27 Clever Plane Hacks To Make Life Easier

Although traveling can be incredibly exciting, it can be equally stressful and inconvenient. Here are 27 plane hacks to make traveling a little less chaotic.

1. Plane Hack for Packing

Although some people prefer to pack light, others argue that packing smarter is better. This neat trick is ideal for ensuring everything fits easily and is organized. To do it, simply lay flat heavier items like sweatshirts or jumpers. Next, roll shirts and pants and place them side by side on top of the heavier, flat articles. It should be noted that this method won’t prevent wrinkles, so articles likely to wrinkle should be folded instead. Additionally, packing similar clothes or two colors that go well together will minimize the number of outfits needed because clothing is “mix and match.”

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2. Plane Hack for Ensuring Comfort

Temperatures change from location to location, as well as in the airport and on the plane. Wearing layers is a great way to ensure you never get too cold. Plus, you can save some extra space in your bag by choosing clothing that you’ll want to wear like a tank top or extra sweater. If you get too hot, you can always put it in or tie it to your carry-on.

3. Help Stave off Germs

Although the air vent above can feel chilly, keeping it open and blowing directly on you can help keep germs away. The vent always circulates fresh, clean air and prevents germs from flying around you.

4. Make a List

It seems cliche and maybe even tedious, but keeping a to-do list will help eliminate a lot of the angst of traveling. Make a list of what to pack, things to do or eat, and confirmation numbers for hotel or car reservations. Most importantly, make a checklist of all the important documents you’ll need, like an ID and/or Passport and proof of vaccinations. (Some countries require things like yellow fever vaccinations before entry to the country will be permitted.)

5. Scan Important Documents

It goes without saying that keeping track of our ID, Passport, and other necessary documentation is the most important element of travel. However, misfortune does happen on occasion. Therefore, scanning a copy of your Passports and ID and sending them to your email is a great way to ensure you still have proof in case your important documents are lost or stolen.

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6. Sanitizing Wipes

Sanitizing wipes come in large packs and travel packs, so they’re convenient for on-the-go. They can be used to wipe down the tray table and seats to minimize exposure to germs. Moreover, they’re great to have on hand in case a beverage spill or your snack is messier than you anticipated.

7. The Darker the Better

Not only is comfortable clothing essential for travel, along with slip-on shoes, but darker colors are less likely to show any dirt or stains that inevitably happen from time to time.

8. Carry Essentials

Sometimes, travel plans get delayed, but getting to your luggage isn’t an option. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have essentials like your toothbrush or extra underwear in your carry-on or personal, just in case.

9. Be Prepared for TSA

TSA has a number of requirements, and meeting them can be stressful, particularly during peak travel times. However, one travel expert by the name of Allie Phillips shares useful plane hacks, including one that applies prior to boarding. “Packing your carry-on bag with easy access to anything that needs to be scanned separately helps,” she said.

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10. Plane Hacks for Freshening Up

Traveling can be dirty, sweaty, and eventually odorous, especially if things don’t go according to plan. A great way to combat unwanted odor is to place a few dryer sheets in luggage, helping keep articles fresh during travel.

11. Store Stuff in Plastic

There are thousands of styles of toiletry kits on the market that make travel easier. Travel-size soaps and other everyday essentials like toothpaste, a place to keep all your makeup together, and so on. However, these little bottles can spill and leak into travel bags, as well as in suitcases. Luckily, putting them in something like a Ziploc bag then in the reusable travel kit will help prevent any unwanted leaks or spills, from seeping all over everything.

12. Offline Map Usage

Research the destination beforehand to better understand what kind of living conditions there are. For example, in rural parts, there’s likely to be less access to Wi-Fi. In a situation like this, it’s helpful to know that Google Maps has a cool feature where you can download maps, so you’ll always be able to find your way, even without any cell reception.

13. Plane Hacks for Entertainment

Load up on downloaded movies on your phone or computer before traveling, and use noise-canceling headphones for an undisturbed flight. Ensure everything is fully charged or you have a charger on hand. It might also be a good idea to plan other activities like Sudoku, journaling, reading, and even coloring, as they’re fairly compact and easy to travel with.

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14. Drink Water

There are a couple of reasons for this plane hack. The first is that the body dehydrates quicker at higher elevations. So, water is ideal for helping stave off dehydration or elevation sickness. Second, fizzy drinks often cause our bodies to release more gas. Pair that with the elevation and you’ll likely be burping constantly.

