Our 10 Best Airport and Transit Tips for Smoother Travel Days

Over time, we’ve found a handful of airport and transit habits that reliably make travel days easier. They help us get through lines faster, make better choices on the ground, and arrive a little less frazzled. From early-morning departures to the rideshare apps we trust in different places, these are the strategies we keep using, trip after trip.

1. Take the Earliest Flight You Can Reasonably Handle

It’s not fun waking up at 4:30 a.m., but first flights are almost always the most reliable. You beat the weather delays, the crew timeouts, and the domino effect of late aircraft. We’ve avoided more missed connections and rebookings this way than we can count. I’ve had some days when I couldn’t keep my eyes open at the destination, but at least I was already at the beach with a mojito rather than stuck in transit.

Woman resting with sleep mask on airplane, traveling comfortably. — I need serious sleep

2. Don’t Blindly Follow the Herd in Lines

We’ve seen it too many times where there’s a huge line at a check-in counter, security, or immigration but other lines were available and empty. Don’t be afraid to investigate and ask questions. Sometimes I will hold our place while Theo looks around. If I’m traveling solo, I do a quick sweep before getting in line.

The same goes for TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. We have both, and we still regularly skip CLEAR. A lot of travelers don’t realize this, but if the CLEAR line is backed up (and it often is), TSA PreCheck alone is usually faster.

We’ve walked past 20 people waiting for a CLEAR agent to scan their boarding pass while PreCheck was moving quickly next to them. We’ve been considering ditching CLEAR altogether for this reason. Don’t follow the crowd: look at the line, and move with intent.

Access n°1 airport priority entrance sign. — If you have priority look for signs to designate lines

3. The Lounge Isn’t Always the Best Experience

We almost always opt for the lounge, especially on long layovers or before international flights. But overcrowding is real. Nothing kills the vibe like circling for a seat with a plate of cold pasta in your hand. Some airports, like Paris Orly have really lovely cafes and green spaces where you can get a snack, a coffee, or a glass of wine for cheap, and just relax and enjoy.

Our tips for reducing lounge stress:

Sometimes you can check in to the lounge through your app up to 30 minutes before your allowed entry time
Don’t be afraid to walk a little farther. The Priority Pass lounge at the end of the terminal is often quieter and better stocked than the one right near security
Look for quiet, comfortable alternatives when lounges are overcrowded. Newer airports, especially, are designed with this in mind.

We do love a good lounge with an apron view. That A380 on the left makes the A321 on the right look like a CRJ ❤️

4. Know Your Airline’s Carry-On Bag Rules

We rarely check a bag, but even for carry-on only trips, we check every airline’s weight and size rules before we fly. Especially in Europe and Asia, some airlines have shockingly low carry-on weight limits, like 7-8 kg (15-17 lbs) is not uncommon. That includes your bag and personal item, and sometimes they weigh them, so be prepared.

Don’t assume your usual carry-on is fine just because it fits in the overhead. We’ve seen passengers pulled aside at the gate and charged $50+ for a bag that looked totally reasonable. This even happened to us once in premium economy on Sata Azores Airlines. We didn’t think the 8kg limit applied to the premium cabin. Apparently it did on a “comfort light” fare.

5. If You Do Check a Bag, Have a Plan

As with carry-on bags, you’ll want to know size, packing, and weight restrictions, as well as the price. Sometimes it’s cheaper to pay online in advance.

We try to avoid it, but when we need to check a bag we:

Take photos before we check it
Use AirTags or Tiles to track it independently
Keep essentials in our carry-on: meds, a change of clothes, and anything we’d need for 24 – 48 hours
Pack a change of clothes in our carry-on bag just in case
Avoid short connections or separately booked legs

Oskar likes to inspect our bags before we leave

6. Address Your Stressors

Our weakness is boarding-time anxiety. We both get it. Boarding is chaos, so we’ll pay extra for early boarding or a preferred seat just to avoid the rush and make sure there’s overhead space. We’re really happy to see more airlines using technology to enforce boarding order and make it less chaotic. We hope this substantially reduces the stress in the future. But we also know that culturally, some places are going to be more organized and respect the queue and others don’t really value it. It helps to have a plan.

What’s your travel pain point? The key is to know yourself and plan ahead for a few extras that will reduce your stress and provide a smoother travel experience. Don’t spend the first 20 minutes of your trip stressed out about bin space or being last to board. If paying a little more helps you stay calm, it’s worth it.

Sometimes a window seat is the best way to let go of the stress

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for an Upgrade While You’re Waiting

Sometimes a good use of your airport time is stopping by the check-in counter or gate to see if there are any premium seats still available for a cheap price. Airline seating is sometimes fluid until boarding, and many airplanes want to sell those empty seats for a good deal rather than miss out on the revenue altogether. Check in with the agent once they have finished their initial flight setup but before the boarding process begins. Don’t approach an agent who is clearly managing a weather, mechanical issue, or some other problem. But if the gate area is calm, that’s your golden opportunity. We’ve secured cheap business class seats on international flights simply asking at the desk. It doesn’t always work, but we love it when it does.

8. Research Ground Transportation Before You Land

This is really important, especially after long international flights. If we fail to have a ground transportation plan, arrival is often chaotic and we’re exhausted, so we’ll significantly overpay or wind up waiting around too long.

A better practice is to check:

Whether there’s an airport train or metro
What the local rideshare options are
How much a fixed taxi fare should be
Whether hotel transfers are a better value or good trade-off for convenience

Know your ride-share options and download the app in advance. In Southeast Asia, we use Grab. In parts of Europe, Bolt is better than Uber.

In South America, we’ve had great experiences with private drivers arranged through our hotels or Airbnbs.

In places like Oslo, Paris (CDG), Kuala Lumpur, Toronto, and many more, the train is the fastest, cheapest, and most convenient way to get to town.

Knowing what to expect before you exit the terminal helps you avoid scams, confusion, and post-flight decision fatigue.

Note: We’re no longer arranging private transfers through Viator or Booking.com. More than half the time, the driver doesn’t show up or we have a long confusing wait and a crazy time tracking down the driver. We paid extra for a smooth arrival with someone waiting for us with a sign, and ride-share would’ve been cheaper and easier.

Sometimes taxis are a rip off and sometimes they are way more convenient. Do your research before you land

9. Public Transit Can Be a Great Option

This is another reason we love packing light. We’ll take the train, metro, or walk to our hotel if it’s reasonable, especially in cities where airport traffic is slow or taxi queues are long.

As long as there’s a direct line or minimal transfers, we’d rather have an adventure on public transport than sit in traffic for an hour.

We always download Google Maps offline for the area, and check city-specific apps like Citymapper or local transport apps for schedules and buying tickets online.

10. Mobile Passport Is Still a Great Hack in the US

We don’t use it anymore, since we both have Global Entry, but we’re still amazed at how many people don’t know about the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app.

It’s a free app approved by US Customs and Border Protection. You fill out your declaration, submit it up to four hours before landing, and get access to a separate line at immigration (which is usually way shorter than the standard and sometimes even the Global Entry line).

If you’re not eligible or ready to spend $120 and wait for a Global Entry interview, use this app instead. It’s available to US citizens, lawful permanent residents, and some Canadians. We’ve told all our friends and family to install it.

What are your airport and transit travel hacks? Let us know in the comments.