10 Tips on How to Reduce Holiday Travel Stress While Flying
Global – Whether taking a commercial flight or flying your own airplane, traveling during the holidays can be stressful. Will the weather hold? Will there be enough visibility to take off and land? Will the flight have to be delayed? These travel concerns are on the minds of every traveler during the holiday season. Thankfully, there are things you can do to make traveling less stressful if you’re flying in your own business jet or private aircraft.
Tips for Making Holiday Travel Less Stressful for Pilots and Their Families
The most popular holiday destinations include New York City, Chicago, Leavenworth in Washington State, London in England, Quebec City in Canada, and Edinburgh in Scotland. In order to get to those destinations, holiday travelers have many options. They can drive, fly, take a train or bus, or travel by cruise ship. Holiday travelers may even use multiple modes of transportation. In fact, you might be interested to know that more than 7 million people will choose to fly to their destinations this holiday season, and more than 100 million will travel by car.
1. Schedule an Inspection for Your Airplane
Before you take off for your holiday vacation, schedule an inspection for your airplane, especially if you’re getting close to your annual or it’s been a while since you’ve flown your aircraft. Getting your aircraft inspected can help you uncover problems before you take flight on a long trip. Not to mention, if you’re close to your annual, you’ll also fulfill your FAA maintenance requirements.
2. Keep an Eye on the Weather and Adjust Your Itinerary as Needed
The first step to any successful flight is making the go-no-go decision, and part of that decision involves getting a weather briefing. In order to ensure the safety of the flight, pilots may want to get more than one weather briefing prior to departing and additional weather briefings while they’re en route and/or refueling. This is because the weather can change dramatically in the winter. In order to deal with weather challenges, it’s best to be flexible.
3. Build Time into Your Travel Itinerary
In order to ensure that you arrive at your destination on time, make sure to build some time into your itinerary so that you don’t feel rushed if something goes wrong. For example, if you’re due to check into your hotel on Saturday, December 21, 2024, consider taking off a day or two earlier, like on the 19th or 20th. This gives you time to deal with any travel issues that arise while still giving you plenty of time to reach your final destination before your reservation expires.
4. Make a Travel List
Make a list of everything you’ll need for the trip, as well as the destination. If you’re flying with kids or pets, make sure to include their essentials and favorite items as well.
5. Plan for the Trip as well as the Destination
Take a look at your route and plan for the trip. If you’re flying over remote areas, you may want to bring a satellite phone, extra snacks and water as well as blankets and other items that can keep you safe if you have to make an emergency landing.
6. Bring En-Route Entertainment for Your Passengers
If you’re not flying on a corporate or business jet that has movies and games available, remember to pack your own entertainment, especially if you’re traveling with children. Bring travel board games as well as coloring books and crayons. Additionally, you may want to preload some movies on a tablet so your passengers can watch them en route.
7. Plan for Your Arrival
What do you need once you arrive? Is the airport located at your resort or hotel, or will you need a rental car? Did you want to land and eat at the airport or at a local restaurant before heading to your hotel? Make sure you confirm any rental cars or transportation options, dining reservations, or other items before you depart for your destination.
8. Call the Destination Airport and Resort or Hotel Before You Depart
Remember to call your destination airport before you take off and let them know you’re on your way and when they can expect you. Additionally, you may want to call your destination hotel or resort to confirm your reservations and vacation packages. Many resorts that have their own airports request that their guests call before they depart. This gives the resort airport time to plan for the arrival, get the rooms ready, and locate any special items that were requested.
9. Perform a Detailed Weight and Balance
How much cargo can your airplane carry? How many suitcases and bags are you bringing? Remember to perform a detailed weight and balance check since you’ll likely be bringing more items than usual. Additionally, you may want to perform a loading dry run. For your dry run, bring all of your suitcases and bags to the airport and load them. This can help you determine if everything will fit.
10. Don’t Be Afraid to Change the Way You’re Traveling
Traveling in your own airplane is a fantastic way to get to your destination. You don’t have to worry about long layovers or waiting in long security lines. You can depart when you want or at a time that’s convenient for you, and you can bring all the snacks and drinks you can carry. However, if your plane isn’t ready for the trip or the weather is going to be too bad to fly, don’t be afraid to change the way you travel. Remember to be flexible. It’s always best to arrive safely, even if it isn’t your preferred method of transportation.
Here at Aviation Property Network, we want you to have a safe and happy holiday. Remember to travel safely while visiting your vacation destinations, family, and friends, and we hope that this list of tips helps lower your holiday travel stress.
