5 Airport Travel Tips to Make Holiday Air Travel Less Hectic 

The holidays are a time of joy and connection for some. For others, they represent the perfect time to get away from it all.  

Whether you’re flying to enjoy a destination vacation this holiday season or flying to visit family and friends, chances are you’ll experience some stress and anxiety about booking holiday air travel. But with a little preparation, some strategic action, and the right comforts and conveniences, you can reduce the angst often associated with making holiday travel plans.  

Here are five effective strategies to that end. 

1. Plan Ahead 

There are a number of ways to plan ahead for holiday air travel to make things go more smoothly.  

 Educate Yourself: Make sure you’re aware of any travel requirements that apply to your intended destination, such as passport, visa, vaccination, or health requirements. It’s wise to check entry requirements again a few days before traveling too. 

  • Carry a Paper Copy of Your Ticket or Boarding Pass: E-tickets are convenient, but especially for international travel when times between layovers may be extended, having a physical copy of your boarding pass pre-printed is usually a good idea.  

  • Book During the Best Time to Book Holiday Flights: When is the best time to book flights for holidays? According to experts, booking holiday travel sometime between October 28 and November 19 is usually best. Generally speaking, booking travel (whether holiday related or not) around 58 days before flying is cheapest. When’s the best time to buy holiday flights during the week? You might get a better deal by booking mid-week as opposed to on the weekend.  

  • Pack Smart: Stick to your airline’s baggage restrictions, like size requirements, to avoid potential issues. Consider using packing cubes or packing strategies like the 5-4-3-2-1 method for light packing. 

A smiling couple toasts champagne aboard a private jet decorated with Christmas lights, capturing a moment of luxury, festivity, and closeness during a holiday flight.

2. Work With, Not Against, the Holiday Rush 

There’s really no way to beat the Holiday Rush. Being prepared for it and acting accordingly is your best option when flying commercially.  

Experts recommend that you arrive earlier than usual. Specifically, if you’re flying domestically, you should aim to get to the airport at least 3 hours before boarding. For international flights, plan to tack on an extra hour and arrive at least 4 hours prior to boarding. 

During the holidays, more people travel than normal, airports are more congested so lines are longer, wait times are longer, and delays can be compounded. In colder climates especially, winter weather can also cause delays or cancellations. 

If you’re planning to bring gifts to friends or family, you might be better off shipping them to their home address than bringing them with you in case they get lost in checked baggage or are too bulky to fit in a carry-on. 

3. Create a Comfort & Convenience Checklist 

Don’t underestimate the impact of packing comfort and convenience items with you, especially during holiday international travel. Here’s a list of some items that many travelers will want to have on hand: 

  • Hand sanitizer 

  • Moisturizer and lip balm 

  • Face masks 

  • Tissues 

  • An eyeglass lens cloth or contact lenses as well as eye drops 

  • A reusable water bottle 

  • A phone charger and portable charging pack 

  • A change of clothes, toiletries, and medication in your carry-on in case your checked bag is lost  

  • Noise-cancelling headphones 

  • A neck pillow 

  • Comfortable travel day attire plus a sweater or sweatshirt 

  • Entertainment, such as a book, e-reader, magazine, or tablet 

  • Pre-downloaded Google Maps for unfamiliar or foreign destinations 

  • GPS trackers on important items like a passport, backpack, luggage, or tablet 

  • TSA-approved suitcase locks 

  • A money belt, if traveling internationally to an unfamiliar destination 

4. Streamline Security 

Going through airport security is a major source of anxiety for some travelers, regardless of the time of year. During the holidays, security can be even more daunting. While arriving to the airport early can help you get through security on time with less stress, there are other ways to streamline the process of making it through security, including expedited security options like TSA PreCheck® for domestic flights and Global Entry for international flights. 

5. Consider a Chartered Private Flight 

One of the easiest ways to streamline holiday travel if you’re able is to fly private instead of commercial. 

Not only are private jets faster than commercial airliners, but they are also much safer than many think.  

While you still must go through customs & immigration when flying internationally on a private jet charter, flying private is still a lot more streamlined than flying commercially. That’s because: 

  • You can arrive at an FBO a lot sooner than a commercial terminal. Most recommend arriving around 30 minutes before your flight. 

  • Security screening is much less intense when flying privately. 

  • Enjoy a more luxurious flying experience with more space and endless amenities.  

  • Trying to make connecting flights and dealing with unexpected delays is a thing of the past when flying privately.  

A Chartered Flight Might Not Be as Costly as You Think! 

If you’ve never considered flying privately before, maybe now is the time! Here are some of the cheapest private jets in every category. Chartering a jet might, to your surprise, be well within reach! 

 Avoid the holiday hustle and bustle when you fly private with Paramount Business Jets. Get a quote and book your charter flight today.