8 Things to NEVER do at the Airport Before Boarding a Flight
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
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There are 8 common mistakes travelers make at the gate before boarding a flight. In today’s video we will break down each travel mistake and share some sneaky insider hacks that will make you feel like an airport expert the next time you fly. Pay special attention to #8 if you are checking a bag at the airport or taking an international flight.
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Welcome to Portable Professional, where I, Megan, use my experience from over 300 flights to offer you simple, practical and game-changing travel tips and hacks. Our mission is to help you reduce stress and make the most of every trip.
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🐶 Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:13 Check this at the gate!
00:45 Iphone travel hack
01:47 Must-have for flight
02:41 Wear THIS (not THAT!)
03:51 Do before boarding (or regret it!)
04:41 Food & drink rules
05:07 Plane charger warning
06:14 Luggage mistake
06:39 Essential boarding documents
07:25 Mobile ticket tip
07:57 Gate checked luggage
08:31 Gate check vs. checked bag
08:53 Personal item packing tip
09:27 Don't rush this...
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it comes all the way back to when we were children: "go to the bathroom before we leave" - personally, I don't tank up on fluids before flying. I know it's counter to the "hydrate early, hydrate often" mantra, but I'd rather be slightly less hydrated than have to pee multiple times in flight.
Airplane restrooms are the worst.
Same.
@@paulinecriel9905 spoken like someone who's never used a bus restroom.
Fully agreed. Being slightly dehydrated is not a bad thing.
I try to abide by those rules but often the flights are late.And you don't have time to make your connecting flight if you stop to go in the bathroom
I drive my husband crazy when we travel:
1. I want to be at the airport 4 hours before flight. For various reasons.
2. Check in 24 hours prior to flight on the dot.
3. After going through TSA, find the flight on the board then go to the gate.
4. Now we can find something to eat, but not far from the gate.
5. Go to the bathroom before getting on the flight.
6. Continue to check watch, the airplane appt and the gate.
7. Line up early especially if we are boarding group 1.
leave husband
@@christinejewels2944 Or, "Leave, Husband"
I'm exactly the same. I don't like to be stressed at the airport.
I don't like to be stressed at the airport either. I'm in my 70s now and it takes longer for me to walk anywhere. My husband doesn't have this problem . We need time to park the car, check in the luggage, walk to security, go through security, and he always has to take off his belt and his pants won't stay up without him holding on to them Lol! Take off your shoes, bring out your liquid bag so on and so forth. Find your gate. Find a seat. And as mentioned, sometimes the gate even changes on you. plus, if it's in the colder months, you're dealing with all the extra coats, hats, gloves Etc you may be taking off and putting back on. Yes, you should always go and use the bathroom before getting on the airplane. You may want to get something to eat or drink at the airport, and that takes time too. As a former airline employee and married over 50 years I still have to argue with my husband about getting up and getting to the airport early. Ugh!
Agree with all steps. Maybe not 4hrs tho, but at least 2-3….i love to people watch. 😊
My tip....put all your luggage in the same place in your car so you don't get to security and realize you only took the stuff in the trunk and not the stuff in the back seat.
Ha! I left half my luggage at my aunt's house as a kid and only discovered it after I was at my host's house in another country. Flew the whole way without noticing.
That text-your-flight-number hack is a new thing to me. It's simple yet mind-blowing. 😲
Thank you for sharing the knowledge.
had this on any android phone for years
That self text tip is genius. Definitely had no idea that was a thing.
It is pretty cool! Something I will definitely be using on future flights!
Do we know if there’s anything like this for android???
It only works for some airlines. :(
Right? That was a great tip!
Me too
Prefer printed boarding pass. Saves time for everybody, reliable, no battery needed. Plus reservation number .... on a post it on your passport for backup.
I still use the printed boarding pass as well.
Yes, less steps to deal with
@@Tim_Raths I keep a folder with me, at all times, with all of my printed out tickets and info.
@@MsBackstager I also do that.
I have found that even through they are a bit bulky it’s always a great idea to bring a portable charger with you when travelling. This takes away any issues of not finding a charging port or one not working. It has saved me countless times!
Or the times you get on an old or small plane to find that there are NO outlets or USB ports at all!
Are there size limits for portable charging/battery units to carry on the plane with you?
@@mrxman581I think so. I was curious about a battery pack that could keep my Steam Deck charged and found a couple that said "Largest battery allowed on aircraft" on the box. They were pretty big, so anything that would fit in a pocket or purse should be fine.
