Amazing airport and flying hacks you need to know now

Let’s face it, not many people enjoy the airport experience, or indeed, travelling from A to B. So, make your next trip a bit easier with these travel hacks and tips.

Even when you’re looking forward to jetting off to sunnier climes, getting through the airport itself can prove unnecessarily stressful. Recent travel disruption has only made this worse.

But by being prepared and following some simple tips, you can make the airport experience a lot more pleasurable and, most importantly, take some of the holiday stress away. You might even save some cash on your flight – and every penny counts in the current financial climate.

Here are 23 airport and travel hacks to help you get your holiday off to a flying start.

1. Pay for fast-track

With current staff shortages and travel disruptions long queues at airports are sadly all too common. Save yourself time by paying for a fast-track pass that lets you use the priority queue through security. These can often be purchased when you buy your ticket, added as an extra or even be bought through external travel sites. In fact, even Heathrow Express has a great deal at the moment. If you buy a Business First ticket for the train, you can enjoy fast track through security at Heathrow Airport for no extra cost. Some credit cards and loyalty schemes may also include it as an extra.

2. Buy priority boarding

Many budget airlines offer a range of boarding and hand baggage options that can be purchased when you buy your ticket or added on later. easyJet, for example, has an Up Front option – including speedy boarding, one small under seat cabin bag, one large cabin bag, a dedicated bag drop and seat near the front of the plane. Meanwhile, Ryanair’s Regular fare includes priority boarding, one small and one large (10kg) cabin bag and a reserved seat.

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3. Reserve your duty-free

British passengers can now take advantage of duty-free shopping while travelling to the EU as well as the rest of the world, due to Brexit. Many airports also let you order your goods in advance so you can collect them once you’re airside and spare yourself the hassle of getting it through security – although keep in mind you may want to bring them back in your luggage too.

4. Take a reusable water bottle

Many airports, although frustratingly not all, will have a water fountain airside. So take your empty reusable bottle through security and fill it up before you fly, so you can stay hydrated, save cash and avoid unnecessary plastic. Although heed any warnings that a particular supply isn’t drinking water.

5. Treat yourself to lounge access

With ample seating, free Wi-Fi and plenty of food and drink, airport lounges can certainly make your life easier before boarding. Members of some credit cards and frequent flyer scheme get access to airport lounges included, but the rest of us can also buy a pass as and when from just £15 – preferably in advance. Frequent flyers can also consider joining a service such as Priority Pass.

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READ MORE: The world's best airport lounges

6. Bring a portable battery charger

In the era of the online boarding pass, with some airlines even charging you for a print out at the airport, make sure you don’t get caught out by a flat mobile phone battery. A portable battery charger and whatever cables you need are a must in your hand luggage. Alternatively, make use of the airport's charging points before your flight.

7. Print out documents

Travelling has undeniably got a bit more complicated over the last couple of years due to COVID-19 and Brexit, with many destinations requiring extra documents such as proof of vaccination. To make your life easier, and if you haven’t heeded point 6 about a battery charger, it can be worth having print-outs of your boarding pass and vaccination status. A copy of your passport and your driving licence – as a photocopy or on email – in case of emergencies isn’t a bad idea either.

8. Tie a ribbon on your luggage

This is a particularly good hack for anyone with a standard-size black suitcase. To make yours stand out from all the others at baggage reclaim, tie a colourful ribbon or luggage belt (or even a plastic bag) to the handle so you can easily pick it out.

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9. Take a scarf or pashmina

A wide scarf – even a light one – is a good item to take on long-haul flights as it can be used as a pillow, a wrap or a blanket. Even a cheap £5 one from the local market can work as an invaluable in-flight item. It can also be useful for when you get to your destination, especially if you need extra cover from the sun or to cover your hair or your shoulders when going into a religious building.

10. Pack your toiletries properly

Sounds obvious, but we’ve all seen someone causing a long queue at security due to having more than their allowed toiletries in hand baggage. As a rule of thumb, any liquids taken on the plane need to be 100ml or less and fit in a standard-sized plastic sandwich bag, which needs to be closed. Hotel toiletries can be useful for this or just buy what you need when you get there. To save more room swap the liquids for soap, shampoo and conditioner bars and toothpaste for toothpaste capsules.

