Holiday travel plans? Breeze through the country's busiest airports with these tips!
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The countdown to Christmas is on, which can only mean one thing for many of us Aussies – it's time to start planning our trip home to see the family!
After what has been a very difficult year for everyone, it will be so nice to finally be able to reunite with our loved ones and celebrate the holidays together. And thankfully, no restrictions are stopping us from doing so this year.
But even though we may be super excited about catching up with our nearest and dearest, the actual process of travelling can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare – especially if we're flying through one of the country's busiest airports during peak season.
Long lines, security checkpoints and flight delays are just some of the potential hurdles we may have to face when attempting to get from point A (our homes) to point B (our holiday destination). Not ideal when you just want to relax and enjoy some well-deserved time off!
That's why A Current Affair has decided to put together this helpful guide full of tips on how you can make your travel experience as seamless as possible this Christmas season. With a little advanced planning and preparation, hopefully, you'll find yourself cruising through the airport like a pro in no time at all...
Get there early
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but it's definitely worth repeating. If you want to avoid the long lines and potential congestion that are often seen inside packed airports during the holidays, it's always best to get there nice and early.
'We're recommending 90 minutes before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight,' Stephen Beckett, Head of Public Affairs at Brisbane Airport, told a news source.
Keep an eye on the clock and plan your journey to the airport accordingly to make sure you're not running late and adding unnecessary stress to your trip. Remember, it's always better to be early than to rush around at the last minute!
Getting to the airport during this time of year might be a hassle if you don't prepare ahead, as taxis and rideshares are likely to charge more due to the increased demand.
'If you want to book a car park at the airport, make sure you book that as far in advance as possible,' Becket went on to say. 'We're selling out of spaces.'
Pack smart
Another tip that will help you breeze through security is to make sure you're packing your items correctly in the first place. Avoid taking any unnecessary items that may need to be removed from your carry-on luggage during the security screening process, as this will only hold up the line.
According to Stacey Pollard, who works as the Head of Terminal Operations at Brisbane Airport, all passengers need to make sure all of their powders, liquids, aerosols and gels must be under 100ml or 100g.
'We need these items to be removed from their carry-on luggage and packed separately into a security tray,' she explained.
For domestic travel, some rules are a little different, but powders, liquids, aerosols and gels still need to be removed from your carry-on and placed into a security tray.
Sadly, this also applies to gifts that have already been wrapped. If you're flying this holiday season, if you can help it, try not to wrap any of your gifts at all; if security needs a closer look at one of them, they may ask you to unwrap it right then and there.
You also need to take laptops and large electronic items out of your carry-on luggage.
So to avoid any potential delays, our best advice is to check the airport's website before you leave to make sure you're up-to-date on the latest security procedures. That way, you can pack your bags accordingly and avoid any stressful surprises when you get to the airport!
To know more about what you can't bring with you through security, check out the list on this website.
Double-check your flights
It's always a good idea to check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport, just to be on the safe side. Technology is wonderful, but we all know that flight delays are still very much a thing – especially during the holidays.
So save yourself the headache and double-check that your flight is still on schedule. Most airlines will send out an email or text notification if there are any changes to your flight, but you can also check the status online or by calling the airline directly.
Once you've confirmed that your flight is still on track, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride... hopefully!
Prepare for the unexpected
Of course, even with all the planning in the world, things can still sometimes go wrong – especially when you're dealing with flights and airports.
Whatever you do, try to avoid getting too stressed out about the situation. Things happen, and there's not always a lot we can do to avoid them. Just remember to stay calm and be patient, and everything will hopefully work out in the end!
We hope you found these tips helpful and that you have a wonderful time catching up with your family this Christmas. From all of us here at the SDC, happy holidays!
After what has been a very difficult year for everyone, it will be so nice to finally be able to reunite with our loved ones and celebrate the holidays together. And thankfully, no restrictions are stopping us from doing so this year.
But even though we may be super excited about catching up with our nearest and dearest, the actual process of travelling can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare – especially if we're flying through one of the country's busiest airports during peak season.
Long lines, security checkpoints and flight delays are just some of the potential hurdles we may have to face when attempting to get from point A (our homes) to point B (our holiday destination). Not ideal when you just want to relax and enjoy some well-deserved time off!
That's why A Current Affair has decided to put together this helpful guide full of tips on how you can make your travel experience as seamless as possible this Christmas season. With a little advanced planning and preparation, hopefully, you'll find yourself cruising through the airport like a pro in no time at all...
While air travel during the holidays can be hectic, you shouldn't let that stress you out too much. Credit: Unsplash/JESHOOTS.
Get there early
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but it's definitely worth repeating. If you want to avoid the long lines and potential congestion that are often seen inside packed airports during the holidays, it's always best to get there nice and early.
'We're recommending 90 minutes before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight,' Stephen Beckett, Head of Public Affairs at Brisbane Airport, told a news source.
Keep an eye on the clock and plan your journey to the airport accordingly to make sure you're not running late and adding unnecessary stress to your trip. Remember, it's always better to be early than to rush around at the last minute!
Getting to the airport during this time of year might be a hassle if you don't prepare ahead, as taxis and rideshares are likely to charge more due to the increased demand.
'If you want to book a car park at the airport, make sure you book that as far in advance as possible,' Becket went on to say. 'We're selling out of spaces.'
Make sure you're only packing the essentials for your holiday trip. Credit: Unsplash/ConvertKit.
Pack smart
Another tip that will help you breeze through security is to make sure you're packing your items correctly in the first place. Avoid taking any unnecessary items that may need to be removed from your carry-on luggage during the security screening process, as this will only hold up the line.
According to Stacey Pollard, who works as the Head of Terminal Operations at Brisbane Airport, all passengers need to make sure all of their powders, liquids, aerosols and gels must be under 100ml or 100g.
'We need these items to be removed from their carry-on luggage and packed separately into a security tray,' she explained.
For domestic travel, some rules are a little different, but powders, liquids, aerosols and gels still need to be removed from your carry-on and placed into a security tray.
Sadly, this also applies to gifts that have already been wrapped. If you're flying this holiday season, if you can help it, try not to wrap any of your gifts at all; if security needs a closer look at one of them, they may ask you to unwrap it right then and there.
You also need to take laptops and large electronic items out of your carry-on luggage.
So to avoid any potential delays, our best advice is to check the airport's website before you leave to make sure you're up-to-date on the latest security procedures. That way, you can pack your bags accordingly and avoid any stressful surprises when you get to the airport!
To know more about what you can't bring with you through security, check out the list on this website.
Double-check all flight information before heading out to the airport. Credit: Unsplash/Nicole Geri.
Double-check your flights
It's always a good idea to check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport, just to be on the safe side. Technology is wonderful, but we all know that flight delays are still very much a thing – especially during the holidays.
So save yourself the headache and double-check that your flight is still on schedule. Most airlines will send out an email or text notification if there are any changes to your flight, but you can also check the status online or by calling the airline directly.
Once you've confirmed that your flight is still on track, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride... hopefully!
Prepare for the unexpected
Of course, even with all the planning in the world, things can still sometimes go wrong – especially when you're dealing with flights and airports.
Whatever you do, try to avoid getting too stressed out about the situation. Things happen, and there's not always a lot we can do to avoid them. Just remember to stay calm and be patient, and everything will hopefully work out in the end!
