Airports needn’t be stressful... follow our tips and travel easy made
JETTING off for some winter sun but worried about queues and chaos at the airport? Don’t be! Remove all the stress from your journey with our five tips for a hassle-free departure.
ONE:
Money on airport hotels is never wasted. If you have a morning flight, get to the airport the night before. As airport hotels are open 24 hours, it doesn’t matter if you arrive late, after a day’s work. And nothing helps you sleep more than knowing it’s just a short walk, or shuttle ride, to the terminal the next morning.
Better still, airport hotels can be good value. Even at Heathrow, the most expensive airport in the country, you can get a familyfriendly Premier Inn room from just ust £48 a night. Adding parking won’t t break the bank either.
TWO: Frequent fliers rave about twilight check in. It’s when you go to the terminal to check in your suitcase the night before a flight. You’re given your boarding pass, with the baggage receipt on the back, so you can skip the queues and nd go straight to security with hand baggage in the morning.
Airlines like British Airways, Jet2 and Tui offer twilight check in for lots of morning flights. Check to see if it’s possible on yours.
FOUR: Splash out on having your suitcases taken to your resort for you. It’s how the super-rich travel – and it’s getting cheaper so they’re not the only ones who can do it.
How does it work? Companies collect cases from your home or workplace a day or so before you fly. They put them on the plane and you collect them at arrivals as normal – having strolled through departures with just hand baggage. Heading home? Do the whole thing in reverse. Better still, prices can be just £40 a bag. Find out more from firms such as The BaggageMan and AirPortr.
FIVE: Escape the crowds and disappear into a VIP lounge at the airport. If you’re a frequent flier (or paid for a fat seat at the front of the plane) you may get a free invitation to a lounge with Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Emirates or others. Or buy a ticket to a private lounge at airports across the UK. Snacks, meals, soft drinks and bar service will be complimentary inside. Lounges also promise lots of comfortable seats and sofas. Expect power points to keep devices charged up and maybe even runway views. Go online and search ‘airport lounges’ at your departure airport to see what’s available. Entry normally costs from around £30 – and you can buy annual membership to get in as often as you want.