Earplugs. Put them in as soon as you scan your boarding pass and are waiting in the jetway to get on the plane. Nothing that is said to you after that point will be important until you're off the plane; and if it is, you can just take out one earplug and say "say again?" You can avoid most of the annoyance of in-flight announcements and advertisements, screaming babies, and jet engines.

Drugstores. Your destination probably has them. You don't need to pack any toiletries that you can easily obtain in one. If you are flying to New York City, you do not need to bring toothpaste with you; they have toothpaste in New York City, and you can just buy it in the Duane Reade shop that's a block from your hotel. They have toothpaste in San Juan and Paris too. In any tropical destination, they have sunscreen there — and the sunscreen they sell there is actually safe for the coral reefs.

Water bottles. Many major airports have stations for refilling water bottles after you clear security. You can take an empty water bottle, fill it up, and carry it on the airplane.

Masks. In the old days before COVID, nobody wore masks in airports, and lots of people got colds or flu when traveling. These days, you can wear a mask and people may think you're weird but you are less likely to pick up random respiratory diseases. I regularly wear a standard 3M N95 mask in American airports and no longer get the sniffles every time I travel.

No matter how much experience you have as a pilot. You should always use checklists for routine operations and emergencies.

If you don’t like flying, then the best thing I can recommend to relieve the stress is that when you get where you’re going, you take off your socks and shoes and then, on the carpet, you make fists with your toes.

You will be in close quarters with a lot of people. People suck and will be inconsiderate fucks. Airlines are shit and have you by the balls in terms of delays and shitty service.

Go in with low expectations and don’t make yourself more miserable by getting upset about it

1. (On Delta planes at least) The aisle armrest comes up if you press a little trigger underneath near where is meets the seat. Makes it easier to get up if you're in the aisle seat and to exit the plane.

2. If you are always hot, get a windows seat. When you're at altitude, the side of the plane gets cold, so the window seat tends to be cooler.

3. If you are on the tall side, once the fight attendant isn't looking anymore, put your backpack or laptop bag behind your legs / knees instead of under the seat. Then you have full legroom available to stretch out.

4. If the person in front of you reclines their seat back, ask the fight attendant for a pillow and a can of soda. Remove the pillow case, and put the full soda can in it. Then batter up, and bash that fucker right in the face. Just kidding. Don't do this. Just calm down.

Pull the stick back, houses get smaller.

Push the stick forward, houses get bigger.

Wear a good-fitting N95 mask from before you enter your departure airport until after you leave your destination airport. Covid sucks, flu sucks, rsv sucks - just wear a mask, ffs. And get vaccinated.

While you’re in the security line, take all your shit out of your pockets and put it in your carry-on. Same for your belt.

CubbyTustard has a good list. I’ll add the following:

• Don’t fly a budget airline
• Pop a dramamine before the flight (it makes you sleepy)
• Bring gum with you on the plane (chew a piece on accent and descent to help pop your ears)
• If in the US, use the Libby app alongside your local library and download audiobooks for free to pass the time during flights
• Wear a mask on the plane (or better yet, one of those buff scarf things). Not only to protect against germs, but because if anyone farts, you’re probably not going to smell it. Plus, people kinda get intimidated by people wearing masks these days, so they probably won’t chat with you too much.

I love flying and being in the airport. Yes it can be stressful, but it’s a miracle of modern dang science that ~300 people at the same time can take to the sky. Awe-inspiring, really.

1. do not check anything
2. do not put anything in the overhead storage unless it's a suitcase
3. if you're bringing a backpack, put it "upside down" under the seat in front of you. the floor is gross, don't put your backpack down and then put that grossness against your back when you get off the plane
4. if you're in the back half of the plane, be ready to volunteer to move to an exit row just in case the opportunity presents itself before the plane takes off
5. if you're scared of flying, know that the plane is shaped physically to stay in the air. Why do paper planes fly? because of their shape. Real planes are shaped waaay better.
6. only get water, no ice
7. write down where you parked or take a picture and know how you'll get back
8. have your first meal planned when you arrive at your destination

