Understandably, most of us have been left feeling unsure of the whole airport experience. This is why we\u2019ve put together a list of handy hacks and tips for airport travel. From reducing the time you spend in queues, to streamlining the security process and getting the most out of a layover to shipping your luggage<\/a> – we\u2019ve got your airport travel tips and hacks covered.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most stressful and annoying parts of travelling is the airport wait times<\/a>, particularly in 2023. Reports of massive queues at security and flight delays have led to people arriving at the airport earlier than normal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n That makes sense, right? That you\u2019d factor in ample extra time for delays and queues? Wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best tips for airport travel in 2023 is to arrive on time. The temptation to arrive an hour earlier than usual is understandable but it actually doesn\u2019t help, quite the opposite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What ends up happening, is that instead of smaller groups of travellers passing through security at regular intervals, groups of people who\u2019ve arrived too early for their flight join those who are on time. This leads to a swell of people all struggling to get through security, rather than a manageable amount spread throughout the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To avoid disrupting the carefully planned flow of queues at the airport, arrive on time, not early. The general rule of thumb is to get to the airport three hours before your flight. This is plenty of time to navigate check-in and security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our next airport travel tip: do it digitally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Where possible, complete as much of your airport admin beforehand. The quickest win will be checking in online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Download your airline\u2019s app and fill in your passenger details before arriving at the airport. You\u2019ll be able to check in and download boarding passes through their app. An especially important international travel airport tip is to keep your phone as fully charged as possible. It\u2019ll be storing the details you need to board your flight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An added bonus of downloading your airline\u2019s app is that they usually have real-time updates. This could save you time if there\u2019s a cancellation, gate change, or delay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to take this airport check-in hack even further? Avoid the checked bag queue altogether and ship all your items ahead of time<\/a>. You\u2019ll end up skipping one airport queue and, potentially, be able to take even more luggage abroad.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are checking in bags, make sure they comply with the weight allowance. That’ll save you from having to do any repacking at the airport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is usually something of an afterthought, but spending a few minutes researching your travel route to and from the airport could pay off in a big way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re driving, double-check the route before you set off to see if there have been any accidents or traffic build-ups. This gives you the chance to pivot to a speedier route before heading off. Similarly, check your airport parking booking and be sure you\u2019re going to the correct parking bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re getting a coach, bus, or other types of public transport, try and pre-book your ticket. This will save time and also covers you in case ticket kiosks aren\u2019t manned during the hours of your travel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An airport security queue is a scary place. It can crawl along at a glacial pace, giving you plenty of time to worry about whether or not you left the nail scissors in your bag. There are some travel packing tips for airport security that can help you nail the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, brush up on the list of dos and don\u2019ts<\/a>. You might have flown plenty of times before, but it doesn\u2019t hurt to have a refresh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, before you get into the queue separate your electronics, any jewellery, toiletries, and belts you are carrying. This will save you time when you reach the trays, as you can easily drop these items straight in and walk through the scanners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before even getting to the airport, you\u2019ll need to sort your liquids and aerosols into see-through containers. Make sure your products weigh 100 ml and under. If you\u2019re travelling in a group, help others check their security items too. That way you won\u2019t be stuck waiting for anyone who hasn\u2019t followed the rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is an airport travel tip for people with children\u2026 opt for the Fast Track security service. It might seem like a bit of an extravagance but long security queues can be especially challenging for parents with little children. Going for the Fast Track service will give you the chance to speed things up and get through the process calmly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Check on your airport’s website and book a time slot before you arrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your