Air Travel Tips and Tricks

Did you know that nearly every major U.S. airport displays the status of their parking lots online? Air travelers can use this to their advantage by checking to see which lots are open and which ones are closed. When you pull up to the airport, you'll know exactly where to park your car. Alternatively, many airports have toll-free numbers that travelers can call to obtain this information as well.

Security Checkpoints at Airports

Let's face it, no one enjoys waiting in line at the TSA checkpoints, but it's a necessary part of air travel. Before boarding your plane, you'll have to pass through at least one checkpoint (sometimes more). You can speed the process up, however, by following the 3-1-1 rule for liquids. As noted on the TSA website, airline passengers are allowed to carry three one-ounce bottles of liquid (e.g. shampoo, body wash, mouthwash) in a single one-gallon bag. So if you plan on traveling by air, pour your liquids into one-ounce bottles beforehand.

You can also move through the TSA checkpoints faster by wearing sandals or slip-on shoes. When it's your turn, a TSA agent will ask you to remove your shoes and place them in the tub. If you're wearing sandals or slip-ons, you won't have to fiddle with your shoestrings.

Bring Identification

I know this probably sounds like common sense to most seasoned air travelers, but you would be surprised to learn just how many people show up to the airport without identification. And guess what, if they can't verify your identify, they won't let you pas. Some forms of acceptable ID, including a driver's license, U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, travelers card, military ID, resident card, border crossing card, state-issued ID, transportation worker ID, airport ID, etc.

Note: even if you leave your ID behind, airport officials may still be able to verify your identification by looking you up in a database. Of course, this takes longer, so try to remember to bring your ID.

Weigh Your Luggage at Home

It's not uncommon for airlines to charge $50 or more for each piece of overweight luggage. With air travel already costing an arm and a leg, you don't want additional fees such as this tacked on to your trip. So instead of “guestimating” whether or not your bag is over, weigh it at home to make sure it's under the limit. Most airlines, including Delta, charge overweight baggage fees on luggage that exceeds 50 pounds.