Planning ahead cuts down risk of air rage and frustrating travel

Planning ahead and being well organized before heading off to the airport in order to catch a flight may just serve as the best panacea for all stressful travel experiences, as well as a good way to avoid the potential for an episode of air rage. David Armstrong, a commercial aviation columnist, believes that good planning will become more important than ever, considering that passengers can get used to more frustrating travel experiences, due to declining flight capacity and drastic service cutbacks on the part of America’s struggling airlines. As such, longer delays, fewer flights and more expensive tickets appear to be on the menu as the busy summer season begins.

Travellers must be sure to plan before they head out to the airport and good planning means that one must adapt to the new realities of commercial air travel and should also prepare for the unexpected or the unpleasant. Some of the most important things to research include whether or not one’s carrier has introduced new checked baggage charges. American Airlines, for example, started charging $15 for the first checked bag earlier this month. Knowing this ahead of time can help a passenger determine whether or not he might be able to get away with packing light and taking only a carry-on item, in order to avoid paying the fee.

Armstrong also suggests that passengers book their tickets online and also complete the check-in process over the internet, whenever possible, in order to cut down on line-ups at the airport. Checking out terminal maps of the given airport over the internet can also go a long way in removing stress from the travel experience, as can reading up on security procedures and rules.

www.aa.com