Tips and Tricks for Traveling Over a Holiday [To Keep You Sane]

Traveling during the holiday season can be stressful. It’s one of the peak travel times of the year and is incredibly popular for people who want to fly to visit family, go somewhere warm, or celebrate New Year’s Eve in a new location.

The risk of flights getting delayed or canceled because of inclement weather is greater than other times of the year, too, and with the number of people traveling, it’s important to know the tricks and tips to keep you sane.

In this article, we offer tips and tricks on how to fly and stay in hotels stress-free as well as how to maximize your time over the holiday season.

Tips and Tricks for Holiday Travel

When Flights Cancel or Delay, Go to the Club

You’ve probably noticed that as soon as a flight cancels, everyone rushes to the customer service desk in the terminal or they open their cell phones to call the airline’s 1-800 number. If you do either of these things, expect to wait a long time, as every other traveler is thinking of doing the same thing.

When your flight gets canceled or delayed, use the customer service agents in an airline’s club or lounge to rebook you. There’s often little to no line in the airline’s club, and you can snag seats on alternate flights much more quickly than those trying to wait in line to speak with someone at the generic customer service desk.

You can pay for access to the lounges, have a membership, use an eligible credit card, or be booked in premium class in some cases, so it pays to see which way to access the lounge makes the most sense for you.

Upgrades Can Be Easier

During the holiday season, upgrades become significantly easier as fewer and fewer business travelers are flying. Because larger corporations aren’t paying for premium cabins, there’s more space for passengers to upgrade into. These could be extra-legroom seats, business or first class seats, or other products on board.

Hot Tip:

If you’re an elite flyer, expect the percentage of upgrades to go up during the holiday season. In fact, many buy-up offers for first class are very reasonable, so you may want to take advantage of these offers.

Don’t Check a Bag

This tip is valid all year long, but as many once-a-year flyers trek home or to friends and family, it’s a busy season to check bags. You don’t want your bags getting lost, and you don’t want to have to wait to pick up your bag from baggage claim, so don’t check it.

When you fly, leave all of your liquids and gel-like foods at home so you can breeze through the airport and switch flights easily since you won’t have to worry about checked bags.

If you are going to check a bag, consider using an Apple AirTag to track your bags throughout your entire journey. Some airlines use this technology to track bags more quickly when they go missing, so be sure to put a tag in every bag you’re checking and in carry-on bags, in case those accidentally get misplaced.

Pack Right

Make sure you’re smart in packing what you take on board. Keep those items that you want handy during the flight in an accessible pocket.

Ensure your carry-on bag meets size requirements and that it will fit in the overhead bin. If your flight is busy, you may be asked to place your personal item under your seat, so ensure you have a sturdy backpack or another bag that you can easily take things from during the flight. 

Speed Through Security With TSA PreCheck or CLEAR

The holiday season is full of travelers clogging up the security queues. Consider using TSA PreCheck, which allows an expedited screening experience where you don’t have to remove your shoes or electronics devices.

CLEAR can also speed you through the identification check before walking through the metal detector. In combination, CLEAR and TSA PreCheck will help you get to your gate faster.

Hot Tip:

Many credit cards offer complimentary TSA PreCheck or Global Entry simply for being a cardmember.

Fly to Smaller Airports

Even though it may be more expensive, flying into a smaller airport closer to your final destination may be worth it — smaller airports usually have smaller security waits, quicker check-in processes, and fewer gates to navigate.

For example, if you’re flying to Santa Barbara, California, don’t fly into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and make the 2-hour drive up — fly into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) directly. The same goes for Palm Springs — the 2-hour drive in traffic from Los Angeles is a nightmare. Fly to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) for a far more efficient experience.

Also, by flying into a smaller airport, your friends or family can pick you up that much quicker, and you can be where you need to be without having to worry about an extra drive, renting a car, or traffic.

We’ve even done a study on the best and worst U.S. airports so you can minimize delays.

Relax in the Club

Even if there isn’t a delay or cancellation, relaxing in an airline or third-party club is a great way to start your travels. Airline clubs often provide free snacks, drinks, shower facilities, bathrooms, Wi-Fi, business services, and much more — perfect for road warriors and leisure travelers alike.

Some clubs let you in on account of your airline status or a particular credit card, while others admit you with a paid admission fee. If you’ve got a long layover, it’s particularly valuable to have club access, if nothing else for the free refreshments so you can save on purchasing things in the terminal.

Hot Tip:

Priority Pass offers a network of lounges that you can visit regardless of which airline you fly. This is great if you don’t have a dedicated airline. Even better, you can get a credit card for Priority Pass access.

Fly on the Right Days

Contrary to what you might think, a major holiday itself is actually a relatively good day to fly. In the case of Christmas, you can fly on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and enjoy cheaper tickets and plenty of seats on board.

Keep in mind, though, that if January 1 falls in the middle of the week, you may see lots of travelers flying on that day specifically to try to be able to get back to work on January 2.

If you have to fly on a holiday, the price can vary depending on the departure time. If you’re flying on Thanksgiving Day, for example, U.S. flights in the morning will be much more expensive than flights departing during the evening (when most Americans are enjoying their turkey dinner). If you’re flying back on New Year’s Day, flights in the morning will be much cheaper, since people do not want to wake up early to travel.

Take Advantage of Oversold Flights

It’s the holiday season, which could mean packed planes depending on the cities. If your flight is oversold, the airline may offer you hefty rewards to get you to give up your seat. In fact, it could nearly pay for a vacation at a later date.

Keep an eye on your flight and the number of people booked — jump if you see an opportunity to be bought off of the flight if you want a little extra cash.

You keep your original seat on board until the airline notifies you that they actually need you to volunteer, so there’s little harm in asking to be put on the volunteer list.

