5 ways to make flying easier

Traveling is fun for a lot of people, but can also be a source of stress for some. It’s fun to see different parts of the country (or world), but it can be frustrating if you arrive at your destination and find out your luggage pulled a Kevin McCallister and got on the wrong plane. You can’t really do much about a luggage mix-up, but here are five ways you can make flying easier and less stressful…

Get the app: Smartphones and the apps that come with them have made checking in the easiest part of flying. Who wants to have to lug all your stuff up your airline’s counter, check in, and have to keep up with those annoying paper boarding passes? I don’t know the answer to that question, but it’s not me. Wouldn’t you rather check in 24 hours prior to your flight and have your boarding passes ready to go in your phone’s digital wallet?

Bring snacks and your Nalgene: If you find yourself spending a lot of time sitting around in terminals, you’re probably going to get hungry at some point. Instead of paying for a pack of crackers every time your stomach growls, buy a box of those bad boys and bring them along. And while you can’t bring outside drinks into the airport, you can bring an empty water bottle and refill it as many times as you need to.

Carry-on if possible:Depending on how long your trip is, you may need to pack a lot of stuff. But if you’re only traveling for a few days, you can probably get away with only packing a carry-on bag. It’s pretty hard for the airline to lose your luggage if you never let it out of your sight.

Noise-cancelling headphones: Some people might not have a problem with the loud engine noise during a flight, but if you prefer it a little bit quieter, you may want to invest in some noise-cancelling headphones. While not cheap, a good pair of Bose headphones will cut out every bit of noise around you.

Getting a Lyft is an Uber good idea: Parking at airports isn’t exactly cheap. The most inexpensive lot at the airport will probably leave you with a pretty good trek from the airport to the building, and that will be even more annoying if the weather isn’t nice. It’s also not fun to get back to your car after a trip and find a flat tire. Trust me, that sucks. Instead of paying for parking, pay for a ride and enjoy surfing your Instagram feed on the way home.