TOP TIPS FOR A RELAXED
HOLIDAY AIRPORT EXPERIENCE.

"If you're not a regular traveller,
then the airport experience can be quite a challenge
- but it need not be: with the right sort of preparation
it can be an absolute breeze,"
said Jonathan Hinkles of leading charter airline Astraeus.

 

What should be a pleasure can be a pain, with a lack of preparation and planning leaving travellers fraught and exhausted by the time they hit the beach.

"If there was one key issue I'd say made the biggest difference to getting away, then it has to be time: give yourself plenty and you'll be rewarded with relaxation, even at the airport.



"Most adventurers live for the journey rather than the arrival - if they travel relaxed, they arrive relaxed.

Look at the logistics that accompany a Michael Palin round-the-world trip -
but see how relaxed he is. There's a great lesson there."

Jonathan's tips for a relaxed journey are based on his experience of flying all over the world.

"Plan ahead. There's so much information available these days - whether on the internet or in guidebooks.
But it's at the start of the journey that the information can really help - when you arrive you'll usually be guided by a
holiday rep.

"Find out what time your flight is, set yourself a target of being checked in and settled with a book and a coffee or a drink - just the one if it's alcoholic - 90 minutes before departure. Work you plan around that target,
but start the planning well in advance."

Packing: "It's a rare destination that doesn't have laundry facilities - so don't pack three changes of clothes for every day you're away.

Your bags will be a handful, you may incur excess baggage charges, and then when you arrive at your resort you'll inevitably find the clothes are cheaper than home.

"Some of our passengers will fly away with a suitcase full of suitcases- because other than the essentials, they know they'll be able to buy a whole wardrobe of clothes at their destination for a fraction of the UK price.


Think back to your last break: how much of what you took did you actually wear?"

Airport parking: if you're not being dropped by friends, cab or public transport, book long-stay parking well in advance. It'll be cheaper booked early - but be mindful that some "airport parking" can be a 20 minute
shuttle ride away.

Drop-off. If you're arriving by car or cab, don't screech to a halt at the
first departure level entrance you see: there's usually two or three more
entrances further along - and they're usually quieter with more drop-off
space.

Arrive informed: your travel agent will be able to tell you which terminal,
and sometimes which entrance to use at your departure airport. If not, theairport will have a website with the right information.

 

"It's surprising how many people still arrive, late, at the wrong terminal and then still have to find somewhere to park their car," said Jonathan.

Bravado. Don't play the consummate traveller: flying on holiday is very different from flying on business. Business flyers know their way around airports and travel light; holiday travel means baggage, kids, a thousand
distractions. If you're late, at worst the aircraft will leave without you, at best your family may be seated apart for the journey. And you'll be frazzled.

Tickets and passports: put one person in charge of the documents - in a clear plastic envelope on a ribbon round their neck. Another tip is to write on a piece of card or paper a basic itinerary: airline, flight number,
flight times for instant reference.

Security: however long you think it'll take to get through into the departure lounge - double it. Security is high. Avoid big belt buckles, big watches and chains and make sure keys, phones and change are safely in a
seal-able pocket in your hand baggage well before you arrive at the scanner machines. Your shoes may be examined, so wear slip-ons.

Finally, plan for delays, ironically more likely to afflict short-haul than long-haul: weather issues and foreign air-traffic controllers going on strike being the main causes.

Get the timing right, and you'll be cool, calm and collected not just on holiday - but through the airport too.

www.flyastraeus.com

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