I have said this before – travel is good for the soul. It is the best education you can give yourself – and for every Spirited Woman – life is about adventure, excitement, experiencing new things – with that travel becomes a must. But unfortunately, these days, getting to your destination may not be as soulful as you would like. Traveling via plane has become a big pain in the butt – long lines at the ticket and security counters, cramped spaces, limited luxuries if none at all. How do we stay sane and relaxed while having to endure what is mostly a long day of pain (I liken it to going to the dentist)?
I will tell you, there are ways to stay fresh, happy and at peace while making your way through the friendly skies – as they say, the getting there is half the fun right? Here are a few recommendations on surviving the plane ride to your spirited destination:
1.Know your airport – this is so key. Research and review the airport you are flying out of and into. Why? – because you want to know how bad security might be, do they have a place for food and beverage, is there an airline lounge if you choose to use it. Mastering the airport is literally one of the best ways to make your day of travel much more comfortable and planned out. Of course you cannot plan for everything, but it will give you a sense of calm by knowing your home airport and the destination airport a bit better. For example, my home base is LAX – I go to the website for the airport, and I can find details on current weather, travel delays, shops, maps and more. If you don’t travel often, find someone who does and ask them about your local airport and or your destination.
2. Don't check a bag for travel under 5 days. For some reason, when I check, I lose. Actually, my bags have always been found, but the stress of not knowing where your bag is makes for a long day. Pack efficiently – I always bring one bag big enough to hold my purse, my laptop, magazines, camera and a small plastic bag with all of my toiletries. And I bring one roll-on suitcase that fits in the overhead bin. It has made my travel life so much more stress-free because I have all things with me.
3. Have your toiletries easily accessible – If you take anything from this blog, please take this tip - buy the appropriate sized bottles for your toiletries and put them in the airline approved plastic bag and keep it in your handbag. In the bag, make sure to bring your shampoo, face wash, etc. but don’t forget some essentials I never leave home without Evian Spray Mist to perk up my skin during and after the flight, hand lotion – airplanes dry you out, a little bottle of hand sanitizer – so important in the not so clean airplane, a little roll-on perfume and chap stick. I have started picking up samples whenever I buy makeup or facial products because those are perfect for stashing in the little plastic bag. You will be so happy that you have these items as they really help give you a mini-spa treatment right on the plane! So perfect for feeling refreshed.
4.Get the best seat possible – while you may not fly enough to have status on your favorite airline, there are still ways to try and get the best seat possible when traveling. I find aisles in the exit rows of most airlines are the best! American Airlines is probably the best I have found so far as their exit rows in coach give just about the same leg room as first class. Also you can easily get up and use the restroom if you need to. Don’t hesitate to call the airline to make sure you have the best seat you can get. For some extra help: SeatGuru.com is a great resource for checking out seats on all planes across a variety of airlines.
5.Entertain yourself – I never leave home without a few movies that I can watch on my laptop, my Apple (PRODUCT) RED nano and noise reduction headsets and at least 4 magazines and a good book. I have found most of the flights have poor movie selection and very poor audio quality. I love keeping up with my reading and organizing my inbox while flying, so I always have the right elements.
6.Don’t forget the food – Even first class meals are not what they use to be. I tend to eat at the airport (find a good restaurant or eat at the airline club if you want to pay to get in), or I buy a sandwich on board – I have found that the Coach offerings are really pretty decent. They now take credit cards which makes it much easier if you forget your cash. The bottom line, be prepared. If you like to drink water – get yourself a 3 L bottle of water (Starbucks has the perfect size) for that long flight. You don’t want to find yourself looking for an attendant the whole flight while your stomach growls the whole time.
Oh, and I forgot – if you get stuck due to weather or cancellations, immediately head to the airline club to see if they can assist you. It may be a little easier than hitting the customer service counter. Most of them – I have found – will be nice enough to assist you in re-booking your tickets even if you don’t pay the day fee. And if you are a seasoned traveler and you don’t have a club membership for the airline of your choice – ask for one for your birthday. Every Spirited Women needs a place to rest her head and drown out the noise some days! I am a member of the Admirals Club as well as the Delta Crown Room and I don’t know what I would do without them.
Good luck, travel well and let the spirit of the Wright Brothers be with you!
- Monica Rohleder
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