first holiday in a while and you really can\u2019t afford for anything to go wrong? Makes sense. Post-Covid we\u2019re more anxious than ever about our airport experiences running smoothly. And picking when you go on holiday is a major hack to help ensure seamless journeys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Zoom out for a second and consider the time of year that you\u2019re booking your flights. You\u2019ll want to avoid peak times, not just because of long queues, but also because there\u2019s more chance of delays and cancellations with more flights running. So avoid school holidays and book out-of-season trips where possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now consider the actual time of day you\u2019re booking your flight for. Statistically, morning flights are more likely to go ahead as planned. Why? Flight delays tend to be a knock-on effect of things going wrong earlier in the day, this can then build to larger delays and cancellations by the time you reach the afternoon and evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, airports tend to be busier between Friday and Monday<\/a>, so fly midweek if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our tips for airport travel include your layover, an often neglected part of the trip! How often has a layover meant curling up on uncomfortable seats, hunting for WiFi, and buying overpriced, soggy sandwiches? By researching the airport your layover is at, you can maximise your experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a look on the airport website for a map. This will include different restaurants and cafes, where you can get free WiFi, and where the charging ports are. You can even plan to set yourself up close to your departure flights terminal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sticking with layovers, another tip for airport travel is to squeeze in some extra travelling. Depending on how much time you have and visa requirements, you don\u2019t need to stay in your layover airport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take the opportunity to research the nearby area and see if it\u2019s worth exploring a little. Just be mindful to get back to the airport in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wouldn\u2019t the whole airport experience be easier if you weren\u2019t already out of pocket by the time you got to your end destination? The cost of living crisis has made us all extra cautious, and the airport can be an expensive place. Swerve some of the typical charges by bringing your own drinks and food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of buying pricey bottles of water at the airport, bring an empty bottle and fill it up on the other side of security. Similarly, you\u2019re allowed to bring some food through security too. Avoid paying above the odds on the plane and bring your own food too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We touched on shipping your items earlier, as a hack for avoiding the check-in queues. But shipping your items ahead could also save you money. Extra baggage and excess baggage fees<\/a>, which you\u2019ll incur if your suitcases are over the weight limit, can soon stack up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Plane](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/sfIDSxGZn3cN45lu2YIt_5Xbz5JpZ6YrtXzKvPLCmqg5HcOmSLxuzqrdxJoK2ewjJxa8dP0dz-S0mbWowX8MVuR9Plvl5zK92J3Kycz1vkbLlIDRyVbmqT4fg5HXbMRlvTx4i3tM9aGd8niDPGkL4_mLp_iVKLae4pBFuYYxDsOq6rhnE8Sh_zINwJIFLA\")
Cut down on wait times<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Arrive on time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Check-in online <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Traveller](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/PazXeMnqDT33bMQIG-MsIBlXTi9FSa8ZWh7RauNJxzUHXO3rR3wSn8hjrFAHSAXw-P3Q0B3zAyx9scGju1cKXOSty2L3kySqJgisve2GWDZQX9cL941v9qPJiaGTdygnZZkxBfKuHNNA1aphNa5qxZAdBQJnISD5cqqIP0qM_TyZTZCxEx52_TIKQjYaIQ\")
Research your travel routes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to ace airport security<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Brush up on the rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/wOQ17r1j-QRucPHTTAm486RPKZO25_EEoVxBTFoVxzY8K8eUe65kukDDN1modzy_361GHOkb82DaD6YbJiCffjsL13vjT5xxniQLHavPLW13I6AsGTIOpztWJs2_sj0s4PFfxOIOzTT-hWK2R8EpO2BQg1ADfaEpAsIdbHUgN7-Wq6hSY1phOAHKvQFDow\")
Fast Track<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Choose your flights strategically <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The time of year<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The time of day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/qoVf41gqAOORS5CWPri27GQRW0wC7dDdeMc-KVKRgbCvd8kpHOTkNmq4l1wC0AOCgNPDWCa5CtrNHiQh_J60Ww8M1D6UX6K35XttQRZwp2b3WAWxE0Cq-kp74_pv1cJQVKH8tA4CXdwY7GJGDoadwiP8jlFlApmnLrWMpDRfz_bWzLRhTS50WUK7DI9X3w\")
Look into the layover <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Maximising your time <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Squeezing in some extra travel <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Save money<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
BYO <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Airport](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/WmPTZz944dPUnJR4V41tI-ZO42lqmXGUTpBz2b0WZVF6FO4leWLsyeVwTxNfpdJYyc_0ccrG7AtuiWWvIHAaJIGV6RIJT55Uw8isoB3KvUaIdR-I3w_gr0ULt5R2nis1Yjqb20cKg_dTAamnZncQ1ZnMylbtNYhlxFQUquhoVZqCWJu7wJsd1_9xpOqfxQ\")
Shipping as an ultimate airport travel hack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n