I feel compelled to share a few #travel tips in a thread if anyone's interested✈️

I travel about 150,000km/100,000mi annually

Advice for destressing travel day, and optimizing your trip end to end... etc.

Inspired by: @thepointsguy @darrenmurph @ZachHonig

It's worth it to spend an extra $30-$50 to fly an airline you like, treats you with dignity, and earns you miles worth something.

I used to think I was a snob for saying I wouldn't fly WOW as a speaker. It's not. Arriving happy is smart & has high ROI.

I personally prefer @FlyAirNZ & @AlaskaAir. Neither pay me to say that, but I pay to fly on their birdies often. I value legroom, overall experience, and quality of cheese onboard. Ambiance is also worth something when you fly a lot. Both get it.

I set 3 alarms on travel day:

1st to wake up

2nd to stop cuddling the dog/backup for #1

3rd to call rideshare/begin journey to airport

This keeps me from neurotically checking my phone in the lead up to departure. The chill factor is remarkable (try it!)

Bring a water bottle. Period. The little cups are literal drops in your dehydration bucket when flying. If you're on a long haul or expect to booze a bit on your trip, @fly1above is always in my flight kit.

If you don't have Global Entry/ TSA Pre or Clear, or the comparable offering in your country now is the time. How much of your life do you want to spend in a TSA line?

Protein is your best bet when traveling. Avoid steaks and overly salty dishes, favor lean, filling nibbles. I keep trail mix and chickpeas in my pack, usually get the cheese plate or chicken breast salad on a long haul.

Arrive early enough not to panic. That's different for everyone. For me, it's 30-40 mins before departure. Whatever will make you breathe easy through security.

It's all about making your journey as calm as possible.

RESPECT. THE. LUGGAGE. RULES.

Period. I don't want to be inconvenienced by your oversized luggage at any point in my journey. Neither does anyone else.

While we are at it, PACK LESS! Pack outfits not just stuff you think you need. Saves you time on both sides.

Traveling on Sunday mornings may not be ideal but it is mellow in just about every airport. Consider it if crowds aren't you're jam.

Okay! If anyone enjoyed this I'll continue from the air - if not, no harm done! Wheels up SFO -> JFK :)

This is fun, so a few more thoughts from the sky:

Inflight WiFi is worth it if:

- Your flight is over 2 hours
- It actually works
- It's $20 or less

Queue up the docs you need on the tarmac and do as much work offline as you can. Inflight WiFi is $low. I write in the sky

Power. If you don't have a charging brick by now, you need to order one online right now.

I'll wait.

There's no reason to have your phone die in 2019. I like the Amazon Basics 20,000mAh. I can be wall-free for a short trip if I want. brick + cable + plug is all you need.

Accept that eating/drinking while traveling comes at a premium. Save up ahead of time and try not to let it frustrate you.

If you want the glass of wine on the plane, or two, go for it. Yes, it'll dehydrate you but you can drink water and frankly you deserve it.

I prefer the aisle. Yes, the window is pretty (and my choice if vlogging the trip) & can be better for sleep, but access to the bathroom/ability to move your body inflight is imperative.

Exit row aisle is my fave (it's the seat I'm writing this from too ;)

Try to get up once an hour. Increasing circulation helps fight swelling. Even on a short flight, a trip to the bathroom to wash your hands can do a body good (and prevent illness.)

Airplanes are second only to hospitals in terms of germs. Wash early & often. Arrive healthy.

Be Empathetic.

You don't know why the people around you are traveling. We all have complexity in our lives.

The person next to you may be en route to a funeral, leaving a lover behind or headed to serve our country. Assume the best. Forgive. Smile. Be gentle with your baggage.

Book flights at times that don't stress you out. This was probably the last lesson that I learned. It's okay to pay an extra $17 to leave at 10am versus 5:30am. Your happiness is worth it.

Travel is hard enough on your sleep schedule, don't add insult to injury.

Be considerate of your smells. Opt for snacks/food that aren't particularly fragrant. DO NOT FORGET DEODORANT. Have clean socks. Don't take off your shoes if they're rank.

I even change my undies in the "morning" of a long-haul. Cleaner = better w/ recirculating air.

It's okay to dress comfortable, but I personally don't think it's cool to travel looking like sh*t. It's a privilege to fly and while the PanAm glamour days are over, it should still be done with dignity.

Opt for fitted athleisure over baggy sweats.

Remember that everyone travels at some point. EVERYONE. Respect personal space and values.

A closed captive cabin is NOT the place to convince anyone of anything they don't already love. Especially at a high volume. Full stop.

No matter what your role is on the ground, flight attendants are the CEOs of the sky. They are your leader. Respect them as such.

#Travel #Aviation #aviationworkforce

And now that I'm in NYC, a bit from the ground.

Never underestimate the power of a rideshare as an office. I work in the back of cars often. It makes me feel like less time is lost in transit. I'm lucky I don't get car sick.

I've probably emailed you from a @lyft