man in departures at airport waiting for flight and plane taking off in distance

5 Airport Obstacles and How to Overcome Them

Mary Youlden
Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thursday, December 14, 2023 - 17:34

Air travel offers many obvious advantages. For those who wish to travel hundreds, or even thousands, of miles in a single day, it's often the only practical choice. But, for many, it's a form of transport that comes with an incredible amount of hassle and stress.

If you're travelling via plane, then it's worth doing things a certain way. This will help you to cut down on the hassle, and to make your time in the airport go as smoothly as possible.

Avoid traffic stress

Getting to the airport can, in itself, be a significant source of stress. This goes especially if you're going to be driving a long distance before you fly. For this reason, it's worth considering local accommodation. Look at hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts in the vicinity. It might be that you can hire a reasonably-priced taxi to get you to the airport well in advance of your departure.

Leave your car worry-free

Airport parking can be expensive. But, if you do your research, it's often more affordable than many of the alternatives. The quality of the facilities will vary from airport to airport. The Manchester Airport Car Parking System is fairly straightforward, but if you’re going from Gatwick or Heathrow, you might find life just that little bit more complicated.

Do your research

If you're flying from an unfamiliar airport, then it pays to understand the layout before you get there. You'll want to know how many terminals there are, and where you need to go after you get through the security checks. Look online for a map of the airport. It's often a good idea to proceed straight to the departure lounge, so that you know exactly where you're supposed to be when the time comes.

Queue-jump with ease

Online check-in has made air travel much more simple. Most airlines will provide a smartphone app which allows you to do this with ease. If you're travelling with a large group, the advantages of this are obvious. You'll spend much less time fishing paperwork out of your bag, and stressing over whether you've left it at home. In some cases, you'll even have the option to fast-track your way through airport security.

Resist expensive temptations

Airports are designed to persuade travellers to spend a little extra before they fly, but everything you pick up here will come with a natural premium due the lack of market competition. If you're hungry in an airport, you have no option but to buy food there - and the vendors know it. Whilst duty-free can be tempting, it might be a good idea to research your options beforehand. This way you can spend your money conscientiously rather than impulsively.

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