A Stress-free Holiday: 3 Things you Should Sort Out Before You Fly

The anticipation of a holiday is great, but even minor oversights before you set off can cause unnecessary stress. An expired passport, a missed check-in or missing documents are enough to make your trip more complicated than it needs to be. Preparing in good time saves you time, money and hassle. By taking a few simple steps, you can ensure your holiday gets off to a much more relaxed start right at the airport.

1. Find out about your flight and your rights

Even before you start packing your suitcase, it’s worth taking a few minutes to review your flight details. Check not only your departure time, but also your terminal, baggage allowance and any recent updates from your airline. Flight schedules and boarding times can occasionally change at short notice, and overlooking these updates could lead to unnecessary stress or even cause you to miss your flight.

It’s equally important to familiarise yourself with your airline’s baggage policy. While some carriers include a cabin suitcase as part of the ticket, others only allow a small personal item that fits beneath the seat in front of you. Arriving at the airport with oversized hand luggage can result in unexpected fees, so checking the rules in advance is a simple way to avoid additional costs.

Before travelling, it’s also worth understanding your rights regarding delayed flight compensation. Many passengers only look into the rules after their flight has been delayed or cancelled, but being prepared beforehand can save valuable time. Knowing when compensation may apply and keeping essential documents such as your boarding pass, booking confirmation and receipts for any extra expenses will make it much easier to submit a claim if your travel plans are disrupted.

2. Check your travel documents and important paperwork

Missing or invalid documents are among the most common problems encountered before a trip. You should therefore check well in advance whether your passport or identity card is still valid and whether a visa or other entry requirements apply to your destination.

It is also helpful to have important documents to hand in both digital and paper form. These include, amongst other things, your booking confirmation, boarding passes, hotel reservations, travel insurance and emergency contact details. Save these documents on your smartphone or in a secure cloud storage service as well, so that you can access them at any time, even if your luggage is lost.

3. Pack smart to avoid paying extra at the airport

If you’re travelling with a particular airline for the first time, you should definitely check the baggage allowance before packing. There’s hardly such a thing as a universal free baggage allowance these days. Whilst some airlines only allow a small bag that fits under the seat in front of you on their cheapest fares, others include an additional cabin bag or even a piece of checked luggage in the ticket price. The permitted dimensions and maximum weight also vary depending on the airline and the fare booked.

A good example is British Airways. Even on fares without checked luggage, travellers are usually allowed to take a small personal bag and a cabin bag free of charge. Whether an additional piece of checked luggage is included depends on the booking class.

With many airlines, however, only a small bag is included in the basic fare. A larger cabin bag or a piece of checked luggage must be booked separately. Anyone who only checks the baggage regulations at the airport often has to expect additional charges.