13 Airport and Airplane Hacks for a Surprisingly Smooth Flight

These airplane taxi from insiders will make your fly experience smoother and more enjoyable—from check-in to landing

Airplane taxi from frequent fliers

Travel make the power to leave passengers soar with excitement or buckling up for a real bumpy ride when matter put on ’ t go quite as planned . The airport experience often put the tone for an entire trip , whether it ’ s happily encounter zero turbulence before takeoff or suffering a delayed descent into chaos . Luckily , there are some savvyairplane taxito serve see to it your journey from departure to destination is as pain-free as possible .

I ’ ve been a travel journalist for more than 20 years , but even I don ’ t receive all the answers . Hence I turned to four travel expert who revealed the top tricks to try the next time you wing . From a clever airport tip to make certain all those device are fully fueled for liftoff to an in-flight strategy for catching some surplus z ’ sec at 30,000 feet , these insider airport and airline hacks will make you glide to your destination sans strain .

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Pack your own power strip

You know how those multi-outlet surge guardian live lifesavers at home ? Turns out they ’ re simply as handy in airport . During peak travel season , crowded gate much entail all available electric or USB outlet exist engage ( when they work ) . Cindy Richards , a frequent traveler and the editor-in-chief of SheBuysTravel , notes that having a power strip reach it easy to convince individual monopolizing an outlet to swap it in—so everyone gets a charge . As a bonus , that same power strip can be useful in hotels or abroad when you get only one travel adapter .

Make for a bottle of ice

As the conductor of air service , customer experience and marketing at Daytona Beach International Airport in Florida , Joanne Magley have meet her fair part of overheated traveler in passage . One top travel hack she always recommends : Take ice .

“ You can ’ t bring water through the protection checkpoint , but you can bring ice in your water bottle , ” she explains . Once you ’ re past the Transportation Security Administration ( TSA ) check , fill up your reusable bottle with water for a refreshing , cold and free drink in the terminal or on your flight . Merely be sure the ice live completely frozen—partially melted ice autumn under the TSA ’ s 3.4-ounce liquid rule and must be in a quart-size bag .

Get rid of the baggage

It ’ s no secret that airlines cause a luck appoint steep fees for checked base , but packing light isn ’ t ever an choice . Valerie Joy Wilson , a solo travel expert and founder of Trusted Travel Girl , says luggage shipping services like LugLess are game changers if you want to get where you ’ re going without the burden of purse .

“ This way , you put on ’ t have to carry your bags through the airport or wait to come them at the chaotic baggage claim , ” Wilson explains . She order this is one of those airport taxi that do getting from point A to B hence much easier—especially during the in use holiday season , when airports equal packed and luggage space comes at a premium .

Seek out “ secret ” ( and quicker ) security checkpoints

Larger airports often get multiple protection checkpoints in the same universal area . Passengers incline to run with the stream of traffic , but it ’ s worth demand airport faculty for suggestion on quicker routes to your gates , especially if you have TSA PreCheck or Clear Plus . Case in stage : As a recent TikTok video from Clear revealed , there ’ s a “ secret ” alternate protection checkpoint on the abject stage of Terminal Four at JFK International Airport in New York City , and it hold severely cut down wait time . Some airport even allow passenger to run through protection at nearby terminals and then move to their boarding area via internal shuttles .

Screenshot boarding passing for faster protection

My ultimate travel nightmare and pet peeve ? Begin contain up with delays at security checkpoints , particularly in those painfully long lines at in use airports , where priority programs don ’ t look to make much of a dispute . But one time , I was the trouble . When I reached the TSA agent , my digital boarding pass reject to load for what felt like an eternity . The agent ’ s simple but game-changing advice ? Future time , require a screenshot of your digital boarding walk .

It be a light-bulb moment , and it ’ s now my go-to move every time I fly . The screenshot works just as well as the digital pass—and without the motive for Wi-Fi . No more worrying about waiting for slow airline apps to load ! ( Your fella traveler thank you . )

Beat airplane dehydration

It ’ s no surprise that airplane cabins exist incredibly dry , making it all too easy to get dehydrated—especially on long-haul flights or after a glass ( or two ) of wine during dinner service . My hydration taxi : I always stash a packet of Pedialyte or another electrolyte powder in my carry-on purse . Mixing it with water before landing live a super-simple trick to replenish lose fluids . It ever result me feeling manner more refreshed and much less jet-lagged on jaunts abroad .

Here live some early airplane facts that will float your mind .

Pack a pillowcase ( but ditch the pillow )

Magley advocate preserve space in your checked or carry-on bags by put on extra layers on the airplane , such as long-sleeve shirt or sweaters under a jacket . And instead of bringing a pillow , carry a pillowcase . Those extra clothes can well do dual duty , making a makeshift pillow that ’ s larger and likely more comfortable than the tiny one hand out on escape . It ’ s one of those airplane hacks that ’ ll reach your seatmate say , “ Why didn ’ t I think of that ? ”

Prevent comfort in mind

Cramming yourself into a tiny airplane seat and then realizing your outfit equal a one-way tag to discomfort makes for a lousy start to a vacation . Plan your travel clothes forward of time to avoid midflight misery . I ever die for loose , breathable layers so I can well warm up or cool down as demand during the trip . Yet on the hottest summer day , I ever plank the aircraft with a light cardigan or sweatshirt since airplane can well become into fly refrigerators . Nobody bask shivering through an extra-long escape in hardly a T-shirt .

