Many plan for holiday and travel invariably calls for understanding and knowledge peculiar to the medium of travel. And each medium of travel, as you travel on them, you will realise that each has it unique idiosyncrasies and tricks. Today, I would like to share some insights into travelling on an airplane, drawing from my exposure and experiences. Air travel is so common and it has us feel that the world has gone so much smaller and some fore-sight and planning is essential be it travelling on holiday, leisure or business. Here are some advices and tips;
- Choose Your Airline. Especially so, if it is an extremely long distance flight, choosing the right Airline is important. Apart from service, ability to watch TV and other programs comes in handy. So choose wisely apart from just cost. Sometimes the cost may seem cheaper, but one has to consider whether it is a morning flight or evening flight. Arriving a day later in the morning may seem slightly more expensive but then there is savings of the hotel room charges for arriving late the previous evening..
- Packing Your Luggage – It is important to know the maximum weight of the luggage that the airline allows for your check-in luggage. Make sure that your luggage are not over-weight. I have seen many cases where because of excesses, travellers have to open up and re- pack his luggage at the check-in counter in full view of others. You can of course hand-carried some items, but what if your hand luggage is already filled up. I did not realise this until once when my luggage was overweight and that an additional 1 Kg cost me RM185. Who in right mind would pay for that?
- Pick the right Hand luggage Bag for use - Ensure you carry the right size, and don’t hope for luck. The security will not allow you to get pass, but to check in your luggage first. . The airport security personnel sometimes are very strict and insist on check-in. So , always carry extra pad-locks readily hanging on the zip will come in handy. Always carry a loose hand luggage, and not one that is already filled up to the brim. Over the years, I have gone accustom to carry a very light bag, even if there’s no need for it, as this may come handy to put any other things that come along. An extra light clothing and sweater with overnight necessity may come in handy if your check-in luggage happen to get lost. If your luggage is one of those common one where every other people also use, try to tie something conspicuous so that you can identify it easily from far. Someone else may take it mistakenly.
- Exchange your currency while you are in town and not do it at the airport. The rates are better in town than in the airport. If you are unable to do it at town, then exchange it at the airport before flying, and not do this at arrival. The rates will be better in town than the airport. Exchange rates at your destination will always be higher and cost more when compare to your home country..
- Avoiding carrying certain prohibited things – Current travel requirements have very stringent Dos and Don’ts and it make sense to get acquainted with these rules, and avoid carrying them in the hand luggage. It is always safer to check-in the items.
- Make a Photostat copy of your passport/visa, airline ticket, hotel reservation and keep them separate. These will come in handy when your original copies are lost.
- Asking for seats along the Aisle – This is essential if you are travelling long distance. For long distance, asking for an aisle seat will make it easier for you to get up and walk around without having to bother others when you were seated inside. So always asked for aisle seat.. Avoid seats at the back, it would be preferable to be at front especially those that offer much room for leg movement.
- Going to the Washroom – Again for long distance flight, taking care of nature call needs to be plan especially if you are seated inside and cannot moved without bothering others. Here, it is best that you make 1 trip after the food has been served and completed. It is common that after the food trays have been cleared, the lights are dimmed down, and people will prepare to sleep, and maybe for couple of hours. And it maybe inconvenience for you to wake up the other person if you need to get out in the midst of this. So avoid this, and make your trip just about when the lights are dimmed for siesta.
- Going through the X-ray Check-In and Body Check – Do not leave sight of your belongings on the conveyor belt even though it is just a short distance. Ensure your belonging has moved along into the conveyor belt and gone into the scanner before you move in for body check. Especially when you empty out your pockets, your purse and everything – don’t forget this is being done in full view of others. I have seen cases where elderly ladies have lost and couldn’t find their belongings immediately after the body search in some big airports in Europe. And these security people were that helpful, except to say that they didn’t see anything There are just too many passengers, coming and going.
- Upon arrival, stay with your luggage all the time, and ensure someone keep a close watch. Do check your luggage to ensure the luggage has not be tampered with.. The arrival section of the airport is always busy, and at many airports, there are people preying on newly arrival who would be tired and tendency to neglect this. So do be careful.
- Be prepare for lost luggage – A precaution that I take is to always take a snapshot of your check-in luggage at the start of the journey. In the unlikely event that your luggage is lost, at least you can show the luggage when filling up the Lost Report Form at the airport.
Do be prepared and add on to your own experiences and preparation to be made to ensure that you have a problem free travel.
Posted by
Ivan
