AARP Smart Guide to Air Travel

7. Create enough connecting time

If you have connecting flights, be sure you build in enough time between them. How much is “enough”? “For international flights, I recommend leaving two to three hours for layovers, to ensure you are safe on timing and to avoid unnecessary stressors that could get in the way,” Pappas says.

Domestically, shoot for at least an hour. Add extra padding for busy airports, slow-moving travelers, nervous fliers or if you just don’t like being rushed.

8. Consider travel insurance

If something prevented you from taking or finishing your trip, would losing your investment hurt? If so, consider trip insurance. “It’s also worth having … for trips to remote destinations where medical evacuation would cost tens of thousands of dollars,” says Sally French, travel expert at NerdWallet. Depending on your needs, a policy that comes with the credit card you use to purchase the trip may be enough coverage.

“I know a lot of people are turned off by the high annual fees on these cards … but I urge you to consider what travel insurance would cost,” she says. “Especially for multiple extensive trips — think a couple international cruises per year — the annual fee can easily pay for itself, and that’s not accounting for the card’s other benefits, like bonus points on airfare, lounge access and Uber credits.” If you want something more substantial, she recommends a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) insurance upgrade. It will add to your cost — typically between 7 and 13 percent of the total trip purchase price — but is much more comprehensive.

9. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Your travel choices make a difference, says Susanne Etti, general manager of the climate department at Intrepid Travel. “When possible, consider taking a train or driving instead of flying,” she says. “If you do fly, choosing a direct flight … can help. Even packing light can make a small difference, since a heavier aircraft requires more fuel.”

10. Understand your flight’s carbon footprint

It’s easier than ever to be aware of the effect your flight choice is having on the environment — the information is often embedded into the flight-buying experience, Etti says. Google Flights, Skyscanner and Expedia, for example, all include emissions estimates for flights you’re considering. When lower-emission flights and tactics aren’t an option, consider carbon offsetting, in which fliers invest in eco-initiatives like tree planting to help offset their flights’ emissions.

“Look for high-quality carbon projects that are independently verified and certified under recognized standards, such as Gold Standard,” Etti says. And remember: “Offsetting can be a useful complement to reducing emissions, but it shouldn’t be viewed as a substitute for doing so.”

11. Banish germs

To avoid falling ill, pack these items in your carry-on for quick access: wipes and travel-sized hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol, touchscreen-sensitive gloves, a medical face mask and a disposable airplane-tray cover. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

12. Pack your own food

Free in-flight snacks and meals are no longer a given, and when food is provided or available for purchase, it isn’t always healthy or tasty. Bringing your own solves those issues, plus it’s less expensive, and you don’t have to wait for the food cart to inch its way toward you.

Choose foods that aren’t prone to smelling, spoiling or mess-making, and stay within the Transportation Security Administration’s 3-1-1 rule: nothing larger than 3.4 ounces that can be spilled, sprayed, pumped or poured. Think whole fruits, protein bars and sturdy sandwiches or wraps. Add condiments from sealed packets or other small, TSA-friendly containers right before eating.

AT THE AIRPORT

13. Sign up for lounge access

Comfortable seating and free food, drinks and Wi-Fi are just some of the perks that make lounges arguably the best way to optimize airport time.

David Slotnick, contributing aviation editor at The Points Guy, recommends an airline credit card to access these airport hangouts. “The major three [full service] U.S. airlines offer credit cards that include … access to their lounges when you fly with that airline,” he says. So look for offers from United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, and read the fine print — airlines may offer multiple cards, and not all come with lounge access.

Nonaffiliated cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X and American Express Platinum offer lounge access, too. See which match up with the lounges in your favored airport before choosing.

14. Lounge without a card

Don’t feel like signing up for another credit card? See if the lounges in the airports you’ll be spending time in offer day passes, a fine option for infrequent travelers. Airlines, including American, Alaska and United, offer them for around $60 and up when space is available. Some offer annual subscriptions. Independent lounge networks such as Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and The Club offer memberships and day passes too, with rates generally starting at $35 for a day pass and $100 annually. ​

15. Keep your personal information private

Connecting to public Wi-Fi gives savvy hackers easy access to your personal information. Avoid this threat by using your smartphone’s hotspot to connect to the internet more securely.

