:: A lesson from the well-prepared traveler
We asked our readers how they cope with difficult travel conditions, or get bypass them altogether. Here are a few of their suggestions.
The well-prepared traveler - Hello fellow flyers!
I have to fly out of Albuquerque, 90 minutes from my town. So, if I have a 6:00 a.m. flight, I take the shuttle the previous evening, stay at an inexpensive hotel which has a shuttle to the airport. This saves me cost of gas and parking (cost of shuttle and hotel costs less than if I drove myself.
From Albuquerque, I avoid travelling through Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and instead usually go via Phoenix or Dallas-Ft. Worth. I pack a suitcase, and then empty the contents into cardboard boxes and ship them UPS to my U.S.A. destination. ... Yes, it costs $$$, but I don't have to wait in any lines, deal with lost bags or heavy carry-ons or deal with tiny bottles of cosmetics and the like in that 1 quart bag routine.
I pack a leather backpack with blanket, neck pillow, pills, camera, something to read, sleeping mask and headphones; Purel, mouth mask: I take a decongestant before boarding to avoid ear problems; I start taking mega-doses of Vitamin C and Airborne two to three days before flight; I always get a flu shot.
I pack several protein bars and almonds. Once through security I buy two bottles of water and/or juice ... just in case the plane gets stuck on the runway for hours at a time. Sometimes I toss in a deck of cards, crossword book, etc. just to keep me from getting frustrated waiting for the plane to take off. (If you meditate/pray, this is a great way to use the wait time.) On overseas flights I take a sleeping pill once on board so I get to my destination rested.