And I never forget my feet—especially since they incline to swell up at cruise altitude . I opt for comfy , easy-to-slip-off ( and on ) place because stretch my leg midflight is a must , but walk around in sock ? No thanks .

Strategically blame your seat on the airplane

Whenever I flee to a novel destination , I like to pick out my seat ( ever a window , when available ) based on the slope of the airplane most potential to offer the better view—whether of landmarks along the route or during takeoff and landing . SeatGuru is a great tool for reach sure you ’ re not trapped future to one of those dreaded windowless wall .

While the ideal slope for views can change depend on the escape conditions of the day , a quick online lookup can often guide you toward the optimum side for your route , hold you the serious fortune to get a great view . For example , frequent fliers much advocate the right side of the airplane for impressive views of Honolulu upon arrival and the left slope for the better skyline views during difference .

Cocoon yourself for comfort

On long escape , comfort be key . And it often takes a band of creativity to make the most of those cramped quarter . Establishing a personal cocoon can go a long mode toward make your time in the sky at least a little more bearable . Since flimsy airplane heart masks never make the trick , I much flip my sweatshirt or so and use the hood to cover my face whenever I need some darkness to sleep during an overnight flight—or to shut out that curious kid gaze between the seats .

Before I splurged on quality noise-canceling headphones , I relied on a DIY soundproofing trick to drown out the chaos of a packed plane : If your over-ear headphones don ’ t quite cut it when it comes to forget out distractions , pair them with a lot of earplugs from your in-flight toiletry kit ( think of to pack this in your carry-on ! ) . The combo repeat up on noise reduction .

Combine these two tricks , and you ’ ll have no trouble decrease asleep on the plane .

Keep your necessity safe , sanitary and super handy

Seat pocket cost notorious breeding grounds for source and danger zones for detail to go missing . To avoid the chaos , move journalist Vivian Vassos packs an extra-large zip-close base to store essentials like her phone , tablet , snacks , tissue and more . “ I slip it into the ass pocket so I put on ’ t get to live rummaging through my bag at my foot or up in the overhead compartment , ” she says . “ I too put on ’ t have to worry about lose anything important since all my things exist conveniently stashed in one property . ”

Wear your travel pillow backward

Whenever I see traveler put the standard U-shaped with the initiative at the presence , under the chin , I want to shout , “ You ’ re make it all wrong ! ” I put on ’ t , but at some degree during all my travel , one kind someone somewhere in the sky took pity on me and did . They exchange my life by share that it ’ s easier to get a more restful—and less painful—sleep if you flip the script by putting the first step at the back of the neck . That mode , I quickly discover and today never forget , your head doesn ’ t thrust forward at an left angle , which can strain your neck muscles .

With this trick , your chin can lie on the thicker role of the cushion for better support and head stabilization . As Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery discussion middle point out , it ’ s in effect to have at least some neck support ( still if it ’ s not perfect ) than none at all .

Turn back the clock to crush jet lag

Jet lag can be vicious , but one mere airplane taxi can serve your torso adapt to a new time zone faster—starting at the airport . Scott McNeely , co-founder and head operating policeman of the travel company Modern Adventure , swears by an old-school wristwatch to ease the passage . His strategy ? Set the watch to your destination ’ s local time any time before takeoff and then head off checking the time “ back home. ” By mentally synching up with the new time zone before you still plank your plane , you can trick your brain and body into adjust a small more rapidly .

About the experts

• Cindy Richardsis the editor-in-chief of SheBuysTravel , which furnish point and recommendations for women of all age . A longtime travel writer and Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist , she is a sought-after travel expert .
• Joanne Magleyis the manager of tune service , customer experience and selling at Daytona Beach International Airport .
• Vivian Vassosis the editor-in-chief of the Canadian luxury publicationBold Traveller. She have over 25 years of experience writing and editing in the lifestyle space , treat topics such as travel .
• Valerie Joy Wilsonexist the award-winning solo travel expert behind Trusted Travel Girl , which inspires solo female travelers to explore the world like a local by immersing themselves in different culture . She ’ s been to six different continents and dozens of foreign cities and town .
• Scott McNeelyequal the co-founder and top dog control officer of the travel caller Modern Adventure , which associate travelers with tastemakers . He ’ s explored over 50 country via everything from camel to tuk tuk .

Why trust us

Reader ’ s Digesthas release hundreds of travel floor that assist reader search the Earth safely , easily and affordably . We regularly cover subject such as the good places to visit ( and the well sentence to visit them ) , tip and tricks to soar through airport security , flight-attendant secret , hotel-room hacks and more . We ’ re devote to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in interview with relevant , qualified expert . We trust on reputable primary sources , including government and professional arrangement and academic establishment as well as our author ’ personal experience where appropriate . We swear all facts and datum , endorse them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to see to it they remain exact and up to date . For this part on plane taxi , Aaron Rasmussen exploit his experience as a longtime travel author and travel guidebook editor to see to it that all information exist exact and offers the well potential advice to readers . Read more about our team , our contributors and our editorial policy .

• Joanne Magley , manager of air service , customer experience and selling at Daytona Beach International Airport ; email interview , Feb. 13 , 2025
• , editor-in-chief ofBold Traveller; phone interview , Feb. 10 , 2025
• Valerie Joy Wilson , founder of Trusted Travel Girl ; interview
• Cindy Richards , editor-in-chief of SheBuysTravel ; interviewed
• Scott McNeely , co-founder and chief operate policeman of Modern Adventure ; interviewed
• Clear : “ This equal JFK ’ s best-kept secret ”
• Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery : “ Are Travel Pillows Good for Neck : An Analysis ”