Labor Day Travel Tips for the Airport

So you’re planning to fly somewhere over Labor Day weekend? The good news is that getting through the airport won’t be as much of a headache as it can be (and usually is) around Thanksgiving or Christmas. The bad news is that the airport is still going to be busier than normal, and planes are still going to be full. Which all adds up to one thing - it’s a very good idea to be prepared to handle a busy airport, even if said airport doesn’t materialize.

Because the worst case scenario then is that you’re over-prepared and have a little more time to kill at the airport. Which is a helluva lot better than being under-prepared and missing your flight.

Most of these tips are going to be applicable whether you’re traveling on a busy holiday weekend like over Labor Day weekend or whether you’re traveling at a quieter time of year. It is, for instance, never a good idea to get to the airport just at the last minute. But because flying over Labor Day weekend doesn’t tend to be as crazy-busy as flying around some other holidays, you might have a little more wiggle room when it comes to time.

Now, don’t take that as my blessing to arrive at the airport 20 minutes before your flight is supposed to leave and then get irritated with me because I said you didn’t have to be as strict with your time. Be realistic, people. If you don’t mind missing your flight, that’s one thing. But if you actually want to get on the plane and go somewhere, then always give yourself plenty of time at the airport - no matter what time of year it is.

Assuming you’re doing the smart thing and getting to the airport early, here are our tips for making your passage through the airport over Labor Day weekend as hassle-free as possible.

Stick to carry-on luggage only.

You’ve probably heard people extoll the virtues of traveling carry-on only and thought, “I could never do that.” I’m here to tell you that you can.

First off, Labor Day weekend is a short trip, so you’ve got less to pack. Second, unless you’re headed somewhere snowy, you won’t be packing heavy winter clothing, either, making the whole thing even easier. And not only can you do it, it can save you time and money, which we could all use more of.

Going with just a carry-on means you can skip the check-in line and go right to security. It means you don’t have to pay the high fees airlines are charging these days to check bags. And it means you can just get off the plane and go when you get to your destination (instead of waiting at the luggage carousel). Plus, if for some reason your flight does get cancelled or you get bumped, you don’t have to worry about your luggage finding you later on - you’ve got everything with you at all times.

Do online check-in before you leave home.

If you’re traveling with just a carry-on bag but you still have to wait in the check-in line at the airport, you’re missing out. Most airlines these days will let you check in on their websites 24 hours in advance of the flight. You can then print out your boarding pass, which means you can waltz right by the check-in counter and head right for security and your gate. Easy peasy.

On the off-chance your airline doesn’t have online check-in, or your printer’s out of ink, or you’re thinking you won’t have computer access to check-in ahead of your return flight, don’t panic. Many airlines these days have self-check-in kiosks near the regular check-in counter which are for people who have e-tickets or who don’t have bags to check. There may be a line for these kiosks, but it’s apt to be way shorter than the regular check-in line. And because you’re not checking a bag, you don’t have to wait for an employee to come over and tag your luggage - you just print your boarding card and go.

Get to the airport early.

Even though you’re traveling with only a carry-on bag and you’re clutching your pre-printed boarding pass, this doesn’t give you license to walk into the airport at the last minute and then start yelling at the people in front of you in the security line that you’ve got a flight to catch. Yes, well - so do they. And they got there early.

Most domestic flights these days suggest you get to the airport an hour before the departure time (overseas flights still recommend at least two hours), and I think this is a good benchmark. The airport may be less busy than on Thanksgiving weekend, but it will be busier than a normal day that’s not attached to a holiday weekend - and there are bound to be longer lines at security and the check-in counter as a result.

Not only that, you’re more likely to find it harder to locate a vacant parking spot at the airport lot, assuming you’re driving yourself to the airport, so you could end up spending more time than you’d predicted circling the lot. And, as I said earlier, the way to avoid stress in general is to leave enough time so that you aren’t running through the airport carrying your shoes and belt and bag after going through the security line.

Have travel information handy.

When you’re printing out your boarding pass the day before your flight, print out your itinerary as well and make sure all the contact information you’ll need is on it. That means the toll-free numbers (and others, if applicable) for your airlines, your hotels, and your rental car companies should be on that page, which you’ll keep on your person on your travel days.

Why do you need this information? Well, you hope you don’t need it. But if a flight is delayed or cancelled and that impacts your car rental or hotel stay, you want to let those people know. If a flight is cancelled and you want to try to get on another flight entirely, it might be easier (and faster) to call the airline directly than to fight through the line that just formed at the counter in front of you.

This is one of those umbrella situations - if you don’t bring an umbrella, it rains. If you do bring one, it stays dry. Make sure you’ve got your umbrella (your travel info) and then hopefully you won’t need it.

photo by pastalane