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EMS Tips

3 Tips for Thanksgiving Airport Travel

I have been to a lot of airports this year – too many airports. If you are traveling this Thanksgiving holiday you might find these tips useful.

1. Remain Calm. If your flight is delayed, the plane is waiting for maintenance at the gate, the line at security is long, or a child is crying; keep your cool. No matter what; remain calm. The best service is always delivered to the travelers that are calm and patient. Yelling or berating a powerless gate agent or TSA agent will not get you to your destination any faster. Accept that you have limited control and go with the flow.

2. Three items for every flight. The three things that I use on every flight are a pair of foam ear plugs, a water bottle, and a notepad and pen. I usually bring a used and empty water or sports drink bottle through security. A filled water or juice bottle is a problem. An empty bottle is not a problem. Just in case it is confiscated by a TSA agent I am OK since it is a disposable and already used bottle. Foam ear plugs are mandatory for any jet propeller flight and on jet service are the perfect “I am concentrating” signal to the chatty passenger in the middle seat.

3. Download the TripIt app now and add your travel plans. I use the free version of TripIt to organize all my flight, ground transport, lodging, and meeting plans. With TripIt my confirmation numbers and contact phone numbers are all in one place on my Smartphone and not in a variety of email messages.

Bonus Tip: when you need to recharge your phone or laptop in the airport look for outlets in these places:

  • Departure gates that are empty or out of service
  • On the back side or difficult to see side of columns
  • Behind garbage and recycling containers
  • Under metal plates in the carpet

// Read a comprehensive list of travel tips from frequent traveler Chris Brogan.

By Greg Friese

Greg Friese, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is an author, educator, paramedic, and marathon runner.

Greg was the co-host of the award winning EMSEduCast podcast, the only podcast by and for EMS educators. Greg has written for EMS1.com, JEMS.com, Wilderness Medical Associates, JEMS Magazine, EMSWorld.com and EMS World Magazine, and the NAEMSE Educator Newsletter.