It’s officially time for Thanksgiving Break season! If you’re an out-of-state student, that might mean going to catch a flight by yourself. It can be a daunting task, so here are some helpful tips!
- Calculate your route and figure out when you should leave school!
Once you have your flight booked, whether for JFK or LGA, begin to plan out how long it takes to get from school to the airport. If you’re taking a Taxi, sometimes I’ll use TaxiFareFinder.com to see how much it will cost. Be sure to consider traffic if you’re going during rush hours! I would suggest going earlier rather than later as you can never know how long the security lines will be along with the traffic. It is also recommended by airlines to arrive 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights.
2. Make sure to double-check that you have everything before leaving
Go through your packing checklist at least two times and make sure you have everything! It sucks to get to where you’re going and then realize you left something miles away. Leave some room in a carry-on bag so that last-minute items can be stuffed in! A neck-pillow never hurt anyone either because you never know if you’ll get tired on the flight.
3. On the way to the airport, double check your flight information
Go ahead and check your flight number, the terminal and make sure you checked in for your flight! It never hurts to make sure you know where you’re going. This can also be a good time to make sure you texted your flight information to whoever might be picking you up from the airport or to someone who can make sure you got to your destination safely! I would recommend checking your flight regularly in case there are any delays!
4. Download music, audiobooks, TV shows and/or movies
Flights can take a long time and so can the waiting, don’t forget to bring things to do! While waiting in the airport, or while in the air, it always gets boring if you don’t have anything to do. Go ahead and put on music and pretend like you’re Jo in the Worldwide music video by Big Time Rush. You could also sit down and read a book or watch your favorite show or movie, just don’t forget to download it. The worst thing is getting onto a plane and realizing you don’t have the Wi-Fi to download a TV show or movie to watch during the flight. My personal favorites to watch are Mamma Mia, the Reputation Stadium Tour film or a few episodes of Stranger Things!
5. Get snacks!!
Snacks are an essential part of flying! By the time you get to the airport and get on your flight, your stomach will start growling. Get some chicken tender, pretzels, really just whatever you desire! Treat a flight as if you’re heading off on vacation, which you kind of are!
Tip: If you ever don’t know something, never be afraid to ask! It can be difficult to find your gate if it’s your first time in an airport alone. The information desks are there for a reason and you have a flight to catch!
At the end of the day, as much as it can be terrifying to fly alone for the first time, you’ll get used to it! It’s just like riding a bike: Practice makes perfect.