So many things to get done, both small and big leading upto an airplane trip. A thorough preparation’s importance before any flight journey cannot be understated. All the work would feel straining and stressing ahead of time; however, it pales in comparison to the enormous panic and stress when things are unfinished or incomplete before leaving to the airport. The benefits of having a comprehensive pre-flight checklist hugely outweigh the ongoing work leading up to the trip.
Booking, Pre-Planning and Transportation
- Confirm flight details: date, time, departure, and arrival airports.
- Check passport and visa requirements for international travel.
- Make sure you have any necessary vaccinations or health certificates.
- Seat selection
- Special requests in wheel chair assistance
- Reserve airport parking or arrange for transportation to the airport. It could be Uber, taxi or airport shuttle.
Packing Essentials
- Create a packing list including clothing, toiletries, medications, and travel documents.
- Pack light and efficiently to avoid excess baggage fees; use layering technique.
- Don’t forget chargers, adapters (other countries), and other electronic accessories.
- Consider any specialized items needed for your destination (e.g., hiking gear, beachwear).
- This depends on type of trip like listed below.
- Beach vs Mountains?
- Cold weather vs warm?
- Key activities like sailing or biking or hiking?
Documents and Tickets
- Ensure you have a valid passport and any required visas; check this a year ahead.
- Double-check the expiration dates on your identification and credit cards.
- Print or download electronic copies of your flight tickets, boarding passes, and hotel reservations.
- If you plan on tours or excursions, get both digital and paper copies.
- For digital copies, leverage the offline or on-phone storage, in addition to cloud storage.
- Most under-development countries rely on paper copies. This will mostly come in handy.
- Carry emergency contact information and travel insurance details.
Health and Wellness
- Pack any necessary medications in your carry-on luggage.
- Remember inhalers and other necessary medical equipment.
- Ensure you have travel friendly versions of them.
- Stay hydrated before and during your flight.
- Get plenty of rest in the days leading up to your trip.
- This one is tough in reality. We struggle with it as well.
- Ensure meal plan selection for in-flight meals ahead of time, based on your dietary restrictions.
Security and Safety
- Check TSA regulations for carry-on items and prohibited items.
- Be mindful that phone charging battery packs go in the right place.
- Secure valuable belongings in your carry-on bag.
- Arrive at the airport with ample time to go through security and board your flight.
- Keep an eye on your belongings throughout your journey.
Communication and Connectivity
- Inform friends or family of your travel itinerary and contact information.
- Activate international roaming plan or purchase a local SIM card for your destination.
- Download offline maps and translation apps for ease of navigation.
- Backup important documents and photos to cloud storage.
- Ensure you have saved a copy to on-phone or mobile-device storage as well.
Final Checks Before Departure
- Confirm flight status and any potential delays or gate changes.
- Check the weather forecast for your destination and dress accordingly.
- Arrive at the airport early to allow time for check-in and security procedures.
- Have buffer time for situations at home and on road per your discretion.
- Consider pet drop-off time and construction around your city or town.
- Relax, stay calm, meditate and enjoy your flight!
In Closing
- Consider everything…
- Things you need to take.
- Things you need to take care of like vehicles, home, pets etc.
- People who need to know.
- More your preparation, higher the chances of low-stress travel experience.
- Situations will always come-up.
- Stay calm, meditate and carry-on.
Checkout our other blog articles and destinations for more travel tips and guides respectively.