By now, I have travelled around 150 flights, both domestic and international.

2009 was when I took my first domestic flight. I can still remember the fear I was had in my mind. Unaware about the airport process, what to carry, what to avoid, how much to carry, bag size, what will happen during takeoff and landing, how to talk to air hostesses, fellow passengers and so on.

Now after almost 10 years, I have answers for all and flying like a PRO. Would love to share all my hacks and learnings which will be helpful for you to plan your next flight.

Travel Planning

1. How to get cheap flight tickets?
   Always book tickets well in advance to save cost. Don’t do too much price search from multiple websites on the same day for the same flight dates. You will see the flight price will automatically get an increase because of your own multiple searches from different websites. Check prices on 2–3 sites are ok, but not repeatedly.
2. What are the important documents that you should not miss carrying?
   Once your booking is confirmed, make sure you have the following documents in place:
   - Any National Identify card issued by your government (like TAX ID Card, Voter Card, Driving License, Social Security card, Aadhaar Card, Passport). If you have the passport, that’s best. For International Flights, a valid Passport is a must.
   - Your Visa. This is only when you are travelling aboard.

It is always recommended to keep 2 ID cards with you. So, that in case you lost one, you can travel using the another. Don’t keep both the ID cards in one bag. One keeps in your luggage, while the other one you can keep with you.

On Travel Day

1. Plan your commute to the airport well in advance to save time and cost:
   It is always recommended to reach at least 1 hour (for domestic flight) and 2 hours (for international flight) before the scheduled time. So, check well in advance, whether you are going to commute to the airport during a peak traffic time or there is an expected road blockage during that time? In such a case, leave well in advance so that you will reach in time. Sometimes getting a cab during peak hours is difficult and costly too.
   My flight was at 8 pm from Mumbai on a weekday, and that was a Ganesh festival season, and this was the scene on the road around 5 pm. Ganesh procession was going on. And, traffic was not at all moving by an inch. By all hopes and patience, finally I reached the airport at 7.40, but it was already too late to get inside the airport gate and then get the boarding pass and complete the security process. I reached the counter and was not allowed further 😔

2. Web-Checking: The best practice and hack to skip long queues at the airport

You can do online web-checking to avoid standing in queues to get your boarding pass. Most of the flights today have dedicated luggage drop counter which is accessible only for web checking passengers only. What does web check-in mean? Web check-in is a process in which you confirm online that you will be travelling and selects your seat too. Once you complete the web-check in you get the online boarding pass too, which you can take a printout. If you have more luggage then just move to the luggage drop counter with your online boarding pass. This simple best practice saves a lot of time, especially when you’re running out of time.

3. During Security Checks

This is next phase once you’re done with the boarding pass collection and luggage drop process. Avoid carrying items like Ciagarttes, lighter, knife, blade, razor, liquor, perfume, water in your cabin bag during the security process. These are basic hygiene which people neglects and end up arguing with the security personnel and waste a lot of time too. Read instructions before carrying any such stuff in your cabin bag. If you have any such stuff, then you can keep those well in advance in your luggage bag which you have submitted while collecting the boarding pass.

Few more tips contributed by fellow Quora travellers:
Contributors: Kancheepuram

• Avoid pickle (achar) in the handbag which you are going to take with you inside the cabin.
• NEVER carry Khas Khas seeds (poppy seeds) to Gulf airports. You will be arrested! (it is a common food item in North India).
• Get ready to be stripped - in the name of security. Nothing can be done! Shoe/ belt/socks/coat- all to be removed!

4. At Airport

Don’t try to buy too much stuff, especially if the product is not on MRP. Almost everything is 3–4 times its normal cost. The airport is really not a shopping place. If you’re really hungry, then you can grab some food but that too will be very costly, the best hack is to bring food from your home and eat at the airport or during the flight. Buying stuff at the airport or in-flight is not at all recommended if you want to save money.

Bring an empty refillable water bottle (which is allowed in your cabin bag and security personnel also have no problem), so that you don’t have to really buy a water bottle. I prefer carrying a steel bottle, but you can keep any lightweight bottle with you. All airports have water purifiers which give fresh and clean water, you just have to fill that in your bottle and use while you’re at the airport or in flight. This is a must if you’re travelling with kids or infants.

5. In-flight

Here are a few tips when you’re inside the airplane:

• Don’t do too much makeup. Just put some moisturising face cream on your face. That will be good.
• Keep a few things handy- Earphones, wallet, wipes/tissues. Rest a few other pieces of stuff like Toothpaste, brush, comb, cream, pen, travel documents etc you can keep in one small pouch in your cabin bag so that whenever you require them, you can easily get it. It’s very inconvenient to open your bag in front of co-passengers and search for things.
• Travel in comfortable clothes, because you have to seat for a longer time. Joggings, leggings, loose trousers are good options.
• Shuts out the light and any visual distractions like TV in front of you. This will help you to fell asleep faster.
• You can keep a hoodie and socks with you. This is to avoid really getting cold in the flight. Also, cover your neck with some scarf or hoodie, because this is one of the reasons why you feel more colder on airplanes. Once this is covered, your breath will be warmer and will help you to feel relaxed.
• Download a few video/movie/song on your Youtube or Netflix. This you can watch during your flight. Not every airline has a TV for your entertainment.
• Use noise-cancelling headphones while sleeping else use earplugs if you cant afford. This will help you get a good sleep.

Few more tips contributed by fellow Quora travellers:
Contributors: Kancheepuram

• Keep at least one set of the dress (Undergarment, shirt, pant, towel) with you in your handbag which you’re going to take with you in the cabin.
• Keep your regular medicines- at least for 2 days use. If You are going out of the country: keep the doctor’s prescription and Pharmacy bill.

Very Important, especially for the 1st timers: During take-off having some chewing gum/candies can help your ears during sudden changes of the cabin pressure due to take off. During my first flight, I didn’t know about this and the penality was faced by my ears. My ears were in pain for the next two days.

6. Seat Selection

Aisle seats are best if you are travelling for more than 2 hours. Else you can enjoy window seat watching the beautiful sky and nature there. Note: you have to book these seats during the check-in process.

If you are travelling for a long time, then you might have to take breaks for the toilet and window seats are not comfortable for that because you have to always request you co-passengers to stand up so that you can get out. In Aisle you can stand up and go as many times as you want 🙂

7. During landing

Landings are mostly smooth, just keep your seat belt fasten and seat straight holding your chair. Chewing gums are really not required at this time, but you can still have it to keep your ears safe.

Hope my learnings and few hacks helped you. In case you have discovered something which is not covered as a part of this answer, then please feel free to contribute below in the comments. Else just Upvote or Downvote to let me know how helpful it was.

I would be happy to add those as a part of this answer.

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