• Don’t be gate lice. There is no sense standing in line when group 1 is called when you are group 5. You are slowing everyone down
• Similarly, don’t stand up the second you get to the gate. You won’t get off any faster and just slow things down.
• Keep your seat belt on at all times. When flying, you can suddenly hit turbulence. Even on the ground, accidents can happen.
• Makes sure to leave electronics and liquids in an easily accessible and take them out before going through security. Slip on shoes are also very helpful.
• Fly as early as you can. Delays tend to stack up during the day.
• Use aerolopa.com to get a better idea of actual seat layouts and positioning near bulkheads, lavatories, doors, and galleys
• Travel cards can offer great perks that make the annual fee worth it. Free checked bag, free pre-check, lounge passes, earlier boarding groups, etc.
• Even if you are checking a bag, keep a change of clothes and other essentials in your carry on. Also, back a smaller bag inside that can be a personal item in case you have to gate check your bag.
• If you lack status with the airline, you can often buy elite access that can offer shorter lines for security and check in. It also comes with even domestic first class.
• Of you are a “passenger if size” you can easily book an extra seat in Southwest by using your name with “Xs” in the middle name field. You have to check-in in person, and they will give you a card to hold your extra's seat and let you preboard. After your flight, you can call and they will refund the extra seats fare.

• When traveling to/from eastern Europe, always have your checked-in luggage wrapped. In those countries, especially in Hungary, there are many thieves among luggage handlers and there are many horror stories regarding in what conditions the passengers received their belongings at the end (if at all). While you cannot 100% eliminate risks, wrapped luggages are much less likely to be tampered with. It's also worth wrapping it when you care about the outer texture of your luggage (sometimes the cargo area of the aircraft is really dirty).
• In the terminal building, find your gate first, so that you know exactly where to go when the time comes. Until then, go, find a comfortable seat somewhere else, far from the gates. At DXB I know a couple of cool locations where there aren't many people waiting, so there are plenty of free space plus much cleaner toilets nearby due to less frequent usage. However, I'll keep that information to myself, because I still wanna be able to enjoy those less crowded areas when I'm traveling.
• Pay attention to the safety briefing and really think it through. You have to remember it in panic situations. Pay attention to every single little detail, because everything is said for a very good reason. (Just as an example: when they say "pull the oxygen mask towards you when it appears in front of you", you really have to yank on it (okay, maybe don't rip it off; I have no idea how strong to pull it), because the oxygen flow starts only when a safety "pin" is released, which can be done by pulling on the oxygen line.)
• If your clothes are in your checked-in luggage, always have at least one set of extra clothes in your hand-carry.
• Pay attention to the airline's guidelines when packing your luggage.
• During an emergency evacuation do not reach for your belongings. Just do as instructed and leave the aircraft as you're told, ASAP. For this reason, keep your passport in your pocket and try to wear clothing that will be suitable outside as well to some extent. For example, wear your shoes and wear a sweater at least. (And pants as well, but I guess it doesn't need to be mentioned.) You will get your belongings back at the end (if they're salvageable, I guess).
• Others already mentioned it, but it's so important, I need to reiterate: don't be an asshole. It is common sense, yet there are so many people not following this rule.

Bring comfortable noise cancelling headphones.

I like audio books. Many people like movies. It's something to focus on that isn't flying.

Seats closer to the middle of the plane have the smoothest flight. Middle if the plane as in both over the wing and aisle.

Turbulence, a pilot friend explained it just as a boat encounters waves, a plane encounters bumps in the air. It's nothing to worry about.

I travel for a living.

1. Priority boarding is useless. You wait in line and have to jockey for space. I am usually one of the last people to board, I walk in, go straight to my seat and don’t have to worry about maneuvering past everyone, since they are already seated.
2. Noise canceling headphones. Pick your flavor it doesn’t really matter but having a nice audio playlist or some podcasts downloaded while not being able to hear everyone else will make the flight so much easier.
3. You can look up the flight before you book to figure out legroom, as a result I fly jetblue when I can and southwest when I can’t because they average about 2” and 1” more legroom respectively over everyone else.
4. The smaller and the easier your carry-on is to set down, the better. The goal is for it to be able to fit under the seat and not in the overhead compartment. Overheads fill up quickly, every seat has its own storage. I personally use a small briefcase that I found at a thrift store.
5. Toiletries, you don’t need as much as you think you need, and they don’t need to be in the carry-on. The only thing I would say needs to be in the carry-on is your toothbrush with some toothpaste already applied just in case. Hotels will typically have something resembling shampoo and body soap. Between those two things it will buy you enough time to get to a store if luggage gets lost.
6. Luggage is best in wheels and hard cases. I went so far that I use a pelican case as my luggage case. You probably don’t need to go that hard, but if the luggage can be bent with your hand, imagine what would happen if your luggage ended up at the bottom of the pile. Nothing fragile will survive, unless it’s in a hard case. Also if you aren’t confident that your luggage can survive a trip down the stairs, you need to pack it better, luggage handlers are not known to be gentle.
7. Patience. There’s a lot of hurry up and wait when traveling. Personally I bring a charger in my carry-on so I can use my laptop and phone still. You’re not going to make the plane do its plane things any faster, so just chill out, relax, you’ll get there when you get there. If you do a lot of traveling this is where the lounges come in play, but for one offs not worth it.

