Plane Talk: Surviving the Airport

My wife and I always joke about my dad-like tendency to get to the airport hours before takeoff. I didn’t do a lot of flying growing up, so I’m not sure where I developed this habit! Depending on the airport, I like to give myself about ~90 minutes from arriving at the airport to liftoff. This window hasn’t let me down before and usually ends up where I’m not sitting at the gate for a ridiculous amount of time. If I’m leaving on a weekday or at a time where I know the airport won’t be as busy, I’m pretty comfortable shaving 15-30 minutes off my arrival time. And I haven’t missed a flight yet!

Spending time in the airport is kind of weird. You’re in this odd space of transition; always looking to get somewhere else. A bag of chips is $10. People are having beers at 10am. The charging ports at the gate never work. People are sleeping in chairs. It’s lawless. And don’t get me started on the TSA!

We’re all doing our best to navigate the craziness that is flying, so I wanted to share a few tips for navigating the airport that have made getting to our destinations without so much stress.

Dress for comfort, not a PJ party

Depending on the length of the flight, I’ll usually dress for comfort but not at the expense of mobility (leave the flip flops at home). Who knows, you might be stranded by your connecting flight and you’ll need to stay overnight near the airport. Or maybe you’ll need to jog to the gate so you don’t miss a connecting flight. Here’s typically what I wear to the airport (for men):

  • Shoes: I go with my Allbirds or some kind of comfortable slip-on shoe that I can remove easily when going through security but gives me enough support should I need to bolt.

  • Socks: Darn Tough crews to be exact. Don’t leave home without ‘em 

  • Comfortable pants: Even if I’m going somewhere warm where shorts might be called for when I arrive at my destination, I find airports and planes to be on the cold side. So I’ll opt for a pair of yoga or lightweight, active pants

  • Comfortable, loose fitting t-shirt

  • Hoodie or lightweight jacket: Again, I get cold on planes.

  • Collapsible ball cap or stocking hat

Limit what you’re carrying

I try to optimize my experience (aka reducing stress) for getting through TSA, which usually involves limiting items that I have to deal with going through security. I don’t wear a belt. I put my car keys into my carry-on. I have all of my travel documents (especially for complex international trips) into a single travel organizer. As much as I like sporting a nice hat, it’s just another thing I have to remove and get through security. If it can be easily slipped into a backpack (like a lightweight jacket or stocking cap). I also like having my Nalgene nearby to stay hydrated, but that’s firmly situated in an external pocket on my backpack, if I’m carrying one.

Check-in ahead of time

Most airlines allow you to check-in for a flight 24 hours before your departure time. With Southwest, this is how they determine who boards first because there isn’t any assigned seating. When I arrive at the airport (except if I’m checking a bag, which I try to avoid if at all possible), I can just head right to security and my gate because I’ve already checked in on my phone (be sure to download the app for whatever airline you are flying with, this is a great way to manage points, get updates, access in-flight entertainment, etc.) and I can pull up my boarding pass really easily without having to print anything.

Assume the position

TSA is pretty strict about passengers following their policies - as they well should! I always get so tense going through security for some reason - maybe it’s because I’m giving up all sense of control and we’re just cattle being led through a massive line and it’s all very formal and tense. I absolutely hate it. So if I’m bringing my laptop with me, a lot of my backpacks usually have a separate sleeve or compartment for my computer so it’s easy to access and put away. The same goes for my toiletries. You still need to abide by the 3 oz. rule for bottles and I have a compact toiletry bag that sits on top of my clothes in my carry-on that is really easy to pull out if needed. Any loose change, watches, or items are typically put into my carry-on or backpack BEFORE I get in line so I don’t have to fumble around with them when I have to get all of my items and bags up on the conveyor belt. Am I as organized as George Clooney in Up in the Air? Probably not, I don’t fly as much as his fictional character in the movie. But I do think the entire idea of efficient movement and optimization is very much embedded into my airport survival philosophy!

Just get to the gate

My number one goal once I get to the airport is to get to my assigned gate at least 30 minutes before takeoff. Now, if I’m traveling with my wife, family, or a group of friends, I am trying to be more mindful about making sure everyone is doing OK, allowing for stops at the restroom, water fountain, or eating a day’s worth of calories at the airport Cinnabon, but I find myself only able to relax when I can get to my gate. From there, you know that you’re not going to miss your flight and you’re close by in case you need to talk with the attendants or it’s also possible that your gate might have changed! Get to your temporary base/gate, THEN, venture out to grab that OK-looking chicken Caesar wrap from the Wolfgang Puck restaurant or refill your water bottle.

Pack your own food and snacks

If possible, I try to bring our own food to the airport just because airport food is so dang expensive and never really satisfying. I’ve never had a burger and fries at an airport Chili’s and said after to myself, “I feel good,” or “I feel satisfied by that meal.” It’s always just OK at best, and at worst, it will do some damage to your stomach lining. I’d opt for a couple of PB&J sandwiches, something that will keep well even between when you’re coming from home or your hotel and when you eat it at your gate or on the plane. For snacks, opt for fresh fruit that won’t squish in your bag (like apples or oranges) and some sort of trail mix or nuts. And no, I’m no purist when it comes to following my own guidance here - I’ve had many a Chick-fil-A meal at the airport, or inhaled a bag of Cooler Ranch Doritos while I’m waiting for our plane to take off. Everything in moderation!

Keep it charged

When traveling, your phone is your lifeblood. If you need to book another flight, rideshare, hotel, or just call home, none of that is possible without your phone. Make sure it’s got a healthy charge before you hit the airport and, as a backup, I try to bring a power bank with me on all of my trips just in case I can’t make it to a charger or if I can’t be tethered to a wall socket or outlet if I’m on the move. These are super affordable now and most are pretty lightweight. Grab two if you’re traveling with a partner!

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