Resolutions for Travel
Don’t suffer through life in the sky. There are many opportunities for frequent flyers to turn the journey into a pleasurable adventure. Try out one or more of these eight resolutions to enjoy flying.
1. Pack light, and avoid those baggage check lines. For most trips, we need little more than what fits in a smart carry-on. Flight attendants know this better than anyone. Fit essentials in a standard binsized carry-on to avoid the hassle (and high cost) of checked luggage. Of course, there are longer trips which require more room; look for airports which have installed convenient self-service bag-drops.
2. Get the VIP treatment at swanky terminal lounges. Your preferred airline can help you travel like a superstar, including free dining/spa treatments, even a lovely sauna to steam the stress away. Use your loyalty status to make the lounge your airport haven. Not an airline loyalty member? No problem. You can buy a daypass at many terminals.
3. There are also services like Airport Assistance Worldwide, a long-established VIP meet-and-greet operation based in
Los Angeles, and a go-to for celebrities – even the most modest – who want help navigating throngs of fans, aggressive paparazzi, customs lines, and security checks at more than 400 airports around the globe.
Airport Assistance Worldwide works with airline agents and airport personnel to facilitate smooth transit for high-profile travelers. They will coordinate with drivers on curbside meets, help with check-in and accompany VIPs through security in an expedited fashion wherever possible.
The service does everything it can to make things easier for its clients, from small errands like grabbing a coffee or parking a vehicle to more complex services like creating diversions that allow VIPs to slip out of the terminal unnoticed.
In 2007, American Airlines launched a similar VIP program, Five Star Service, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, offering services like expedited check-in, escorted travel and lounge access for a fee. The AA program has since grown to include 14 destinations worldwide, and many other airlines, among them Delta, Air France, and Emirates have launched similar VIP options at select airports.
4. Manage your travel the smart way, by taking advantage of your airline’s app. The best of these let you pre-check, issue smart electronic boarding passes, help you plan your next trip, and find their lounges at the terminal. And some airlines collaborate with their hub airports to make the travel experience truly seamless.
5. Use tech to make clearing security a no-brainer. You can sign up for TSA pre-check status or other Trusted Traveler programs, and for biometric border control, where available.
6. Look after yourself. Flying is hard on the body, but it doesn’t need to be. Stay lean for that trek to the gate by enjoying the rich selection of healthier meals being introduced at airports.
Long layovers present an opportunity for a workout, and airports are responding by offering designated exercise spaces, from yoga rooms to tracks for walking or running.There are great opportunities to stretch your limbs at airports offering this service.
7. Rest well. When you can, splurge on those lovely hotel-in-thesky cabins and stretch out in a comfy bed. If you’re flying economy, you can make sleep a little easier by carrying your own homemade amenity kit, a comfortable pillow, and a light blanket or decorative shawl to keep you warm. Some airlines consider their economy class passengers’ needs and give out amenity kits; others sell them onboard.
Make the flight experience more pleasant for you and your fellow travelers through the frequent exercise of common courtesy. Be considerate and improve the journey for everyone you travel with, and ignore annoying inexperienced travelers.