A WORD FROM THE WISE – TRAVEL TIPS FROM FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

“Sleep when you’re tired, eat when you’re hungry.” – Christie, SEA based.

“Pack slippers because Airbnbs can be dirty.” – Vina, ORD based.

“Whenever traveling to a different time zone, immediately put yourself in that time frame, even if it means pushing through exhaustion. Because then when it is time to go to sleep, you can have a full night’s rest and then be ready to go and fully on that time zone without the jet lag.” – Sean, SEA based.

“Bring snacks!!!!!” – Lindsey, ANC based.

“Pack snacks, bring your sleep kits (eye mask and neck pillow). Plan travel around an event, a race or concert or festival.” – Megan, SEA based.

“Try not to stress about the small things. Getting there is the hardest part! Drink water. Eat your veggies. Smiles go a long way!” – Allie, LAX based.

“Be prepared! Keep a small bag that fits under your seat for easy access with a pen, water bottle, and big scarf to use as a blanket.” – Amber, SEA based.

“Travel light.” – Marina, HKG based.

“Say yes! Try everything, do everything, and don’t hold back! Also, drink water and utilize melatonin. And find travel companions! Cause they elevate every experience and make it even more memorable.” – Kristina, SAN based.

“Always pack a cocktail dress and a pair of heels. You just never know.” – Fay, SEA based.

“Always keep a small bag with headphones, Advil, toothbrush and paste, moisturizer, etc. with you that you can keep under your seat so you don’t have to dig things out of your bigger bag (if it wasn’t checked). I like to do this since I like window seats. I don’t have to disturb others.” – Josh, SEA based.

“I always have a change of clothes in my carry on bag (I’ve been spilled on or had ‘misplaced’ luggage several times and that has totally saved me! Also I (almost) always have my hydroflask on me to cut down on single use plastics and I #FillBeforeIFly” – Justin, SEA based.

“Use packing cubes. I’m the messiest with my clothes and it keeps me organized, even once I get to my destination.. and they keep me from overpacking!” – Vanessa, SFO based.

“Always bring your own hand soap and hand lotion.” – Ashley, SEA based.

“Bring your own healthy snacks and water bottle to fill up past security.” – Shelby, SFO based.

“Travel light by wearing Merino wool and be flexible.” – Sean C., SEA based.

“Show up early. I’d rather enjoy a drink before a flight instead of stressing out in rushing to your flight. Travel can be so unpredictable these days. I think in general, try to incorporate my daily habits into travel. So I can enjoy traveling without feeling any ‘guilt’.” – Rosella, SEA based.

“Less is MORE. When I flew to Greece from my honeymoon, I was fully prepared. Fuzzy socks, toothbrush, mouth wash, eye mask, neck pillow, headphones, snacks, a tablet, the whoolleeee meal deal. Once I sat in my tiny seat I quickly realized i brought WAY too much. Now I know to condense and only bring what I really need! Not only do you have more space around you having not brought as much, but you’re less likely to forget things on the plane! I bring my water bottle, headphones, tablet, a snack or two and call it good!” – Jane, SEA based.

“Treat others with respect. Kindness goes a long way. It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” – Victor, SFO based.

“For health: Vitamin C. In general: get a massage right before a long flight, don’t plan your entire trip out, spend time every day at a cafe and people watch.” – Patty, SEA based.

“Take the local bus and talk to locals always. On the bus, in stores, everywhere. They will tell you secret places and unique things to see.” – Sarah, ANC based.

“Layer. [for the plane] and bring chapstick.” – Celina, SEA based.

“RESERVE your meals! So helpful on both ends!” – Justine, PDX based.

“Utilize your pockets in the TSA line. If you’re wearing a jacket, vest, or hoodie, throw all those electronics/odds and ends in those pockets. That way, when you get to the front of the line, you can just put your vest/hoodie/jacket thing in the bin and then take it out and run for that flight you’re probably late to.” – Khai, SEA based.

