Flight attendant reveals best tips for end-of-year travelling
<p dir="ltr">A flight attendant has shared her holy grail tips for surviving the ups and downs of holiday travelling, and how to ensure your travel days are a breeze. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Florida-based flight attendant Hunter Smith-Lihas, who works as a flight attendant on a major US airline, and veteran Australian flight-attendant-turned-aviation-researcher Liz Simmons, shared their tips, tricks and secrets with <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/flight-attendants-secrets-surviving-holiday-travel/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>CNN Travel</em></a> ahead of the busy holiday season, delving into their five top tips if you’re jet-setting around Christmas time. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Give yourself an extra day</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Flying at the last minute is risky business, especially if you’re travelling for a special pre-booked event. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Smith-Lihas advises travellers to "give yourself at least one buffer day in between your travel and the event," just in case you encounter delays or issues at the airport.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Whether you're travelling in the northern or southern hemisphere, there's a potential for storms and weather delays, which can cause cancellations.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If you've got a buffer day, a cancelled flight doesn't automatically equal cancelled Christmas, as Smith-Lihas said, "You at least still have that entire day to get rebooked on another flight." </p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Ensure you have a buffer at your lay-over stop</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">With this same idea in mind, Smith-Lihas recommends travellers give themselves at least 90 minutes between connecting flights.</p>
<p dir="ltr">While the idea of sitting around in the airport waiting isn't appealing, missing your connecting flight is a much worse outcome.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I see a lot of people who book their layover flight connection times with less than 45 minutes," says Smith-Lihas. "That is not enough time."</p>
<p dir="ltr">If your first flight is delayed, you can easily end up missing the second, says Smith-Lihas "especially if you're connecting in a foreign country and you have to go through customs and immigration."</p>
<p dir="ltr">Leaving more time in between your connecting flights will also ensure your luggage makes it off your first plane and onto the second, making sure your Christmas outfits and presents arrive at your final destination.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Opt for the first fight of the day </strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">While it might be tempting to book an evening flight to give yourself the whole day for last-minute travel preparation, Simmons and Smith-Lihas both recommend getting the first flight of the day, if possible.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"If you're trying to dodge any delays, flying at the beginning of the day is beneficial, because any delays or cancellations will roll on throughout the day," explains Simmons.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"And if the flight is cancelled, you at least still have that entire day to get rebooked on another flight," adds Smith-Lihas.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Don’t overdo the alcohol </strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">In the spirit of the holidays, it may be tempting to partake in a few glasses of wine on your flight while on your way to holiday celebrations. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, Simmons advises to limit your boozy beverages, as you don’t want to arrive at your destination hungover. </p>
<p dir="ltr">"Always keep in mind how you'll feel at the other end," says Simmons. "The real party will start at your destination, so resting and making sure that you're in your best possible state when you arrive for that party is so important."</p>
<p dir="ltr">Instead, Simmons champions staying hydrated with water and herbal teas.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Meanwhile Smith-Lihas said passengers should never be afraid to ask flight attendants for more water, saying, "The cabin air can be very dry. It's easy to become dehydrated on a plane."</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Remember to be kind </strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Above all else, Simmons says keeping "the message of the holiday season" in front of your mind is key for surviving stressful holiday travel.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Small gestures of goodwill are always so appreciated and certainly do not go unnoticed, but sometimes the best gift is patience and understanding and a smile and kindness."</p>
<p dir="ltr">"A lot is happening in the world at the moment, and there's a lot of unease around, there's a lot of uncertainty for some people, and not everybody has a family to go to during the holidays," she says.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"So just keep in mind how powerful kindness is. Being kind and smiling, the impact that could have on a stranger's day, on their mood… It's so special, and it's something that we really don't harness. Maybe we don't realise how much power we have."</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>