Or invest in a virtual private network (VPN), a service that encrypts your data to keep unscrupulous hackers from stealing sensitive information online. If going with a free VPN, do your research. Paid versions can provide greater peace of mind and cost about $50 to $100 per year, with two-year plan discounts.

16. Speed through security

To save time at the airport, sign up for at least one of the two expedited security screening options: TSA PreCheck, a TSA program that pre-vets travelers, or Clear+, a privately run option that uses biometric data — fingerprints and eye scans — as your ID.

“When you use [Clear+], you get to skip to the front of the security line,” Slotnick says. TSA PreCheck, on the other hand, allows travelers access to a separate, less invasive and typically much shorter security queue. When used together, they can speed up two separate parts of the airport security process.

It’s worth noting that TSA PreCheck is the cheaper, more widely available option. “If I could only choose one — between PreCheck and Clear — I’d choose the former,” Slotnick says. (Note that those who sign up for Global Entry, a passenger-vetting customs program that expedites reentering the U.S., will automatically get TSA PreCheck.)

Be aware, though, that look-alike websites for both programs claim to help you renew or enroll, but they are actually trying to con you out of money and personal information. Always make sure you’re on tsa.gov or clearme.com.​

17. Check your bags

Lost luggage may have kept many of us from checking bags, but new technology — including bag-tracking features within airline apps — makes checking bags much more reliable. That means no more navigating a tiny airport restroom with a roller bag, or scrambling for overhead space because you’re in a later boarding group.

“Tracking [bags] through the [airline] app is a great way to avoid anxiety,” Slotnick says, noting that bag-checking has also become significantly more reliable in recent years. For most airlines, bag-checking for economy fares does still come with a fee; you can often avoid that charge by signing up for an airline’s credit card.

18. Spend layovers sightseeing

If you have a bit of travel flexibility and want to optimize that downtime in transit, Orlando suggests being strategic about your flight and layover times. “I either want to have a really short layover — less than four and a half hours — or give me seven or eight hours or more, so I can really go out and enjoy where I am,” he says.

He likes to fly through airports that are well connected to city centers, such as Amsterdam, to make the most of a long layover. “Many airports offer tours that operate straight out of the airport.” This includes city tours and even guided layover safaris in destinations like Nairobi, Kenya.

HANDLING TRANSIT HICCUPS

19. Overcome flying fear

Some people don’t like flying because of the travel-day hassle. Others have a real fear that makes it difficult for them to step foot on a plane — and for that, Coral Lee, a flight attendant and cabin manager who founded the travel and aviation website These Gold Wings, suggests a fear-of-flying course. “There are many courses offered by airlines or former pilots,” Lee says. The curriculum, whether in person or online, typically lays out the mechanics of flight, relays comforting facts and statistics and provides anxiety-management techniques. Some are free, and those that aren’t typically cost several hundred dollars and may even end in practice flights taken alongside pilots, for the willing. Several U.S. airports host classes, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International, San Francisco International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International (theirs is free), and many in Europe do as well.

“I recommend British Airways’ Flying with Confidence course,” Lee says. “They offer one of the most complete programs, and they have a 98 percent success rate.” The airline now offers an online version, accessible anywhere in the world, starting at about $100 for 30-day access to the course.

20. Don’t miss an international flight delay refund

The European Union has strict rules requiring airlines to compensate passengers when their flights are delayed by more than three hours, Orlando says. “There are set levels of compensation based on how long the delay is,” he adds.

You can either fill out paperwork for compensation through your airline or hire a service like AirHelp, Compensair and FlightRight to file a delay for you — there’s no upfront fee, but they take a percentage of successful claims. (Sadly, you won’t get this kind of compensation when flying within the U.S.)

21. Save documents in multiple places

Nothing’s worse than checking your pockets only to realize your paper travel documents are missing. That’s why Shondra Cheris of Black Will Travel, a travel agency specializing in experiences that showcase contributions of people of color, recommends having digital copies of everything: boarding documents (via the airline app) and visa forms. This way, as long as you have your phone or laptop, you can access important travel documents in a pinch.