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11. Prep for security

Toiletries and liquids aren’t the only things in hand luggage that can cause delays getting through the X-ray machines at security. Consider packing all your electronic items near the top of your hand luggage for easy access and try to avoid wearing boots, belts and any jewellery that will set off the alarm to avoid delays.

12. Wear your luggage

Bought a few too many souvenirs to fit in your hand luggage while you were away? Make space in your case by wearing some of your clothes instead. Just don’t do it to excess, as there have been reports of passengers passing out on the plane due to overheating while airborne, thanks to wearing too many layers.

13. Download the airline app

Airline apps are becoming ever more sophisticated with many offering you the chance to upload relevant travel documents, alongside your boarding pass, before you go so you know you’ve got everything you need before you get to the airport. Airport apps can also be helpful by providing live travel updates, terminal maps, departures and arrivals information, and exclusive deals and offers.

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14. Collect air miles

Frequent flyers should consider getting a credit card that entitles them to collect air miles, which can be later used for flights or upgrades. If you tend to stick to one airline when travelling, check if it’s got a frequent flyer programme you can sign up to.

15. Visit the toilet before take-off and landing

Sounds ludicrous, perhaps, but you can often use the facilities on the plane before the flight takes off – sparing you climbing over your neighbour mid-flight. Going just before you land can also spare you the long queues for the loo at arrivals or by baggage reclaim.

16. Take noise-cancelling headphones

Noise-cancelling headphones that reduce the ambient noise around you are a MUST on a plane. Even if you’re not listening to anything, they can help drown out unwanted sounds – be it the chat behind you or a frustrated child whose ears are hurting. However, be wary of wearing them at the airport itself in case you miss any vital announcements about your flight.

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17. Pack hand cream and sanitiser

Flying can be really drying on your skin so it’s worth slathering on lip balm and hand cream during the flight. Cheaper airlines also generally rely on quick turnarounds between flights, so it’s worth taking hand sanitiser or even sanitising wipes as the plane is very unlikely to have had a good clean before boarding.

18. Choose your bag well

The majority of travellers know not to pack without first checking the relevant airline’s baggage requirements in terms of size – and this is as true if you’re travelling hand luggage only or checking in suitcases. But also remember rules generally cover weight too, with easyJet, for example, offering 15kg, 23kg and 32kg check-in baggage options.

Take into account comfort as well – you’re probably not going to want to walk for 20 minutes through an airport with a heavy shoulder bag on one arm, when a wheelie suitcase or rucksack would be far more comfortable.

19. Take a shower before you go

Regardless of what time of day you’re flying, any long haul flight tends to be draining on both the body and the soul. So even if you’ve got a late-in-the-day departure, it’s worth freshening up and putting on a new set of clothes just before you set off. Comfy and loose clothing is also a must, with a change of clothes advised for longer travels.

20. Check where your gate is

Once you get through security, it’s always tempting to mooch around duty-free, scour the magazines shelves or settle down for a hearty meal before your flight. But before you get too comfortable, check where your gate is to avoid any last minute dashes before boarding. Larger airports often indicate how long it will take you to get to the gate, so you have been warned.

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21. Wear glasses instead of contacts

Plane air can be very drying on the eyes, so wear your glasses rather than your contacts – particularly if you’re flying long haul or tend to doze off mid-flight. Saves you working out how to get contact lens solution through the X-ray machines too.

22. Research the airport

Save money and avoid the crowds by researching the airport ahead of your trip. Driving to London Stansted Airport? Follow the signs for 'short-stay and mid-stay car park' and 'free set-down' which gives you 60 minutes free drop off before taking the shuttle bus across to the airport whereas their 'express set down' will set you back £7.50 for just 15 minutes. Once you're past security and waiting for your gate, some airports offer alternative seating areas; at Stansted walk through the busy main departure lounge and head down the escalators marked for the 'quiet seating area'.

23. Fly on weekends

New data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation has revealed that the best flight deals are to be found over the weekend. Flying on a Friday could save you as much as 15% on an international airfare, whereas domestic travellers are best advised to fly on Saturday. Book on a Sunday, and you might save 10% on international and 20% on domestic trips. Ka-ching!

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