“Smart and light packing. Trust your gut.” – JS, FRA based.

“It’s a part of travel but my best tip would be NOT to put our suitcase on your bed when packing. The wheels are soooo gross!!” – Suzanne, SEA based.

You heard it hear first! All the love and safe travels!

DEAR ANXIOUS FLYER,

It’s that time of year again. You’ve got your flights booked, your bags packed, and you know you should be excited to head home and to see your family, but sometimes that’s not always the case. If you think you’re weird for being an anxious flyer, you’re not. You are not alone. It’s a fear that is more common than I realized before I became a flight attendant. As someone who thrives off of taking care of others, I genuinely enjoy helping people stay relaxed and have a more enjoyable flying experience. It’s not always easy and every person is different. I try my best to be very understanding and compassionate. But because I know I can’t personally help every single person out there, I thought writing this post could help guide you in the right direction. Please also feel free to pass it onto any friends, family members, or anyone you know who is afraid of flying or has anxiety over flying.

TELL SOMEONE

I know it’s scary to be vulnerable, but please try your best to work up the courage to tell your neighbor or at least one flight attendant about your anxiety or fear of flying. I promise we will try our best to help you any way we can. Whenever I’ve had anxious flyers who made it known that they were nervous about taking off, I would make it a point to check in with him/her throughout the flight. I pay special attention to passengers who need it, whether that be providing a glass of water after takeoff or offering casual conversation as a distraction.

TRY MEDITATION

Meditation has been known to help relieve stress and anxiety for years. It’s no different on the plane! I would highly suggest that as soon as you get settled in your seat, immediately putting on your headphones and closing your eyes. Whether you use an app (Headspace is a great one) or simply play nature sounds or music, start meditating. I find that a lot of anxiety around traveling can stem from the madness of the airport, not just flying alone. As soon as you’re able to clear your mind and shake off the stress of TSA and running to your gate, just breathe, relax, and be present. This would also help immensely prior to taking off, which could be a scary feeling for nervous flyers.

COME PREPARED

I know those little seats on the plane don’t allow a ton of room for activities, BUT I would highly recommend packing a book you’ve been excited to read, your iPad or laptop for movies, your phone with a playlist of your favorite or new songs, etc. The airline I work for offers free movies and TV shows on all mobile devices, which is pretty amazing! But just in case the flight you’re on doesn’t offer those amenities, just make sure you have something to do! Other cool things I’ve seen people do on the plane: knitting, cross stitching, coloring, card games. Not recommended: yoga in the galley.

BRING COMFORT ITEMS

Whether it’s your favorite blanket or a picture of your dog. Bring a piece of home with you that will make you feel cozy and comforted. We sometimes underestimate the power of comfort items! As you might know, essential oils are all the rage right now but for great reason! There are some scents that have been known to help us relax: lavender, rose, chamomile, frankincense, ylang ylang, and bergamot are all great options! I just purchased a peppermint one last week (’cause ’tis the season) and personally, I find that it really relaxes me, if you want to give that a try too!

KEEP A TIMER

This might help for some people and might not for others, but keeping a timer is worth a shot! Personally, I like to know how much time is left in the flight. From a flight attendant’s perspective, it’s a gage for when we need to go out with our inflight service. From a passenger’s perspective, it’s comforting to know that landing is just another episode of Spongebob away.

WRITE A LETTER or MAKE A LIST

What are you traveling for? Who are you visiting? What are you looking forward to? Write a letter to who you’re visiting and tell them how excited you are to see them. OR alternatively, make a list of all the things you’re excited to see, do, and eat! Keeping a positive mindset will not only help distract you from your current surroundings, but our minds are so incredibly powerful. Who knows if the excitement for your travels will take over your fear of flying! Fingers crossed!

So dear anxious flyer, I really hope this post helps you in some way. A handful of people messaged me on Instagram (further proof you’re not alone) asking about this topic specifically, so I figured it might help to share this with you. Happy Holidays and safe travels to you and yours! Xo