If you spend enough time traveling, you may start to wonder about making your trip to the airport more comfortable.
Travelers start getting anxious even thinking about their trip. This can be even worse than the actual anxiety experienced throughout air travel.
- What works well is getting the right mind set. Tell yourself that nothing is going to go perfectly. There is a big chance that your flight could get delayed.
- One of the best ways to overcome this anxiety is to book a non stop flight. It may cost a little more, but less stress may be worth it.
- Make sure that you have enough time to get to the airport. There will be traffic delays if there is bad weather or if you go at rush hour. Don't cut it too short.
- Once you get to the airport, you may want to use the sky cab to check your luggage. Then you don't have to stand in line at check in or drag a heavy suitcase to the check in line.
- If you don't like lines, get either Precheck or Global Entry. You will usually have a shorter line and you don't have to take your shoes off, computer out of your bag, or liquids out of your bag. This saves so much hassle.
- Once you are past security, find a nice place to relax. It could be in a lounge, restaurant, prayer or meditation room. Many lounges are a perk with a certain level credit card. If you travel a lot, this perk may be worth the extra money. Some of the lounges have showers, drinks, and food. Or if you are lucky, you will be in an airport with rocking chairs. There is a reason a baby falls asleep when you rock them. The motion will calm you down.
- Have music or movies set up on your phone. Plug in your headphones and miss all the hub bub around you including the loud voice over the intercom.
- Treat yourself. Some airports have spas that offer everything from simple chair massages to mani-pedi combos and haircuts, waxing, and facials.
- Exercise- Take a walk. Some airports have paths for power walking. You can also get gym passes at airport hotels.
- Do something different. If you're lucky, you might find an art gallery in the airport.
I also want to let you know that the airport planning team is also thinking about helping you destress. They want happy customers that don't get freaked out if their plane is late.
Airports have done the following to make it more comfortable and less stressful for you.
- Most airports are carpeted. You would think that terminals should for the most part be designed with hard floors to keep travelers and their wheeled luggage moving quickly. But as it turns out, carpeting is one of the many ways airport planners can affect your mood — and your behavior. This simple design element helps to keep travelers feeling more relaxed before takeoff, because carpets provide a “soft, cozy feeling, like you might find in your own living room.”
- Lower ceilings, more natural lighting, and comfy seating also encourages relaxation among travelers who are stressed.
- Many airports have also added yoga rooms, spas, and therapy dogs to their terminals.
If all else fails, just call a friend while you are waiting. Catch up on old times and relax.
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