Do you look forward to Grandma’s famous pecan pie all year long? Does your family rave about your signature side dishes? Or maybe you and your loved ones ditch the traditional Thanksgiving celebrations in favor of unique adventures and tasty takeout.
Whether your Thanksgiving traditions are conventional or uncommon, chances are they involve travel. While the week of Thanksgiving is typically the busiest time of year for air travel, the right preparation can help you navigate busy airports with confidence. When you make your connections and keep track of your bags, the only thing on your mind will be giving your loved ones a big hug and saving enough room for dessert. Here are three air travel tips to make your Thanksgiving airport experience one to be grateful for.
1. Carry Only What You Can
During peak travel days, it’s best to avoid checking luggage. Not only will you be able to skip the busy baggage check lines and head straight to security, but you’ll also be able to relax on your flight, knowing that everything you need is in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.
Luckily, the right travel gear can help you fit your packing list into a TSA-approved, carry-on-compliant piece of luggage. Opt for a roomy carry on duffel bag or piece of convertible luggage that offer unique organization features and easy-to-carry designs, such as tuckaway backpack straps and external compression straps. With an ergonomic bag, you can breeze through security and coast on to your flight.
In addition to our assortment of travel bags, our customers love the best-selling Pack-It® Isolate Compression Cube Set... for good reason! Compression packing cubes allow you to truly optimize the space in your carry-on by cinching down bulky clothing items like puffy jackets, sweaters, and workout attire. They are the secret to living out of your carry-on!
2. Optimize Your Personal Item
Most airlines allow passengers to bring a carry-on item and a personal item, and savvy travelers know that the latter can take holiday travel days from bearable to enjoyable. When packing your personal item, designate a pocket for essentials you’ll need to easily access, such as your wallet, phone, or passport. A sling pack or small carry on backpack with zippable interior mesh pockets and an easy-to-access front pocket makes organizing your travel-day essentials easy.
Once your important items are safely stored, pack other items you might need to access during your flight, such as snacks, tissues, chargers, or headphones in a Pack-It® E-Tools Organizer or extra-small packing cube. Throw in a deck of playing cards in case you make some new friends—or run into old ones—during your holiday travel day, and get ready to enjoy your journey.
3. Cut Down on Connections
On a typical weekend trip, you might not mind spending a few hours in Denver if it gets you more points or cuts down on your travel expenses. During the busiest travel days of the year, however, connections can create a few hiccups.
If you’re able to fly direct, you won’t have to worry about weather delays or overbooked flights keeping you from making your connection. Plus, if you checked your bags, you’ll likely be able to rest assured they’ll make it to your final destination in time for Thanksgiving dinner.
With these three Thanksgiving week travel tips, you can be grateful for an on-time arrival and a seamless journey.