@@mrxman581 Airlines typically limit power chargers to batteries with 100-watt hours (Wh), although you can pack batteries capable of 160 Wh if you get preapproval from the airline. The 100Wh limit covers standard electronics such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and headphones.
@@magietagieI carry an apple mini charger on my international flights
I don't have a smartphone, so I can't download an airline app. As for in-flight entertainment, it's called a book.
I love the book idea but not sure I could do without the smartphone. Happy travel, Michael!
I have a smartphone as backup for my printrd boarding pass, and book ! 😅
Virtue signal much?
As for the Food & Drink advice, I bought two bottles of water at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok AFTER security. They had another impromptu security check at the gate with portable tables, hand wands etc. and EVERYONE had to dump their water and water bottles. Fortunately I still had the receipt for my two unopened bottles so I was allowed to take them on board and fill my water bottle. I realize this isn’t the usual process but travelers should be aware that this can happen.
Happened to me in Lima Peru. Got a bottle in the lounge after security. I had to lose it.
Also Riyadh Saudi Arabia does this
This happened to me in Santiago, Chile.
Happened to me at Panama City Panama airport.
And Dubai
Putting an air tag in my checked bag …. or anything that is important but easy to misplace… like keys/wallet or even my calendar….has been incredibly helpful for me.
So many comments so I'm not sure if it was mentioned...but in addition to having both a printed boarding pass and the one in the app or mobile wallet, I also take a screenshot of the pass. This gives me an additional option if I want to use my phone but lose a connection, or for the times when you suddenly have navigated away from the boarding pass page just as they are about to scan it and everyone is waiting behind you.
When I travel by air I dress only in natural fibers/materials. Cotton, wool, silk, etc. doesn't melt. In the event of a undesirable mishap heat could melt synthetic materials including sports shoes. Leather does not melt. Don't forget foot wear too. Saw this long ago in a travel magazine. Thanks for your video.
So true! Though we never want to consider anything going wrong! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the reminder!
I read an article years ago written by an aviation accident investigator. He said if ever cabin crew ask to collect your shoes (so as not to damage the assumed soon to be used escape slide), don’t do it.
If there’s a fire/heat or sharp object on the floor, you’re basically screwed without shoes.
I don’t know whether shoe collecting still forms part of emergency protocol, but guess it may.
I also don’t loosen my shoes until the 10,000 feet altitude chime.
@@bogan-slayer7469 Hopefully I won't ever have to verify this. Haha. You're right about hot aisles or debris. Problem is now lots of shoes even leather have rubber soles. I prefer full leather shoes though more costly they a durable.
@@kiyoshitakeda452And they can be resoled
I really don’t understand why you should something special for flying. I never experienced any problems with wearing my usual clothes (jeans, shirt, suit etc).
We arrived at the airport and the boarding gate was different on the app and the gate displayed on the board differed from that on the app. We asked at the airline information desk and was told that the app will have the most current info. A few minutes later the departure board was updated with the gate shown on the app.
Many thanks for the iPhone self-text flight hack with embedded link... brilliant!
And I thought maybe I was the only one who didn’t know! Glad to be able to share that!
@@PortableProfessional Does it work for android
@@PortableProfessionali just tried it. Didn’t work for me. 🤔
@@sambuhagiar9274 Yeah, didn't work for me either unfortunately.
Regarding your carry-on, if you’re going to be traveling more than 2-3 days, take the largest allowable carry-on and fill it up with all your meds, chargers, electronics, travel documents, toiletries, underwear, and clothing. Don’t forget your personal item can be a small backpack that can hold lots of items. That’s where I put anything I’ll need or want on the flight: earbuds, toothbrush, charger, water, reading materials, laptop or tablet, small pillow, light jacket, etc. Between my backpack and my carry-on, I can easily pack for 5 days, or 7 in warm weather. And if I have access to a washer and dryer at my destination, I can just take about 3 days worth of clothes and wash them when I get there.
After a checked bag was lost and found three days later at the beginning of a cruise, I have not checked another bag. I use a roller carry-on for clothing and a duffle bag for toiletries, accessories and sandals. It fits under the seat. I can pack for three weeks this way with no problem.
facts. packing for a 4 day trip and instead of doing a small luggage and 1 carry on ..its 1 med check bag and my purse. done.
