The festive season is here. Which means Canadian airports will be filled with the hustle and bustle of travelers coming home for the holidays. To make your travel experience as stress-free as possible, we’re sharing our top 5 tips to reduce holiday travel stress.
Top 5 tips to reduce holiday travel stress:
- Come early – With the busiest travel days of the year upon us you’re going to want to show up early. Give yourself lots of time to travel to the airport, park, go through check-in and security screening before boarding. Lines will be longer than normal so arriving at least 90 minutes before your scheduled flight is recommended, particularly during peak flight times which include early mornings and noontime. Plus, it’s PEI and you’ll probably run into your third cousin half removed from Alberton and you’ll want time to catch up.
- Ho-ho-hold the liquids, aerosols and gels – We know you’ve got eggnog, sugar cookies, and Grandma’s fruit cake on the brain but don’t forget to avoid bringing items that contain liquid, aerosols or gels in your carry-on bag. This includes alcohol, snow globes, maple syrup, perfume and lotions. It’s always best to check the CATSA website (www.catsa.gc.ca) before packing and remember that these items must be 100ml or less and must fit in a 1-litre clear, resealable bag.
- Unwrapped gifts are the best – You’ve used double-sided tape, folded the ends perfectly and even tied a bow to finish. Martha Stewart would be proud. But wait, you’re travelling and that gift isn’t for the CATSA screening officer. If you’re travelling with gifts, the contents may need to be inspected during the screening process. It’s better to show off your Martha skills and wrap your gifts once you get to your final destination.
- Make time to relax – The holidays are stressful so do yourself a favour and plan to clear security early. In addition to more people at the airport, there are more bags too. Which means screening can take longer. Plan to go through screening early so you can enjoy the comforts of the departure lounge. Sip on a latte and enjoy a bowl of seafood chowder from Budley’s on the Fly or get inspired for your next trip by checking out our Just Go! travel wall filled with images from Islanders’ adventures to far-away places.
- Check before you go – Our maritime weather can be very unpredictable so it’s always recommended to check your flight status before coming to the airport. This goes for picking up your daughter’s new boyfriend who’s flying in from the big city too. Sometimes flights can be affected by weather in other parts of the country so just because it’s not bad in your backyard, it’s best to visit www.flypei.com or your airline’s website for the most up-to-date flight status.
The Charlottetown Airport wishes all Islanders and tourists a safe and happy holiday season.