Dear Babcia and YiaYia

I’ve got big plans, and I’m ready to take on Europe! I’ve got hotels, museums, and all kinds of fun things booked, but I need to tackle my airline tickets, and they make me a little nervous. What are your tips to ensure smooth travel?

Our answer is simple!!! USE A TRAVEL AGENT TO BOOK YOUR AIR!!!!

We know! We are all about making things DIY, but in this day and age, it’s helpful to have a true professional on your side. Truth be told, agent tickets are usually about the same as Expedia or other third-party flight choices. You may say that’s impossible! But, in all reality, by the time you add in your seat fee, your luggage, and even that meager snack, the price winds up being pretty much the same. That is unless you are looking for the uber-cheap air that’s going to cancel on you at the very last minute! 

• Does that come with baggage?
• What are the seat assignments with that ticket?
• Is my ticket refundable or reschedulable?
• Have your air travel backed up with a little help.

Get your travel insurance plan together

The best help you can give yourself is peace of mind when it comes to your travels. And the easiest way to accomplish that is by purchasing travel insurance. A little investment goes a long way when you feel stranded far from home. And there are all kinds of insurance policies out there. Here are a few questions to ask your travel agent about insurance choices:

• What is the best kind of insurance to cover this trip?
• What is the fastest way to take care of an issue away from home?What exactly does this policy cover? Air ambulance, luggage, flights, delays, hospitals…. We offer two great policies through our affiliate partnerships. MEDJET is for air evacuation and can help get you home should you find yourself ill of injured. This policy is great for travelers over 69. World Nomad Insurance is a comprehensive policy that is super easy to purchase for travelers under 70. You can learn more about both of these policies here.
• Who do I call if there is an emergency? Like ask for the number!

1. Choose a family-friendly hub.

Most airlines like to route travelers from smaller airports to designated hubs that allows for easy transfer to international flights. When deciding which tickets to purchase, take into consideration that hub and whether or not it’s convenient for your whole group to meet at or simply pass through.

For example, Atlanta has a lot to keep kids entertained while you wait for your flight, while Newark- not so much! Palm Beach has a little putting course and playground after the TSA check, while Miami has a row of bars. Choose accordingly! In addition to your wait time, you may have others, like grandma and grandpa, joining you on your trip to, say, Europe. Consider having them meet you at your hub so you can all fly to your final destination together. This gives you more adult hands on the longest leg of your trip.

2. Share your trip wisely.

Whether I’m traveling on my own or with a group, I use the TripIt app to keep my itinerary straight. This app imports your email details into an easy-to-use timeline that helps you ensure that all of your reservations are taken care of and not overlapping. This includes flights, lodging, sites and transportation. Once you have a trip started, you can share it with all of the travelers in your group and interested parties who need to know where you are. Everyone in your group can keep up with the planning progress and share in the excitement. This works particularly well with small groups like moms and daughters.

3. Plan your luggage needs.

When buying your tickets, check into the luggage policies. Will the amount of bags you are taking be covered? What are the stroller and car seat policies? Can you choose your seats ahead of times? What are the carry-on requirements? Packing for a trip is dicey. You want to take everything you will need but you don’t want to lug it all around. Research the best advice out there and keep it to a minimum. For example, your airbandb may be able to provide you with a pack and play and a stroller and your hotel may be right next to a pharmacy. Checking for good laundry options will also help you pair down your packing. All in all, pre-pay for what you need so you don’t have to deal with it at the counter.

4. Choose an alternative airport.

You are headed to London and the tickets are expensive. However, there’s a $500.00 difference from home to Paris. Okay, get to Paris and take the train straight into Victoria Station. You just saved about $1000.00! Consider other airport alternatives: Shannon and Dublin, Warsaw and Krakow, Glasgow and Edinburgh, the list goes on. You may find that you have the opportunity for an adventure you never even considered.

5. Have an exit strategy.

Whether you are a Global Entry or not, having a good plan to get back to reality isn’t such a bad idea. This is also a good time to check on customs policies for your destination. For example, travelers go through customs before boarding flights in Dublin. Know what to expect.

Let’s face it. Airports are a big pain in the you know what. However, there is still something that draws me to the excitement of flying, regardless of all the hassles. These days, airports seem more crowded and full of more issues than ever. With all of our back and forth, here are the five things that will make navigating your next trip to the airport a bit easier.

Go Digital

Everything in the travel industry has gone digital and airlines at airports are no exception. Having a few apps can go a long way to navigating the airport with ease. So get your iPhone ready with a few of our faves.

Start with TripAdvisor. We love this app because it keeps all of your information in one place. Be sure to download your airline app and connect with them on Twitter. This is a great way to get expedited customer service if plans start to fall apart. Lastly, grab the MyTSA app to get the down low on your local airport. With stats on how long lines will be and what is and is not allowed through security.

Check you bags

There. We said it. It is beyond us why everyone is convinced that this is the travel corner to cut. Here us out! Why oh why does it sound like a good idea to schlep all of your stuff through TSA and past 57 gates in order to board a plane and play a game of overhead Tetris with every other sweaty passenger? Check the bag. And, hey, if you’re nervous, use an Apple airtag or try out the service offered by Blue Ribbon Bags. Just think about how nice it would be to simply walk through security and not arrive at your gate as a sweaty, sweaty mess.

Arrive with time to relax

Speaking of sweaty messes, can we recommend that arriving with time to browse a shop or have a drink at an over-priced bar. What we mean is that maybe the airport can be part of the experience instead of a bigger hassle.

Don’t be a gate-crasher

Another phenomenon that we can’t wrap our brains around is the boarding process chaos. Please explain to us the psychology behind everyone wanting to board first. In all reality, we like to board last. Since our bags are checked, we have no need to join the overhead bin battle. We can walk on as the door is ready to close and buckle up just in time for the pre-flight safety show.

Upgrade your travel wardrobe

Don’t get us wrong, we like to travel in comfort too. But, if there is one thing we’ve learned over lots of air time, it would be that dressing nicely can often signal to flight staff that you would be a good candidate for an upgrade. Since you won’t be a sweaty mess, you’ll probably look the part and get that upgrade as you waltz on board at the end of the line.

Have an exit strategy

We like to take inventory of where everything is in our airports. It makes things easier on the return trip. We keep an eye out for all kinds of things like where baggage is, where the low-use bathrooms are located, and where shuttles or Ubers meet passengers. This little task can make things a little less stressful when you are an overtired traveler.

So, what are our pics and pans?

• BWI: dated, overcrowded, and a plain mess. Instead, we’d pick PBI: we love this little airport! It’s an easy in and an easy out.
• CDG: with no air conditioner and extra long corridors that don’t ever stop, we’d pass and land instead at ORY, which is small, quick, and cheaper to get into town.
• NAP: there are so very many tourists happening here that it becomes a tough task to get in and out easily. Instead, we’d land in the brand-new customs hall at ATH.
• IAD: in desperate need of a remodel and still struggling with a realistic public transport plan, we’d opt for DCA any day.
• JFK: with a dated customs welcome and a mess in the traffic department, including a two-step public transit option, we think that you’d receive a better welcome at ATL.