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Air travel problems have increased since 9/11. E-tickets reduce waiting time and allow for changes to be made easily. Common sense and good manners at security checkpoints are important. If problems occur, contact the airline’s reservation service. Good manners, planning, and patience can reduce air travel hassles.
Air travel problems have been big news around the world since September 11, 2001. Airlines have tightened their security and the Transportation Security Administration has blocked air travel. People complain about all the obstacles they have to overcome to get on the plane. Avoiding air travel hassles completely may not be possible. However, the annoyance factor can be reduced.
One of the best ways to reduce inconvenience at the airport is to have an e-ticket. Almost all airlines offer them, and a paper ticket could cost up to $50 US dollars more. A traveler with an e-ticket can register at an e-kiosk. If he has bags to check, he’ll take them to the ticket office, where they’ll be tagged and sent on their way. This eliminates waiting in check-in lines, which reduces queues for everyone.
Another benefit of an e-ticket is that the traveler can make changes at the kiosk that would otherwise take several minutes of an agent’s time at the counter, again shortening lines. Shorter lines make everyone happier.
Few ticketed events are worse than the person deciding to exchange tickets for a family of seven to different seats, a different flight, or something else altogether. He gives the ticket agents migraines and makes those in line behind the traveler consider murder. Most ticketing issues with air travel can be resolved over the phone with the airline’s reservation service or online at the airline’s website, and this should be done before the traveler departs for the airport if possible . The traveler may still need to visit the ticket office, but with the situation taken into account in advance, the agent will simply extract the name on the computer and hand the updated boarding passes to the traveler.
More problems occur at the security checkpoint. Three words cover this situation: Use common sense. TSA agents don’t tolerate jokes about bombs in luggage, so don’t make any. Dress sensibly. Air travel does not require haute cuture. Don’t wear high heels, boots, or anything that will take more than a few seconds to slip off your feet. Moccasins and trainers that don’t need to be undone are ideal for air travel.
Jeans are fine, but don’t wear belts with metal parts. You will have to take them off and put them in the basket with your shoes. Take off your coat and have everything ready to dump when you get to the checkpoint. Also, have all your ID and boarding passes ready to show to the agent. Nothing holds a line like someone rummaging through every pocket of his luggage, looking for ID.
Last, but most important, bring a smile and your best manners. Be polite and cooperative with agents. Greet them in a pleasant tone and tell them to have a nice day in a sincere voice. Grumpy, foul-mouthed, or obnoxious travelers are a bane of air travel. Good manners don’t cost a cent, but they are priceless. They could also save you a lot of trouble.
If your flight is canceled or you are bumped into at the last minute, don’t yell at the gate attendant. Call the airline’s reservations service and try to arrange it over the phone. Gate agents will likely be swamped with other passengers and won’t be able to deal with everyone. The booking service is a much better option.
Once on the plane, stow all bags as soon as possible, leaving space in the overhead lockers for other passengers’ bags. Put your hand luggage on the wheels first. If you are traveling with children, do not let them disturb other passengers. Few things are more annoying on a crowded plane than a child doing somersaults.
Good manners, advance planning, and patience are the best ways to reduce, if not eliminate, the hassles of air travel.