The best bathroom is the one before going to security. It will be the cleanest and no lines. Anytime I have checked my bag at the gate it is always at the bage pickup not in the walkway coming off the plane.
False. Homeless people have access to bathrooms before TSA. It’s better to use the ones that homeless people won’t have access to.
They will tell you where your last-minute checked carry-on will be. If it's voluntary and bags will be at the carousel, and if I have a short layover before a connection, I will politely decline to check it and explain why.
$229 for pants? I'd pass😂
Lol.
I make sure to take anything out of my hand luggage that I might need during the flight, and I try to keep that to a minimum or to small items. These include eye mask, ear plugs, headphones, power bank/charger for my smartphone, and medicines such as prescriptions, sleeping aids, or motion sickness. Usually the biggest thing I take to my seat is my neck pillow. This way I don't have to get up to get something during the flight, even if it is a short flight. Everything else can stay in my hand luggage.
Being a plane nerd helps in a few ways - knowing what kind of plane you’re on can help prepare for what may happen to your bags. Small planes like CRJs and some Embrears will mandate bags be gate checked whereas bags checked at the gate on larger jets may offer bags be checked to baggage claim (sometimes for free, hint hint).
You’re so correct about the gate changes. It is critical. And don’t forget to turn airplane mode back off so you get the constant gate changes on your app! You can be at a19 and find out within minutes it’s now a3
I never heard of the iPhone text trick. WoW! Thank you.
The problems with merino wool clothing is they tend to to be extremely expensive, and merino wool has a reputation of not lasting as long as other fabrics. Tends to fall apart faster.
Not for me.
Also way too hot for me
I am NOT spending $257 on travel pants
That information about the properties of the natural lanolin contained in merino wool was great!
Tip #0: never allow your passport to be photographed or shot on a video, especially when its number is visible. Never show such photos and videos to the public.
Was at the correct numbered gate, but at the wrong terminal. All b/c I didn't double check my flight/boarding pass. Now I check and double check.
Great hack on staying updated on your flight. Thanks
I use an Apple Air Tag in my checked luggage.
I use a Samsung SmartTag.
Me too, they're great!
So much great advice...Thank you
Thank you for your time and posting.
fr! maybe cause its memorial day but shes sooo good! flying back home for my boyfriends aunts funeral and this popped up she is a gem.
I discovered the iPhone hack by accident last year when I texted someone my flight number. It’s a super handy feature to have.
The airline phone apps do a good job of updating you when there’s a gate change. In fact the last time I had a gate change I was notified by text, email, and app message. It would have been very hard to miss. Since I also wear an Apple Watch my wrist was buzzing multiple times with all the notifications! However, I still always check the information posted at the gate because it’s impossible to be too careful.
Thank you! May I add one other tip.... just before boarding a few years ago on a trip from Alaska to Washington my husband brought me a sample of tea from a stand outside of a store near the gate. It was cinnamon tea and he unknowingly poured the bottom of the kettle into my little paper cup. I drank it down and burned my throat with cinnamon pieces. My throat instantly swelled and I was coughing uncontrollably. I went to the bathroom and tried to rinse out my mouth and throat repeatedly. I was terrified to get on the flight with a swollen throat and subsequent increased heart rate... I waited as long as possible and finally calmed down enough to get on the plane. Never again will I sample ANYTHING before a flight!
I will never pay for clothes that cost as much as my ticket just to travel...that's absurd
I take a picture of my electronic boarding pass when I check in from home in case I can’t access it for some reason
Thanks! Helpful stuff.
Make sure your phone is charged, and you have a charger handy, also you have paid your cellphone bill.
And roaming activated
@@user-uo4bh5si9f Or sim cards for a month or so for your destination.
Reach out to your provider to access the international travel upgrade. Ours is $10 daily.
Avoid the outrageous daily international fees charged by American phone companies & get a digital e-SIM card good for your destination.😎
I have a UK sim card I use when I travel from Canada, and after going a couple of times, I finally remembered to pack a pin to open my phone to switch out the sim card. The first time I needed one, an Air Canada employee let me use a pin from his turban.
Thank you for explaining gate checked bags! I had no idea! xoxo
Great video Great advice thanks hun
Great tips thanks.
Thank you Megan, I ❤ your videos! 👍
I try to travel light enough to get my cabin bag under the seat. Then I love to get on last, even in first class. That way, I don't have to rub elbows with all the passengers seated behind me, twice: before boarding and after.
