9 worst mistakes passengers make at the airport

It is possible even for the most seasoned tourists to face unforeseen hurdle, posed by a lost passport, flight delays and so on.

But, while it is hard to prevent those setbacks, there are some actions you can take to be sure you are prepared well in advance to have a face-off with them.

Ahead, a few silly mistakes made by travellers and some handy tips on how to keep away from them to save you time, money, and a few disappointing situations.

You have planned hard for that vacation; so, do not let any obstacle ruin the chances of enjoying it.

1. Your passport is (almost) invalid

Three cheers to you for having a valid passport (and give yourself enough time if you need to renew yours). That does not, however, imply that it will take you wherever you wish to fly. Airlines and gate agents at the airport strictly go by the rule book when it comes to verifying information before letting passengers board for countries that need visas. In addition, twenty six European countries need passports to be valid for three months after the date of your departure. It also helps in finding out whether or not your final destination need a visa, because, if it does, it is an altogether different story that requires red tape and paperwork to be dealt with before you board that flight. Airlines are accountable for letting a passenger fly without proper documentation, so the officials take their job very, very seriously. In other words, do your job well in advance and do not let the gate agents remind you that your documentation is not up to the mark.

2. You got distracted at the airport

Many passengers have the tendency to get swayed by those duty-free shops, airline lounges equipped with cosy seats and tempting food and drinks at the airport. Indulging in a bit of retail and leisure is fine, but not at the cost of losing track of time, more so, the local time. After planning for that trip to the desired destination, playing a heavy airfare and other travel expenses in advance, nobody ever wants to hear, “Sorry. The gate (for boarding) is closed.” Know that the airlines need to close the gate 20 to 30 minutes before actual departure because they need time to sort out the paperwork, and finish other odd duties before they are ready to fly. Avoid this bad situation by being really smart and aware of every ticking second.

3. Reality check: your airline can lose your luggage

We hope it never happens, but it makes perfect sense to avoid sparing any room for any possible issue to ruin your vacation. Before you part with your baggage at the airport, put your phone number and address inside the bag so that the airline officials can get in touch with you, in case you lose the stuff. Another helpful tip is to put a ribbon on your bag which could help you identify your own baggage, should some other passenger grabs it by mistake. Pack some change clothing in your hand baggage, along with the valuables and medication.

4. Failing to carry important documents

Do not forget to pack photocopies of your passport, visa, credit cards and other documents related to your journey, especially, if you are heading overseas. Trust us, as nothing sucks more than any mishap, loss or theft during your travel which could ruin your potentially happy trip into a sad one. Also, share the soft and hard copies of your essential documents with a reliable friend or family at home, to be on a safer side. We hope, the situation to ask for those docs, does not arise.

5. Being in your own little world

It is not uncommon to find passengers taking a casual stroll with earphones plugged or texting with their gaze fixed on their smartphone screen. Please, pretty please, don’t be that tourist. Do bear in mind the convenience of other tourists at the airport and be sure not to stand in the middle of the moving airport cart, the walkway or the escalator to let other passengers pass easily.

6. Haste makes waste

Almost all of us can relate well to the thought of standing at the security check counter, with our personal belongings exposed. The unsparing security personnel and other passengers may put the pressure on you to clear the area ASAP, but don’t make a mad dash from the scene without picking your wallet, laptop and other essentials. It also makes sense to stick your business card to the gadgets and other electronic devices before you put them under the screening machine, or better, even before you arrive at the airport.

7. Failing to book connecting flights

You may have saved enough to afford a fancy vacation, but it pays well if you are mindful about buying one ticket which connects two different flights between cities. The idea is to avoid any possibility of delayed travel and other mishaps while checking-in the luggage and allowing sufficient time to move from one airline to another. Also, you can’t forget that you have to pass through security checks again between two flights.

8. Waiting in long queues

When the world is active on the social media, how can you not connect with the airline social media teams online to get assistance in case of travel interruptions? Or, call them up to get a quick solution and efficient service than a hassled ground staff catering to ruffled passengers. And if you can access the airline lounge, easy assistance by the staff is within your reach and you do not even have to stand in long queues.

9. Check and recheck

Seasoned travellers say the practice of double checking everything has often (surprisingly) worked for them. Double check almost everything – the timings of your airline, the gate connecting your flight, the last-minute seat availability in your flight, and so on. Always seek the information politely, and believe that just because it has been said so, it is so. Generally, people at the airport are more driven towards handing out information to keep you moving, instead of mindfully giving the right word.