We all love to travel. Nevertheless, we believe that most people would agree that even under the best of circumstances, flying is a necessary evil. Flying can be unpleasant, anxiety-inducing, and exhausting. And doing it alone can make the whole thing so much worse. If you are in this situation, we are here to help. Here are six tips for flying alone for the first time.
1. Book Airport Parking In Advance
If you are traveling alone, the chances are that you will need to leave your car somewhere. You don’t need to leave your vehicle with a friend or leave it home and hope that nothing happens to it while you are gone. The best thing you can do is to pre-book airport parking. This way, you will be able to leave your car in a secure place for a relatively low cost. Make sure that you do this ahead of time to pick the best spot, and depending on how long you plan to be gone, negotiate a discount.
2. Make Sure To Pack Appropriately
Don’t be one of those people who cram all of their belongings into their carry-ons when flying. This is frequently the case when people are in the process of relocating. They overpack and make the entire process much more difficult than it needs to be. Because of this it is a good idea to follow the advice of the experts at cleancutmoving.com and pack so that you can comfortably transfer your carry-on baggage during your flight. If you overpack your carry-on, you won’t be able to go through the airport at a comfortable pace. You will have to rush to catch your flight.
Additionally, you have to keep in mind that you’ll have to place your carry-on in the overhead compartment. That might not be easy if you overpack. You’ll want to make sure you can hoist your bag over your head single-handedly to prevent awkward situations or asking for assistance.
3. Get A Good Night’s Sleep Before Flying Alone
If you have a hard time sleeping on a plane, getting a good night’s rest before your flight is imperative. It doesn’t matter whether it is due to fear of flying or simply not being comfortable sleeping next to strangers. You need to be able to function, especially if you have multiple flights in one day. You need to be alert, and you need to focus. You won’t be able to do that if you don’t have a good night’s sleep before a flight. Additionally, if you fly while tired, you’re more prone to falling ill. We suggest that you bring a comfortable neck cushion or jacket among the essential things that you bring in your carry-on. You can use these to rest your head no matter what. Even if you don’t sleep, it will help improve the whole experience.
4. Be Wary Of Short Layovers Between Connecting Flights
You need to make sure that you plan your connecting flights right if your schedule includes many stopovers. You should avoid flights with less than an hour of layover time between them. However, when traveling alone, you shouldn’t leave anything to chance. For this reason, you should leave space for error. Ideally, it would be best if you tried to give yourself around 2 hours between every connecting flight. In other cases, particularly with international flights, you may be required to change terminals and a slew of other inconveniences. Gates often change, leaving you to traverse the airport aimlessly. The additional hour or two at the airport may be tedious, but it’s preferable to miss your connecting flight.
5. Get To The Airport Early
If you are traveling alone, especially if it’s your first time, you should be there several hours ahead of your flight. Even if you have assistance every step of the way when you arrive, you will want to leave room for error, just as you did when booking your connecting flights. Although it may appear counterintuitive, the more time you have at the airport, the less stressful it will be. We recommend that you arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight. As soon as you arrive at the airport, double-check which terminal you should go to. Keep in mind that most airports have separate terminals for different airlines. However, it doesn’t matter if you show up at the wrong airport terminal. You can easily find your way to the correct terminal by asking for directions at the information desk.
6. Dress Conveniently
Your first time flying alone or boarding a flight alone will most likely be emotionally exhausting – which is entirely natural. Physical comfort is one of the most effective ways to make your flight more bearable. In a nutshell, dressing comfortably for your first flight alone will help you maintain a positive attitude during this new experience. If you dress accordingly, you can also make the process of going through security smoother. To go through security comfortably, you should:
- Wear shoes that are easy to take off: Choose a pair that is simple to put on and take off. These will also come in handy if you wish to remove your shoes during the trip.
- Have a good pair of socks: When it comes to socks, a quality pair will be helpful for a variety of reasons. You’ll avoid having your feet on the nasty carpet or chilly floor, and they’ll keep you comfy throughout the trip.
Additionally, since aircraft are notoriously frigid, you’ll want to keep a sweatshirt or hoodie in your purse or carry-on. Consider bringing your favorite sweater, which will keep you both warm and in high spirits. A good pair of stretchy yoga pants or sweatpants are ideal for flights. These are fantastic since they allow you to move freely.
Conclusion
Flying alone for the first time can be a stressful ordeal. That is not to say that you can’t do anything to make it more enjoyable. Hopefully, our tips will convince you that you can make this daunting task a bit more manageable with enough preparation.