If you are planning on traveling for the holidays, you are not alone. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas tends to be one of the heaviest travel times of the year, and it can get hectic. It can be even more hectic if you aren't properly prepared. One thing that can help is avoiding making common mistakes that will slow you down or ruin your trip. So if you are traveling for the holidays, be sure to avoid these three common mistakes.
Don't Make These 3 Common Mistakes When Traveling For The Holidays
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The NY Post shared insight from flight attendant Skye Taylor. In her advice, the flight attendant warned travelers that it isn't always winter weather delays that cause the mayhem. Occasionally, it is the passengers themselves who cause the travel disturbances. Therefore, she shared their tips on how to avoid these common mistakes when traveling for the holidays.
First and foremost, the flight attendant warned against clogging up the overhead bins. Clogged bins are a pain for everyone. Not only do they add weight to the plane, but they also add significant wait time during boarding and deboarding. Think about it, how often have you had to wait while a flight attendant tries to find space to jam a bag that is clearly too big to fit? Or someone brings something that is too big, and you need to wait for it to be put down below. Or someone in row 5 had to put their bag back in row 10? So, that is a nightmare letting them walk back through the crowd of people trying to deplane.
Instead, Taylor encourages people to ship their gifts to their loved ones ahead of time. Also, my personal advice is that you can always check your carry-on for free at the gate. Every time they ask for volunteers, my hand shoots into the air. You get to check the bag without a fee, and you can avoid the stress and hassle of trying to cram it overhead.
More Mistakes To Avoid
Next, the flight attendant warns of another common travel mistake that people are unprepared for: being unprepared for winter weather delays. I find this one ironic. After all, we all joke about winter weather delays, and we know how the weather can be unpredictable during these months. However, no one actually anticipates it affecting their travel plans, and that can be a real bummer when it happens to you.
Instead of being shocked, the flight attendant suggests you be prepared. She warns that the cabin can get quite cold while waiting on the runway, so you should always pack a piece of warm clothing or a blanket, even if you are jetting off to a tropical destination. Additionally, the flight attendant suggests learning where your plane is coming from, as planes arriving from cold locations are more prone to delays.
Finally, she suggests maintaining mental and emotional control. No one likes bad weather and delays, but yelling at the crew or other passengers just makes the experience even more heinous.
