Flying is a very common method of travel in order to get to a chosen honeymoon destination. For some, this may be the first time you will be flying on an airplane. The last thing you want is to be stressed out during your travel when you’ve been looking forward to finally having some quiet time after the hectic wedding planning is over. There are several things you can do to make flying a more enjoyable experience, whether you are a first time flyer or a flying veteran.
The internet is a wonderful travel planning tool. Airlines now have individual websites that you can easily search to obtain flight schedules and fares. It is a good idea to check ticket fares several different times and with several different airlines before making a decision. Often, the lowest ticketed fare for a flight is also a fare that is not refundable, so purchasing a ticket without doing enough research can result in paying more than necessary for an airline ticket. Keep in mind that off-peak days of travel are Tuesday and Wednesday. You will deal with less airport crowding and you may pay a lower fare.
Many airlines now have frequent flier programs. They are usually free to sign up for and can have valuable rewards. You can earn miles for flying and some programs will give you miles for renting a car, using certain credit cards, staying in certain hotels and using certain phone service. Look into signing up for these programs so you can acquire miles for future travel during your honeymoon.
When booking an airline ticket, it has been my experience that it is important to get a confirmed seating assignment. If a flight is overcrowded and no other passengers are willing to give up their seat, the passengers with unconfirmed seating are the first to be bumped to another flight. Several of the airline websites allow you to choose your seat now, or you can call the airline’s reservations number and speak with a representative to assure that you have assigned seats.
Make sure that you arrive at the airport well before your scheduled departure time. For international flights, you must be at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure time and for domestic flights, you must be present one hour before. This will assure you enough time to check your luggage, obtain boarding passes for your flight and to find your assigned departure gate.
Make sure that your luggage has the proper identification tags before you check them. This will help should your luggage be misplaced during your travel. Some frequent travelers have been known to use luggage of color, not just black or brown, so their luggage will stand out and be easy to recognize at baggage claim. Other travelers use bright tape or tags to mark their luggage.
Should your trip require a layover in another city before arriving at your destination, there are several things you can do to make your time more enjoyable. The first thing you should do is locate the gate where your second flight leg will depart. Once you have done this, you can determine how much time you will have to browse around in the many shops that airports typically have. You should also carry a book or a magazine that you can read to pass the time.
Should your flight be delayed or canceled, there are several things you can do to prevent inconveniences. I have found that in an airport crowded with people trying to be rescheduled because their flight has been canceled, it is easier to go to a pay phone and call the airline’s toll free number to reschedule yourself onto another flight. Have your current ticket available and make sure to inform the agent on the phone about your luggage. Always keep a small carry-on with you that is packed with one day’s worth of essentials, such as a toothbrush, and one change of clothing, in case you need to stay overnight for a new flight departing the next day.
For delayed flights, keep the numbers to your hotel and rent-a-car handy so you can inform them of your delay and you will not be charged for being late.
Doing all of these things can make airline traveling a much more pleasant experience.
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