The big airport mistakes passengers make that could ruin their holidays
A TRAVEL expert has revealed the big airport mistakes that passengers make all the time that could ruin their holidays this year.
Holidays are well and truly back on, but people run the risk of spoiling their trips by making simple errors.
George Hammerton is director of Caribbean rental home provider Hammerton Barbados and knows a lot about holidays and how to make them run smoothly.
He has shared expert tips on how to get through airports with minimum stress this summer, after people got caught up in chaos last year.
Flying from bigger airports
Major airports such as Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester offer a greater variety and frequency of flight routes.
As a result, they attract and can accommodate a much higher number of travellers.
However, this often leads to lengthy queues and walks to gates.
Therefore, opting for more compact airports such as Southampton, Newcastle or Bristol can help limit the inconvenience.
George said: “While flying from smaller airports can sometimes involve paying a little extra, they can sometimes ensure a more relaxed and less stressful airport experience.
“With a fraction of the number of passengers and much smaller in size, you are likely to enjoy shorter queues and may even be able to spot your gate straight out of security.”
Packing essentials with checked luggage
Packing light can be a struggle – especially when you’re travelling long-haul or going away for a couple of weeks.
But with the number of lost suitcases increasing last year, it’s important to pack essentials in your hand baggage rather than in the luggage hold.
George’s advice is: “Prior to travel, make a list of items that you couldn’t spend a day without, such as your toothbrush, and place them in your hand luggage.
“While it might seem like the end of the world if your luggage goes missing, the majority of lost baggage ends up being found, resulting in a mere temporary disruption.
“So, pack everyday essentials in your cabin bags to minimise the inconvenience that this scenario can inflict on your trip.”
Not tracking your belongings
Purchasing an item tracker such as an Apple AirTag is a fantastic way to keep an eye on your bags.
If they do go missing, you’ll know exactly where they are.
George said: “With many airports unprepared for the influx of travellers this year, I’d highly recommend purchasing item trackers.
“This way, if you are struck with bad fortune and lose your luggage, you can immediately find out its whereabouts and kickstart the process of getting it back.”
Flying at peak times
The demand and price of flights are both set to rise, so booking during the off-season will not only ensure that the airport will be much quieter, but the destination as well.
If your work life means you have to fly during the summer, at least consider flying during the week to avoid the weekend rush.
George said: “Many destinations come into their prime over off-season.
“At the very least, I would advise against flying over weekends when you can. The airports are always that much busier, no matter the time of year.”
Elsewhere, a parent revealed two more simple mistakes passengers make when they’re at airports.
Tiktoker Nicole Jaques (@itsnicolejaques) revealed her best tips for getting through security and to your departure gate as quickly and smoothly as possible.
The first of those is to turn right when arriving at airport security.
Often there will be two choices of lines to stand in to have your belongings scanned, one to the right and another to the left, but most people for some reason choose to turn right.
That leaves the lines on the left much shorter, with far fewer people standing in them.
Nicole said: “For security or customs lines, always go left. The lines are always shorter.”
Going left or right at the security line could be the difference between catching your flight, or missing out, especially if you’ve arrived at the airport late.
Nicole’s tip was supported by a self-proclaimed airport expert, who explained why people tend to prefer the queue on the right.
According to the person, who is a user on online forum Quora, we subconsciously pick which side to line up on depending on our dominant hand.
Once you reach the front of the security line and have to remove belts, coats and shoes, Nicole suggests that wearing socks is an absolute must, due to the number of germs at the security scanners.
She said: “Wear socks through security. It’s the dirtiest part of the airport.”
That claim has been backed up several times, including by a university study that looked for the dirtiest part of the airport.
The study, carried out at an airport in Finland during peak flu season between 2015-16, revealed that security and in particular, the plastic security trays, is the worst spot for germs.
This is because it is “almost inevitable” that every passenger will have to go through security on their way from the entrance to their plane.
Meanwhile, another mum revealed the big errors that parents make when travelling with children.
And an easy plane ticket mistake could end up costing you money.