Equally important is having paper versions of important documents, in case something happens to your phone in transit. Practice accessing digital copies in your preferred storage method, and use a folder in your backpack to keep printouts organized.

22. Deal with flight delays in more than one way

If your flight is delayed, should you hop in line, go straight to the airline’s app or call a customer service rep? “All of the above!” French says. “If there’s a line nearby, jump in it immediately — but you should simultaneously try to get help elsewhere while you wait. If you’re comfortable navigating smartphone apps, that’s almost always your fastest route to a solution.”

Major airlines’ apps typically allow you to rebook and track real-time status updates directly, and some include perks like offering alternative flights at nearby airports and automatically sending meal or hotel vouchers.

Don’t expect such perks from a budget carrier. “Cheap can be expensive when it comes to air travel,” French says.

23. Flexible plan? Give up your seat

If you’re willing to surrender your spot on an overbooked airplane, make the most of it. The U.S Department of Transportation requires that the airline ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for compensation. You are welcome to negotiate a higher amount than you’re offered.

Seth Miller, an aviation analyst and founder of PaxEx.Aero, an aviation website focusing on passenger experience, says he always starts high. “It’s way easier to negotiate down, if necessary, than to increase the bid later,” he notes. You may be offered an alternate form of payment. Delta, for instance, offers gift cards.

24. Fill water bottles before boarding

There are certain do’s and don’ts when it comes to ordering food and drink on the airplane, and one of the biggest beverage tips Lee suggests is to bring your own water. “You might not always get bottled water [from airplane service],” he says. “Sometimes it’s tap water from the aircraft. And even though tap water is potable, it’s not very good quality.” A 2026 study by the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity backs her up. It also cautions against drinking coffee or tea on board as well as hand-washing — use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol instead.

25. Hate turbulence? Try a wing seat

A flight may start out peacefully, but the second turbulence hits, nerves and potential motion sickness ensue. “The best way to minimize turbulence is to sit over the wing,” Slotnick says. “You’ll still feel it, but it’s a little bit less.” To find over-the-wing seats, Slotnick recommends perusing the plane’s seat map.

26. Pick the perfect seat

An airplane seat can make or break your flight. But how do you know if one seat’s better than another? Slotnick recommends using AeroLOPA, an aircraft seat map website built by the founder of now-defunct SeatGuru. “It has realistic seat maps drawn to scale, so you can get an accurate idea of what a given seat will be like: how close it is to the lavatory, whether it’s crammed in a corner,” he says.

“It’s not perfect, because sometimes airlines have a few different seat layouts on the same plane, so it can’t hurt to compare your airline’s seat map for your flight.” Similar apps include SeatMaps, SeatExpert and Seatlink.

27. Fearful flyer? Tell the cabin team

Mid-flight bumps can make even the most seasoned jet-setter uneasy. But if you get exceptionally rattled by turbulence, let the cabin crew know upon boarding. “If a passenger tells us they’re worried, we will keep an eye on them,” Lee says. “We will try to explain to them what is happening during the flight, especially if we encounter significant turbulence.”

28. Try these tactics for long flights

When spending long periods on the plane, adjust your watch, and your mindset, to your destination as soon as you board. “Aligning your meals, light exposure and rest with your arrival time can significantly reduce fatigue and jet lag,” says Travis Turner, vice president of guest experiences at Cirrus Aviation Services.

Pack a quality eye mask and noise-canceling headphones, and set a movement schedule. “Even a brief walk or a few simple ankle and shoulder rolls every hour can make a meaningful difference in circulation and stiffness, which becomes increasingly important as we age,” Turner says.

29. Pack an in-flight bag

It helps to have important items, such as medications and headphones, handy while flying. “I add a little plastic pouch with flight essentials that I can pull out of my carry-on to keep close at hand,” says Amanda Williams, the travel writer behind the website A Dangerous Business. “This will have things like ChapStick, hand lotion, a face wipe or two, a travel-size toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. It’s amazing how refreshed you can feel after washing your face and brushing your teeth after hours in the air.”

Editor’s note: This article includes comments from Shondra Cheris of Black Will Travel, a travel agency specializing in experiences that showcase contributions of people of color, who passed away after the interview took place. The information provided was accurate at the time of publication.