If I need to check my rollaboard, I make it security-compliant and take it to the gate and check it there. Often, it's free there. Plus I can use it to roll my cabin bag to the gate. Plus, I don't have to wait in line outside security to check my bag.
I do this when I want the chance of catching an earlier flight. I can check my rollaboard on any flight at the gate at the last minute, and be certain it's getting on the same plane as I am. If my flight is cancelled, changing airlines is an option if my bag isn't checked.
Thanks for the tip. Will try it next time.
You’re welcome, Jean-Francois!
Great video thank you.
I must say I love your hair and style overall.😊
Some of the best tips on this video-saved for future reference!
That's the first that I've ever heard about texting your flight number to yourself and then it automatically giving you a link to help you get up to date information about that flight. Thank you!!!
You’re welcome! Something I just learned also! Couldn’t wait to share it!
Thanks, Megan!
Excellent advice regarding gate vs checked baggage to be picked up in the breezeway. I would not have thought of that.
Glad you found that info helpful!
Past the checkpoint, the price goes up 800%
Thank you for another informative video!
My pleasure, Anthony!
@@PortableProfessional your videos are my go-to before and during trip planning. I have a health condition and trip preparation takes longer than before.
I would not have even thought of the texting the flight number trick. Wow, how convenient!
Great to hear you find it helpful! I think it is pretty cool!
I have the United app and i just love it! Lol it's got a countdown to my flight and sends notifications.
I didn’t know about the iPhone hack, but u really appreciate it!
After a recent nightmare at MIA--if the skytrain is broken you are screwed. No, they will not add more carts and the minifleet of carts closes at 9pm, even if the skytrain is broken. Also, MIA AA does not have any restaurant open at night . Wear strudy walking shoes as you may be required to speed march and stand in line for hours-- in my case 4 hours.Also, have a hooded sweatshirt even if you are coming/going to the tropics--MIA is a frigid wasteland and it gets worse at night.
Wow-great tip about the iPhone that I will definitely use for my next flight!
Thank you dear.
Always wear “Depends”. You never know on any flight, bus or train ride what may keep you from being able to use a bathroom. Good on boats in case of sea sickness.
Thanks, Megan, for the iPhone tip....that's a new one for me, and will be very helpful!
You're so welcome!
Even if you only fly an airline one time, sign up for their frequent flier program. That way you can access the app any time and you can check the status of your flight, check in 24 hrs. early, and you can pull up your boarding pass and take a screenshot of it at some point before you board. With the screenshot you don't have to worry about connectivity issues, just remaining battery. Gate changes, delays, the start of boarding are pushed to your phone so you are always on top of the latest information.
Leaving your luggage (in some airports) may also mean that it is turned over or gathered by security if you're gone long enough, and then you have to go claim it. Usually theft though is the bigger concern but I know for O'Hare airport they say that unattended lueggage may be picked up by security for security reasons (security for other passengers and the airport that is).
With your boarding pass I would take a screen shot of the boarding pass with the bartcode just in case you lose signal or have an issue with the app. A paper boarding pass would be better (and usually I'll get these at the airport when I check in as a backup measure. Taking a screenshot (to some) may be debatable as some do say that it's psosible if your phone is hacked, someone could obtain this but the boarding pass usually doesn't contain anything highly confidential except your name perhaps and a phone number but no SSN or address info usually.
A screen shot can be an ok back up. Don't rely on that.
Some boarding pass scanners won't/can't scan them.
Did not know about the text hack - will give it a go next month. Thank you ❤
You’re welcome! Have a good flight!
Thanks for the info on gate checked bags
No problem 👍 Safe travels, Steve.
The iPhone link feature blew my mind! Thank you!!
Thanks, I did not know about the iphone future
Just tried the IPhone flight hack ….awesome!
Oh my gosh! What happened to air travel? I am going to take an Amtrak.
I haven’t flown in about 20 years. After watching these vlogs I get anxious. I have had both hips, both knees and left ankle replaced. It scares me a little knowing about all the medal in my body.
There was this Tuesday in early September just after the turn of the century where planes were turned into weapons.
You might have heard of it.
September 11, 2001.
Staying home is underrated. I can see any place in the world thanks to videos.
Overseas??
