How to Fly During the Holidays

Introduction

• Flying during the holiday season seems to get worse each year. Fares are going up, planes are overbooked, and there are fewer seats to go around. Read on for tips and pointers about how to travel by air for the holidays, without going crazy.

Before You Book Your Flight

• If finding the lowest fare is your priority, flexibility in your travel dates will help you find a better deal. Before you book a flight on price alone, though, think about how much money you're saving. You may discover the increased chances of being delayed on a trip with two connections isn't worth the 50 bucks you can save.

Fly direct, if possible. (Photo by Peter Hostermann)

1. Pricing: You'll find cheaper fares by flying offpeak.
   • The Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving are the busiest days.
   • The Saturday before Christmas is always busy.
   • Check out Mahalo's Guide to How to Book a Cheap Flight for more tips on finding great airfares.
2. Research Your Flight: Check a site like FlightStats to see the performance of different airports and airlines.
   • Check here for a list of the 10 airports with the worst on-time performance.
   • There may be a regional airport near you with a better track record for on-time arrivals.
   • If you have no alternative, make plans that take delays into account. Airports and airlines are unlikely to perform better during the busy holiday season.
3. Fly Direct: The more connections you have, the more chances you'll have to be delayed.
   • Flights are heavily booked for holiday travel, so if you miss a flight you are unlikely to find a seat on a later one.
4. Fly Early: Any flight delays will get worse as the day goes on. The first flight of the day has the best chance of making it to its destination on time.
   • 

     Delays are less likely in the morning (Photo by David Ritter)
5. Fly the Right Route: FareCompare has a list of cities which have fewer airline seats available. Reduced seat load means that if you should you miss a flight and need to rebook, your chances of finding a seat are much lower.
6. Pay For Your Ticket: Holidays aren't the best time to redeem your frequent flyer miles. If you get bumped from a flight, you'll be the lowest priority for re-booking.

If You Have to Make a Connection

1. Leave time for the connection. Don't book a ticket if you have less than 30 minutes to make your connecting flight.
2. Choose a connecting airport with fewer delays, by researching airport performance on a site like FlightStats.
3. If you have a choice about connecting airports, choose one that is less likely to experience weather delays. A good general rule is that the farther south your airport, the better.
4. Check how many seats your connecting airport has. Many airlines are cutting seats on less-traveled routes, meaning that if you miss your connection, you won't be able to easily rebook on another flight.

Before You Go to the Airport

• A successful flight experience during the hectic holiday season means more than booking a ticket and getting to the airport. Tracking your flight's status, packing strategies, and arranging to get to the airport with time to spare are all important too!

Flight Status

1. Print out your boarding pass ahead of time. This will guarantee your seat and save you time at the airport.
2. If you can't print out your boarding pass, make sure you have a seat assignment. Go to your online reservation to select a seat or call the airline directly.
3. Sign up for flight status notifications and check FlightStats to learn the status of your flight. It's better to know ahead of time about a delay.
   • You can also sign up with FlightStats Mobile to track flight status from your cell phone or PDA.
4. Add your airline's number to your cell phone's memory so you can contact them quickly if needed.
5. Contact the airline immediately if there are any problems. They may be willing to change your reservation before you go to the airport.

Packing and Preparation

Research just how crowded the airport will be. (Photo by Juan Tello)

1. Review the TSA's list of prohibited items to learn what you can and can't carry on the plane. Make sure you have plenty of quart-size plastic bags for your 3 oz. liquids!
2. Make a list before you start packing. Lifehacker recommends using the Universal Packing List to make sure you don't forget anything as you pack.
3. If you can, fly with only a carry-on. The number of lost bags continues to rise; you don't want to be one of the unfortunate ones.
   • If your bag is lost, an airline may reimburse you for at least part of your replacement costs, but it will take time to fill in forms and you'll only be eligible for a refund on the depreciated costs.
   • Check out Mahalo's Guide to How to Pack Like A Pro for tips on fitting the most into your carry-on luggage.
4. Don't place wrapped gifts in your luggage.
5. If you're checking bags, either do not lock them, or use a TSA-approved master lock that the TSA should be able to open with master keys.
   • Be aware that the TSA may break the lock if they need to examine your bag and cannot open it any other way.
6. Plan to dress appropriately: review the TSA's recommendations here.
   • For example, don't wear a lot of jewelry, as it can set off metal detectors.
   • You'll have to take off your shoes at the screening checkpoint, so wearing slip-ons is much easier.
7. Bring cards, books, magazines, an MP3 Player, a video iPod, or anything else that will keep you occupied at the airport.
8. Although you can't carry water through security, you can bring food. Bring enough to last you and your family for a day of travel.
9. Make sure you have acceptable photo IDs for everyone, such as drivers' licenses or passports, when you leave the house!

