I returned home a couple days ago from 2 weeks in Greece, and I’ve decided I need to brag about something:
I spent time in 7 airports between my trips to and from, and island hopping in Greece. 7 times through security. 3 visits with customs officers. Several hours of delays, unexpected baggage fees and fancy new automated services. And guess what!! I didn’t have a single panic attack! In fact, my airport anxiety was barely there, and it was such a huge win.
I struggle with anxiety at the best of times, and airports have always been a particular trigger. My fear of being wrongly imprisoned for a crime I didn’t commit is compounded by the unlimited power of security officers and the possibility of being trapped in another country to create the perfect storm of panic. Plus, the movie Brokedown Palace pretty much scarred me for life.
I do realize how silly this probably sounds, given how much and how often I’ve traveled. And if I’m being honest, my airport anxiety isn’t nearly as bad as it was when I was in my early 20s (turns out drinking the night before a flight does not result in a nice relaxed attitude). But even so, this is something that has bothered me for years; after all, I’ve spent a lot of time in airports, and having this anxiety hanging over my head for each trip takes a toll.
I can’t imagine I’m the only person suffering from airport anxiety, so here are a couple tips I’ve found have helped me. Hopefully these will improve your airport experience somewhat! And if you have other tips to help reduce airport stress, please share 🙂
- Check in online before your flight
- Most airlines will let you check in online up to 24 hours before your flightOnce you’ve checked in, you have some more wiggle room in case you’re running late because you won’t have to stand in line (this is especially great if you’re doing only carry on luggage and can head straight to security!)You can choose your seats when you check in! If you don’t want to pay extra to choose your seat, but you’re picky about where you want to sit (like me!), try and check in online as early as possible to ensure you have the best chance of getting the seat you want
- Take a screenshot of any digital boarding passes or documents
- This way I always know exactly where to find the document, rather than trying to search through email and praying that online documents will load properly
- Be metal free
- I try to keep as little as possible on my person when traversing the airport, especially while going through securityIf possible, avoid wearing/carrying a lot of things that have to be removed while going through security; it’s never nice to be the person holding up the line!
- Organize your carry on
- It’s a pain (for you and everyone else) when you have to dig through your bag for things you have to remove, like liquids and laptopsTry and organize your bag so that you can easily access these items when going through security (and easily put them back when you’re through!)
- Know where you’re going
- Ok, obvious, yes. But I don’t mean your destination, per se; rather, where you’re staying, and where you’re going next
- Some countries are much stricter than others, and require you to indicate exactly where you’ll be staying, and for how long, others need proof that you’ll be leaving, such as a plane or bus ticketCheck regulations before you leave, and make sure you have all the information needed. Customs can be especially stressful if you’re asked questions you don’t know the answer to
Airport anxiety may be a pain, but it’s certainly worth it when you get to experience amazing places like this!
Comments are closed.