Thank you iPhone and Portable Professional Megan!! . Besides saving this vlog, I’m going to try that text flight number. I’m mostly an Alaska Airlines traveler and connected to all notifications regarding flight status. I’m flying on United and Austrian this summer so I’m definitely using this new (to me) hack. Brilliant! 👍🏼😃 Thanks again!! ✈️
Thank you for the information, I never knew about the iPhone hack, I just tried it and it actually works , Great Channel
Glad you enjoy the channel! Hope to see you back here for more travel tips and hacks!
Also make sure you don't check any medications that can't be purchased over the counter at your destination, whether you need them in flight or not.
Haha I didn’t even know you could text yourself at all! What a great tip the flight number thing is.
Yes Mam, I always text myself for flight updates 👍🏾
I pack a very small 110v (3-port) cluster block that allows me to share a 110v outlet if supply is limited
That iPhone trick is new to me, I fly a lot also
Really well chosen merch for a travel channel!!!!!!!!!!
What about samsung?
One of your best videos yet. 👏
Glad you think so!
Wow 🤯 I just tried that flight number text trick and it worked!! Amazing 😻 Thanks for that 😊
You're welcome, Pete! Glad to hear it worked for you!
It's not working for me 😢
@@asuezeigwe9381 did you text the flight number to yourself?
I have done the settle at the wrong gate thing. 1st clue was the number of available seats in waiting area.
Great video - thank you! The last few flights I've taken passengers weren't allowed to wait outside the plane in the skyway. We were told to go to baggage claim.
I always like to have a printed pack of essential documents related to my trip with me. This includes boarding passes, full flight itinerary showing my return flight (especially if I can't check in for my return flight before I leave), hotel confirmation printouts, and my travel insurance certificate with the 24-hour contact number of the insurance provider. I also have everything ready to go on my phone.
Me too! My OCD won't allow me to travel without my folder with all these printed documents, haha!
Texting yourself of the flight number for information is a new thing for me thanks 👍
well last year i pretty much went with my friend on a trip for the first time and honestly it went really smoothly like we had little to no real issues at least none that i can recall.
Some Airline sites are quite accurate about tracking your luggage. More than Appel Tags. I bound tags before my flight to Tanzania and it could never locate my back pack. Upon arriving home, same thing happened. I had picked up my back pack for several minutes before it notified me it had arrived to my destination.
So cute!
$229 dollars? I feel like I’m at a restaurant and the waiter, wanting a bigger tip, just recommended the most expensive meal.
i do have a small trick to avoid dealing with low battieres in general but this applies to flights as well(invest in your own portable charager) i am pretty sure i used mine with no real issues.
I arrived at Pulkovo many hours early, display shows gate #2. I am sitting there watching a movie. After it ends, I notice the gate area is now empty. They changed the gate to literally the other end of the terminal. Fortunately, I got there in time.
Strangely, no one there check my boarding pass. I could have gotten on a flight going anywhere. Security lines in Russia are easier than any TSA Precheck. I didn't even have to dispose of my drink.
I didn’t know it exists. Thank you.
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!
Astute observation about usb charging output. Applies to cars as well, if you need a fast charge you need a 12V cigarette adaptor to usb, these are much like a standard cube charger in output. Power bank is answer to many charging issues and for me it is a must bring. I bring a 2 or 3 outlet splitter plug with me so you can share outlet with no issues, it is small/cheap and easy to pack.
That iPhone hack is awesome! The gate changes can be like a ping pong game….. Though be cautious of the airport arrival/departure boards. On our recent flight the gate on the board was different from our boarding pass/app. Got there ( at a south satellite gate) to find out the gate WAS at the initial gate listed - back at the main terminal. It was an airport error. The flight never was scheduled out of the south satellite gate…
Love the iPhone tip
For more than two years, I have used the airline code and flight number link to check updated times and gates. For example AA777 - American from DFW to Las Vegas. Note: It does not work for all airline code. For example Frontier’s two character code is F9. Hyperlinks to F9 followed by the flight number will not work.
Brilliant iphone hack re- flight info
Another great travel video ❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
The iphone text tip was brilliant. Thank you
You are so welcome!
I did not know about that gate number iPhone thing! That’s so cool! I definitely could have used that last time for my round trip as 3 out of 4 flights had an unannounced gate change and was not even updated on the app. 😖
That could certainly lead to a missed flight. Hope the iPhone hack gets you to the right gate!
Subscribed.
Great! Welcome to the channel!
Airline aps are great. United is an airline I use frequently and their ap is especially good.
❤thank you