15. Bypass the Cost of Water

The law for travel is that liquids can’t be in containers that are larger than around 4 oz. As a result, numerous people have had to toss their beverages along the way, thereby paying outrageous airport prices for beverages. However, according to the TSA if your tea, water, or coffee is fully frozen when you go through security, it fits within the guidelines for traveling. Note that it must be completely frozen. Another cost-effective option is to travel with an empty reusable water bottle and fill up after you’ve gone through security.

16. Take Snacks

Although beverages aren’t allowed through security, food is generally acceptable. As a result, you can pack your own snacks from home, saving money and ensuring you get the quality of food you desire. Note that there are limitations on traveling with certain fruits or vegetables. Still, in many cases, this is a healthier and more cost-effective solution to a subpar and overpriced meal or snack.

17. Download Apps

While some people prefer not to have too many things on their phones, downloading apps from the airlines will give you the option of having a boarding pass directly on your phone, saving time and paper. Plus, passengers have access to real-time updates regarding gate changes of flight delays.

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18. Plane Hacks to Minimize Waiting

When going through security, go to the left as most people instinctually go to the right, their dominant hand. Also, avoid travel by timing your travel around rush hour, wherever you’re headed. “It’s a pointless and stressful way of missing a flight,” explains Geroge Morgan-Grenville, CEO of Red Savannah, based in the U.K. Have essential documents ready, check in ahead of time on the app, and allow yourself time to compensate for things like returning the rental car.

19. Set the Clocks

For those traveling to different countries, or even minor time zone changes, it might be a good idea to change all clocks ahead of time to the time zone of the destination to avoid any schedule conflicts like a missed appointment.

20. Adjust Connection Speeds

For a stronger phone connection while traveling, it’s recommended to use a local sim card. “Uploads of photos go faster; if you need to be on a conference call, the quality is always better, as you are connecting locally to the provider’s point of presence, and there’s no need to buy any add-on bundles from your USA carrier,” explains Andy Abramson, the CEO of Comunicano.

21. Chance at Cheaper First-Class Ticket

“If you want cheap(er) first-class seats, book a normal economy ticket and then check the airline’s website, and most of the time, you can get a first-class upgrade for $150–$200. I do this for myself and even did it today for the flight I booked for my boss. I went back to check and compare for first-class tickets, and this method was over $1,000 cheaper. Seriously. Book a normal ticket first and then look for a separate upgrade. Best value you can get for great seats.” Explains Molly French.

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22. Keep a Picture of a Baby and Dog

While we all know the importance of keeping track of our wallets, sometimes we misplace them, or they’re stolen. However, people are seemingly more likely to return a found wallet if there is a picture of a baby and/or a dog in them, as it gives the owner and finder of the wallet some possibly relatable ground.

23. Wait to Check a Bag

In many cases, airlines announce the need for more overhead storage space. As a result, they offer to check bags for free. This is a great way to save money and still not have to keep track of your luggage for the whole trip; it is especially beneficial for connecting flights and layovers. However, avoiding the checked bag fee may mean you’ll have extra to dump at security, so weigh your options thoroughly.

24. Take Pictures

People always think of taking pictures of the fun they had while traveling, but rarely do they think of taking pictures of their luggage before they check it. However, doing so will be advantageous if the airline employees damage the luggage en route.

25. Keep a Little Cash

When traveling, having at least a little cash on hand is always a good idea. While most things today are electronic, systems can go down, preventing businesses from running cards. Moreover, keeping the cash in your shoe minimizes the threat of theft. Additionally, it’s a great place to keep your ID while out on the town.

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26. Location Matters

Some experts suggest staying somewhere on the 3-6 floor so as to avoid theft but still be close enough to the ground to escape a fire. Not all hotels have that many floors, in which case, request to be off the ground floor.

27. Always Make Sure There’s Gas

While traveling, it’s not uncommon for people to rent a car to get around. However, a few problems arise. First, the roads and gas station locations are unfamiliar in a new place. Second, the car is likely to be unfamiliar, meaning that the safest bet is always to ensure there is at least anywhere from a quarter to a half tank, depending on how far the destination is and whether an impromptu detour may occur.

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