TRAVELLING during the high season doesn’t have to be stressful.
With these travel tips, you’ll be beating queues, saving money and packing like a pro.
Even the most frequent flyers will find something on this list to add to their travel skills.
a charging cable
Keep your phone, e-reader and tablet topped up by packing a charging cable with a USB A end.
Most airports and airlines have charging ports for USB A connections, making it one of the handiest items to have on hand.
This is the most common USB type, and it’s likely you already have this cable.
A battery charger
If you prefer to be untethered to a wall while you travel, pack along a power bank.
This way, you’re not reliant on wall chargers, and you can move around and charge your devices at the same time.
Take an empty bottle
Say no to $8 water at the airport with your own water bottle.
Most airports have water refill stations airside once you make it through security.
If you’re unsure of the water quality, pack a water bottle with a built-in filter.
Having a full bottle of water during your flight also means you won’t have to stay awake for the drink cart to come by.
Wear bulky items
If you’re travelling with hand luggage only, every gram counts when it comes to your total baggage weight.
A pair of jeans can weigh around half a kilo, and a jumper is often similar.
Wear your bulkiest and heaviest items while your baggage is weighted to avoid the scale tipping over the top.
Once you’re on your flight, pack your outer layers into a packable bag for a makeshift travel pillow.
Plan assistance
Most airports offer special services and facilities for travellers with hidden and visible disabilities.
Hundreds of airports throughout the world participate in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, a lanyard displaying a sunflower to alert staff that you or another traveller in your party has a hidden disability.
Wearing the sunflower allows airport staff to make adjustments or offer more time for assistance. You can often collect the lanyard at the airport.
Book wheelchair assistance or any other assistance you may need before check-in for a smooth experience.
Pre-book lounges
Sipping a glass of bubbles in a lounge is an ideal way to start any holidays.
But, if you try to get in during busy travel season, like school holidays, you could be shut out.
Some lounge access companies allow you to reserve a spot in the lounge before your plane touches down.
Qantas Club members always have access to Qantas lounges. If you’re not a Qantas Club member, you could purchase a lounge pass in advance depending on your status and route.
Which check-in line?
An airport check-in area often becomes a labyrinth of queues before a full flight.
If you’re flying economy, we recommend standing in line closest to the business travel check-in counter.
If there are no business travellers waiting to check-in, staff members usually wave economy passengers over.
Airport sleep spot
Long layovers and flight delays might have you scrambling for space to snooze.
If your layover is planned, search for airport sleeping pods, capsule hotels or full-service hotels.
It might be worth splurging on a lounge pass for more cushy seats and extra comfort.
Don’t rely on Wi-Fi
Not all airports and airlines are equal when it comes to online offerings.
Before you disconnect from your home router, download your boarding pass, e-books and entertainment before heading to the airport.
Most streaming services allow you to download shows, films, podcasts and music to enjoy offline during your travels.
Set your watch
Time seems to lose all meaning while flying, especially if you have a long layover.
On your first flight, set your watch to the destination you’ll be travelling to if you want to reduce your jet lag.
Then, make moves to adjust to this schedule by sleeping and eating in line with the time on your watch. The earlier you do this the better.
