Holiday travel tips

Travellers bracing fro packed planes and long lines hould keep these tips in mind to make travel run smoothly:

AT HOME

Check in a full 24 hours ahead of your flight. This will help in getting the seat you want and possibly give you a leg-up later on. Some airlines board fliers according to check-in times.

Don't forget your bags. When you check in online, make sure you indicate if you have a checked bag. Checking in luggage online will save time at the airport.

Arm yourself with information. Look up the airline's customer-service number and its contract of carriage - the list of rights you have on a flight - on the airline's website before you leave home. It'll pay off if something goes wrong.

Bring snacks and an empty water bottle. You can fill the water bottle after you go through security.

Don't wrap gifts. The TSA will unwrap anything they deem suspicious. Don't risk it.

Pack sensibly. The holidays might not be the best time to stuff a carry-on to avoid a checked bag fee. Overhead bins will be extremely full.


AT THE AIRPORT

Arrive early. It's the easiest way to de-stress your trip.

Plot your attack. There are smartphone applications that let you check everything from the emptiest parking lots to security wait times. You can also sign up for flight alerts though the airlines or online travel sites that will let you know if you know if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

Wear slip-on shoes. They're the easiest to get on and off at security. This year, though, kids under 12 won't have to remove their shoes.

Think like a seasoned traveller. Have your liquids in a plastic bag outside of your suitcase before approaching security. Take off your belt, and remove everything from your pockets (new body scanners are more sensitive to those items than metal detectors.) Also, have your boarding pass and identification in your hand to speed things up.


- AP