Ben Menoza

It’s no secret that I travel a lot — whether it’s for business or pleasure. Not bad for someone who was once petrified of flying at one point in his life. Over the years, I’ve learned how to be a better traveler; learning how to prepare for the flight, getting through security, and figuring out how to make the most of my time while waiting for my plane. Hopefully, what I’m about to share will help you on future trips. Admittedly, my advice is probably geared more towards business travelers or people who don’t have kids. Still, you should be able to learn something from all of this.

This is the third of three posts on practical travel tips.

Now that you’ve packed your bags and gone through security, it’s all a matter of finding your gate, right? Well, it’s not that easy. There are plenty of things to consider before getting on the plane, — things that will likely make your flight more pleasurable.

Get something to eat before you board the plane, even if you aren’t hungry
Ideally, you ate before you got to the airport, so you wouldn’t have to be faced with this. However, if you’re like me and you run late to the airport anyway (or are too lazy to make a meal at home), then you don’t have much choice.

Here are some reasons why this is probably a good idea:

• Even though your food options can be limited when you’re at the airport, they’re much more limited on the plane.
• You have a better chance of finding something “healthier” to eat on the ground than in the air.
• With more airlines opting for “a la carte,” you’re going to end up paying on the plane anyway. And more airlines are not accepting cash when you do have to pay.
• Depending on how long you’re going to be in the air, you can opt for a small snack or a large meal.

Bring a bottle of water on the plane
You’re likely to become dehydrated on an airplane, because in-flight air is incredibly dry. I won’t get into details — you can find symptoms and hydration tips here — but it’s a good idea to purchase a large bottle of water once you’re through security, and drink when you’re in the air.

Use the bathroom, even if you think you don’t have to
Sometimes you can’t avoid having to use the bathroom on the airplane. It’s not the most pleasurable experience in the world, especially if you have to ask people to get out of their seats so you can get out and wait in line to use it. It doesn’t hurt to go while you have the time on the ground. Besides, would you rather use a spacious bathroom on the ground, or a small closet on the plane?

Get those phone calls out of the way
There’s nothing worse than having to cut a conversation short on the plane because it’s about to leave, unless you’re the only reason why the plane cant leave the ground. Avoid the embarrassment and hassle by making those phone calls (or sending those text messages) before the boarding process begins.

Hopefully, these tips make your next voyage much easier, for you and everyone else involved. I know there are other tips or tricks that I’ve missed along the way, so please feel free to comment on this or the other posts!