Keep Fueled

Before you board your flight, bring snacks from home — they’re way cheaper than purchasing food at the airport. The only exception to this is liquids, which you need to purchase in the airport since you’re not allowed to take liquids through security.

Get to Your Gate Early

If your flight is busy, the gate area will be as well. Remember, all the people boarding your flight are competing for the same, limited overhead bin space. The earlier you get to the gate area, the sooner you may be able to board the plane and have your bag stowed. If you’re the type of person who wants to ensure there’s room in the overhead bin for your bags, consider purchasing a priority boarding group.

Avoid Basic Economy Fares

Basic economy fares are the cheapest fares offered by legacy airlines — they’re often no-frills and don’t come with seat assignments and upgrades. Basic economy passengers usually board the plane last and may not be allowed to bring a carry-on bag.

These fares may be cheaper, but they don’t come with any privileges, so they may add a huge amount of stress to your experience, not to mention possible further expenditures.

You may have to pay extra to select your seat or check a bag, and you won’t have the luxury of sitting together with friends or family. When things go wrong, you’ll also be among the last people to be reaccommodated on other flights. In general, avoid basic economy airfares as much as you can.

Fly First Class

Since there’s limited business travel over the holidays, you may be able to find reasonable first class fares. Sometimes, these prices aren’t that much more than economy class and include a wider seat, meals, free checked bags, and more. The holidays are one of the best times to try and snag a great deal on a first class seat!

Know Your Backup Plan

When you travel over the holidays, it’s always best to know all of the flight options to get you where you need to go. Look at which flights depart before and after yours and always have a backup plan should your flight get delayed or canceled.

During the holiday season, there are lots of time-sensitive events, including parties and gatherings, and you don’t want to miss out on time with family. Knowing what alternatives exist will help you react if things go wrong.

Don’t Fly on the Last Flight of the Night

It’s pretty common sense, but avoid flying on the last flight of the day to wherever you’re going. If weather moves in, you could be stuck, and even the slightest thing going wrong could cause you to stay overnight at the airport. Try to fly out as early as possible so that, if things go wrong, you’ve got most of the day to figure it out.

Check In Online

Before your departure, check in online to avoid waiting in queues at the airport. If you’re checking bags, you may be able to use a kiosk to print your baggage tags so that you don’t have to speak with a human.

Also, most airlines allow you to pull up your boarding pass either on your phone or to print it at home, so these are other ways to save time at the airport.

Have Backups of Your Stuff

The worst thing that can happen is that your luggage gets lost and your passport, credit cards, and other valuables go with it. When you travel, divvy up your expensive and valuable personal belongings. Don’t put all your money and cards in your wallet — keep some of these items in separate bags. If things go wrong or get lost, you won’t be stranded without identification or cash.

Similarly, consider putting an AirTag on your passport or wallet so you can keep track of these items at all times.

Know Your Fees

Some airlines charge extra fees for seating assignments, food on board, or checked baggage, just to name a few amenities. When you travel, know in advance what fees your airline or hotel charges to avoid surprises.

Hot Tip:

Some cards can help cover these incidental fees. The Platinum Card^® from American Express offers up to $200 credit for incidentals.

Look for Hotels Farther Away

The best savings on hotels can be those hotels that aren’t right in the center of activity. For example, if you want to visit Times Square, the rates for hotels in that area will be astronomically expensive. But a hotel near Herald Square or Wall Street, for example, might be considerably cheaper and only a short walk or subway ride away.

Sometimes hotel rates can drop at the last minute, too, so be sure to check your rates again closer in to arrival.

And, of course, there are online resource for finding a great hotel for less.

Don’t Expect To Check In Early or Check Out Late

Unless you are an elite member with the hotel, checking in early or checking out late can be difficult, especially during peak times. Plan on checking in or out at the posted times for the hotel.

Use the Hotel Lounge

It might only be a few dollars more than the normal hotel room rate, but a room that lets you access a hotel lounge can save you lots of money. These often include breakfast and heavy appetizers at night, not to mention complimentary coffee, tea, and bottled drinks.

Hot Tip:

When you add up what you consume, it’s often far greater than what you may have paid for lounge access, and it’s a great way to save money while most folks are dining out.

Bring Entertainment

While many planes have built-in entertainment, there are plenty (if not, more) that don’t, so you should make sure to load up your tablet or laptop before you board. That way you’ve got shows and movies to keep you (and your kids) occupied for hours. Be sure these devices are fully charged, too, since planes’ power systems don’t always work!

Avoid disappointment and don’t rely on a plane’s Wi-Fi — it can be out of service or too slow to stream videos.

Download the Airline or Hotel App

It’s important to download your airline or hotel’s app before traveling. These apps have great features that can make your trip smoother. An airline app, for example, can show when a plane has started boarding, if it’s oversold, or if it’s been delayed.

A hotel app can show you potential upgrades, what room you’ve been assigned, and offer mobile check-in options that allow you to skip the front desk completely.

Avoid Third-Party Bookings

Third-party bookings can be messy for travelers. Sometimes they come with hidden restrictions or fees, and other times, they’re just plain confusing. Booking through a third-party site can also make it difficult to figure out if you’re booking a basic economy plane ticket, even though federal requirements state that there need to be plenty of warnings.

Final Thoughts

The holiday season can be one that’s filled with lots of joy. People fly home to visit family, travel to warmer parts of the world to get away from the cold, or get a head start on the new year with an occasional business trip. Don’t ruin the memories by starting or ending your holidays on a sour note at the airport.

Whatever your itinerary is this holiday season, these tips should help you experience stress-free travel! And be sure to check out our guide on holiday travel tips for more advice.