If you are attending a school that is a plane ride away from home, you will find yourself in the local airport more often than you probably have been in your entire life. The first couple of trips can be long and obnoxious as you file through the slow-as-molasses check-in line and the even slower security gate. It takes time to become a jet setting pro, but if you follow a few guidelines and plan ahead, you won’t need to go through the hassle before learning the ropes. Instead, you’ll get it right the first time around, making flying the friendly skies a breeze.
Obviously, you will be flying a lot during your college career in order to be home to celebrate birthdays and holidays. Take advantage of this time you will be spending in the air anyways and look into joining a club or opening up a credit card that will reward you with extra miles or other perks for all the times you will be flying. If you are considering opening up an airline-linked credit card, be sure to read all of the fine print first and educate yourself on the proper uses of the card so that you do not end up hurting your credit. Airlines such as Southwest Airlines and Continental Airlines have popular frequent flyer perks, so check to see if your favorite airline offers similar deals. After all, you will be flying a lot anyway for the next four or five years, so you might as well be rewarded for it.
Book your flight early for cheaper rates, or you can look into travel agencies that cater to students, such as STA Travel. Then, when you are preparing for your airport journey, pack your bags ahead of time and pack light. You do not want to be lugging around a heavy suitcase through the airport. If possible, nix checking in a bag altogether so that you can check in online and breeze straight to the security point. This will save you lots of time and you also will not have to wait to retrieve your luggage after you reach your destination.
Another surefire way to cut down on the time you spend waiting at the airport is to make yourself aware of the rules and regulations. If you are checking in a bag, make sure that it weighs less than the maximum allowed weight or else you will be hit with a “heavy luggage” fee. If you are taking a carry-on item onto the plane, make sure that it complies to size regulations. Have your boarding pass and ID out and ready for security officers to check and do not try to sneak in any prohibited items. Not only will you be caught, but you will also have to face a hefty fine. Navigating the airport is never a pleasurable task, but with some guidelines, the entire process will go by much smoother so that you arrive home in style, not frazzled from stress.
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