check your baggage weight at home using a luggage scale to determine if it’s over the included weight limit. If so, try to distribute necessary items into other bags or your carry-on baggage, which is usually not weighed.
Bring photocopies of essential documents
Whenever you travel, regardless of how far, you should always carry photocopies of your important documents. Make photocopies of your passport, driver’s license, and credit cards and store them in your baggage, separate from the originals. If you lose your documents or have them stolen on your trip, having copies will make it much more manageable. It’s especially crucial for your passport, as you’ll need a copy when you go to an embassy to have a new passport printed.