1. Edibles

2. You can take nips of liquor through security.

If you don't need an overheard bin to store anything it's less stressful. You can chill in the bar and then get on the plane very last and it doesn't matter, and you can potentially get off the plane faster when you don't have the big carry-on to wrestle with.

Many dumb takes here, but also some good ones. Here are mine roughly sorted by importance:

• (Don't be a dick - obviously)
• Choose a direct flight whenever possible. I usually would pick a shitty, more expensive airline over having a connecting flight.
• If you are planning a connecting flight, try to allocate at least 1-1.5 hours for the connection. Planes are delayed all the time and the shorter the connection time, the higher chance you'll miss your flight. Your checked luggage can also miss your connection, pack some necessities in your carry-on. (anything more than 3 hrs is overkill though)
• Noise cancelling headphones/earphones: this is where they work best, blocking out the fatiguing drone of the plane. Highly recommended. Headphones are more comfortable over longer periods than earbuds.
• Window seats are better for sleeping asile is better if you tend to move around (but people passing by will disturb you by brushing up against you and you feel the floor flexing more as they walk)
• Cheap airlines: you get what you pay for. You will be treated like cattle but they do get you from point A to B for less money. Be aware they will nickle and dime you every step of the way, bring water (bottle you can fill after security) and some snacks.
• Luggage: carry-on is better than checked if you can avoid it but sometimes you can't. For cheap airlines double check the size limits for carry on. The sizes are not standard and cheap airlines try to trick you into paying fees. Sometimes they'll also take your carryon during boarding to check it in the hold when the plane is very full. You can try to avoid this by queueing and boarding sooner than others, or by bringing a smaller bag that fits under the seat.
• If you do end up checking a bag you'll have to show up a bit sooner and usually wait a bit longer after the plane has landed. Place anything fragile in your carry-on! The luggage handlers throw your bag around like they are trying to break something on purpose. If you can't avaid checking fragile things, surround them with clothes and other soft materials. Also put a luggage tag on your bag, sometimes multiple people have the same bag.
• Flights during the evening and afternoon tend to have a higher chance of being late/geting cancelled. The effect is slight and there isn't much you can do about it though. Just keep it in mind if you have a critical time/place to be somewhere.
• On a long flight wearing your seat belt (even loosely) while sleeping means the flight attendant doesn't have to wake you if there is turbulance.
• Wearing a mask is not a bad idea

A towel, [The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy] says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (such a mind-boggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.

Traveling with a towel in my carryon bag has saved my ass more than a couple of times. It's a towel, it's a pillow, it's a small blanket, it's a privacy shield, it's a surface to sling your fake watches to passerbys and earn enough for your return flight home.

Want to freshen up prior to landing or during a connection at an airport? That towel will get you dry after washing up, brushing your teeth, etc. No silly paper towel, or Dyson hand dryer nonsense.

Listen to the safety briefing. They wouldn't bother telling you if it wasn't important.

Keep your seatbelt on for the entire flight. The pilots can't always predict turbulence, and hitting the ceiling hurts.

Chapstick.

Pro hack no. 1: For climate's sake, fly only if absolutely unavoidable.

Don't fucking fly.

Not bc climate change, but bc no human has ever gotten off a commercial flight. and been in the best possible condition to face whatever they were flying to.

People are miserable, and concentrated in a small space they're doubly so. Add to that convincing security theatre puppets that my CPAP is actually medical equipment, and that no, the meds that make sleep possible are not prohibited (liquid max be damned).... Hell with that.

I can get from my driveway to Chicago Union Station in two hours or less from my driveway. The LSL can have me in Albany ~12h later. Given that I was forced to make that trip quarterly in a past life, trying to fly WN would have forced me to go via BWI or ATL and taken the same damn amount of time all considered, with lots more stress.

Train gave me a decent sleeper car for less than plane fare for the two of us, even on WN. I arrived ready to get to work, versus a lil jet lagged and angry at people in general. Yeah, train was a no brainer.

Obviously not an option on all routes, but worked well for me.

I've traveled with my intellectually disabled sister before. If you're traveling with anyone with a major disability of any kind but similar severity, I highly recommend you pack disposable gloves and wet wipes, and possibly a small emergency snack (especially if they have diabetes, my sister will just beat the shit out of you if she gets too hungry, some people might die or some shit).

If my experience at airports / on air planes is any indication, best tip I have is... don't.