Getting to the Airport

1. Check the TSA's wait time calculator to know how long you'll probably have to stand on line. Arrange your schedule accordingly.
2. If you want a friend or loved one to drop you off, ask early, before they have time to think of an excuse.
3. Make a reservation now if you're planning to take a cab or shuttle to the airport.
   • Call the day before your flight to confirm.
4. If you're driving to the airport, reserve a parking spot to make sure you have one.
   • AirportParkingReservations.com lets you reserve parking ahead of time.

At the Airport

• There will be a lot of people flying for the holidays. You won't be able to escape long lines at the airport, but at least you can avoid contributing to the problem! Here are a few tips to minimize the waiting:

Avoid the check-in counter if you can. (Photo by Sharlene Jackson)

1. If you're flying with a carry-on and printed out your boarding pass at home, there's no need to check in with the airline - go straight through security and then proceed to your gate.
2. If you couldn't print out your boarding pass at home, try to print it at an airport kiosk instead of waiting in line to get one.
3. If you're checking bags, check them with a SkyCap instead of waiting in line.
4. When you go through security, don't assume the mile-long line you're on is the only one available. Check if there's another line that leads to the same concourse, or an area that connects to your take-off concourse.
5. Once you're through security, buy water to take on the plane.

• Check out Mahalo's Guide to How to Fly With Kids for more tips on traveling with children.

If Something Goes Wrong

• If something goes wrong with your plans, be patient. Airline personnel may or may not be polite, but given the demands and pressures of their jobs that's somewhat understandable. Keep calm and make constructive suggestions.

1. If you miss a flight, and can't find another open seat to your initial destination, be flexible.
   • For example, if you're flying to JFK, check if there's an open flight to LaGuardia, Islip, Newark, or White Plains. If you're going to Chicago and missed your flight to O'Hare, check if planes going to Midway have available seats.
   • FareCompare lets you research available flights here.
2. Where are you in relation to your ultimate destination? Can you get close enough that driving the rest of the way is an option? What about taking a bus or train?
   • FareCompare has a list of rental car companies, and their phone numbers, here.
3. Look at your airline's contract of carriage, so you know your rights should your journey be interrupted.
4. Remember the cards, books, magazines, MP3 Player, and video iPod you made sure to pack? Use them to de-stress while you wait. You will eventually get to your destination, and you want to be pleasant company when you arrive!

Resources for How to Fly During the Holidays

• Concierge.com: Holiday Travel Tips (November 2007)
• Consumerist: Top 10 Least On-Time Airports
• Consumerist: Find Decent Holiday Airfare By Adjusting Your Dates
• Fare Compare: Essential Holiday Travel Checklist
• Fodor's: 10 Tips for Easier Flying
• Frommer's: Expert Advice for Minimizing Flight Delays
• New York Times: "When Lost Bags Put You on a Carousel" (August 19, 2007)
• New York Times: "What to Do When Bumped From a Flight" (September 10, 2006)
• LifeHacker: The Power Traveler's Checklist, Part One: Pre-Flight
• LifeHacker: The Power-Traveler's Checklist, Part Two: Travel Day
• LifeHacker: The Universal Packing List
• USA Today: How to avoid, or at least minimize, holiday flight delays (October 31, 2007)
• WashingtonPost.com: Over the River and Through the Roof... (October 21, 2007)
• CBS News: Tight Squeeze Looms For Holiday Travelers (October 4, 2007)
• TSA: TSA Holiday 3-1-1 Tips
• TSA: Travel Assistant
• TSA: Permitted and Prohibited Items
• TSA: TSA Recognized Baggage Locks
• FlightStats
• The Universal Packing List
• By Ken Levine: Thanksgiving travel tips (November 19, 2006)

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