“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Want to have a better flight? Of course you do. Some people are hasty to complain about long waiting lines, delayed flights, and other unwanted flight experiences, but there are several easy and important steps one can take to prepare and help insure the efficiency, and most importantly, the quality of your flight.

Yes, flying can be a stressful experience. So arm yourself with these easy tips on making the trip as painless as possible:

1. Leave early, give yourself some leeway.

If your having a trip of particular importance, or if you’re traveling to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime celebration or other important event, depart a day early to avoid possible delays that might make you miss out on that event altogether.

2. Low price versus location.

If you find yourself tempted by a low flight price, check to see where the destination airport is. You might be surprised to find that it’s a long and costly journey from the airport to where you really want to be, and that you may be better off paying a little more so you can arrive at an airport that is closer to your destination.

3. Avoiding the middle.

If the seating chart shows only middles available when buying your plane ticket, go unassigned. Since airlines generally hold back some windows and aisles until departure day, you’re better off heading to the airport a little early to get a seat assignment when you check in. On the flip side, if you’re traveling with someone and seating is wide open, reserve a window and an aisle in the same row. If no one picks the middle seat, you both get more room to spread out.

4. Find the right seat.

Start at the e-ticket kiosk to find empty rows of seats. If nothing’s open, ask the gate attendant about no-shows 15 minutes before takeoff. And if you’re still stuck next to Frank the Tank, don’t just up and move – ask a flight attendant to reassign you. They’re trained in the delicate art of seat shuffling, so let them work their magic.

5. Get the early flight, travel mornings.

Always try to fly as early as possible the day of your flight – the first departures are ideal, if feasible. This is of particular important if you’re traveling during a holiday or within a busy period.

Flight delays often have ripple effects throughout the system, so the earlier you leave, the better your chances of avoiding major clogs or congestions down the line. And if something does go wrong, you’ll have the rest of your day to straighten out other options to allow yourself to get where you’re going. On the other hand, avoid taking the last flight of the day unless you have no other possible option available.

6. Don’t be part of a smelly situation.

A small tube of lavender lotion can be your saving grace when it comes to the in-flight body odors swirling around. A dab under your nostrils will leave you smiling while others gag at the nearby passenger with foot rot.

7. Don’t check your bags.

Save time and avoid depressing lost-luggage counter with a light trifold garment bag that fits in the overhead compartment.

8. Strap it up.

If you must check luggage, wrap it with a luggage strap. No embarrassing bursting zippers, and your bag will be easy to spot on the carousel.

9. Zip it.

A few ziplock bags can save your luggage. These bits of American-made genius will prevent toiletries from leaking and help you stash buffet food for a snack later. The bigger ones are also great for stowing sweat-drenched gym clothes.

10. Luggage loss prevention

Don’t forget to put your name on the outside of your bags and inside your bags. Or even better, put a copy of your itinerary in each checked bag so the airline can locate you. The most common causes of lost and delayed bags are late check-ins and tight connections. Try to avoid both whenever you can.

11. Stop the pop.

Earplugs are a wonderful invention, but seldom used. The can help bridge the pressure gap between the runway and the 35.000-foot ceiling. A ceramic disk inside slows depressurization to prevent painful popping. They work great in hotel rooms as well. Never leave home without them.

12. Think small … for airports that is.

I bet you think the larger the airport the better. But is it right? Wrong. Although some may offer diversified flight options and other convenient may offer more distractions, random problems diversions and a greater choice of flights – but sometimes less can be like to much. Smaller airports are often easier to move through and offer a better passenger experience. Long lines at security checkpoints can be a problem at smaller airports, though, so make sure that isn’t the case before you choose to depart from one.

13. Have some taste.

If you have the unusual experience of being fed onboard, skip those special meals unless it’s a medical necessity. “Special meal” usually means a not-so-special taste.

14. Non-stop is better.

Travel non-stop whenever you can. Each time you change planes, you increase the possibility of things going wrong. You become subject to weather and congestion conditions at not only departing and arriving airports, but at a third, and thus also increasing the risk of mechanical problems or personnel-related delays on two airplanes rather than one. Checked luggage has to make the connections, too. If your connection is to a different carrier, things can get even more complicated.

15. Bring your own amenities.

Whether it’s pillows, food, blankets, special requirements, magazines, antacid, or whatever, bring your own because airlines are slimming down on all amenities.

16. Stay loyal.

Stick with one or two frequent-flier programs. In addition to racking up free trips faster, you’ll also accumulate more quickly the perks that can make trips easier. On some airlines, these include a special reservations number, early boarding, access to upgrades, and roomier economy-class seating.

17. Cover thy laptop.

When any form of liquid passes near or over your personal solitaire machine, close the cover. Accidents, turbulence, and clumsy flight attendants ruin too many computers in-flight.

18. Beat jet sweat.

A plane’s air-conditioning usually isn’t switched on until after takeoff. Wear quick-drying, wrinkle-free pants to make sure you’re sitting sweat-free, even when you’re stuck on the runway.

19. Chat her up.

Talk to your seat neighbors once in awhile. They could surprise you and be quite interesting. If not, you can say you tried and will probably never see them again. You can meet some of the most interesting people in your life on an airplane. And if you’re not trying, you’ll never know.

20. Stretch out.

Keeping your hamstrings loose pre- and midflight will help prevent you from growing restless. To stretch them, stand with your legs shoulder-width apart, bend at the waist, grab your calves, and hold for 5 seconds. Rise and repeat 5 times.

21. Don’t dry up.

Saline nasal spray combats the dryness of planes and hotel rooms. Rewetting drops will keep your contacts from jumping ship after you touch down. And bring an extra set of lenses so you won’t end up with blurry vacation memories.

22. Be a pessimistic optimist – or is it the other way around?

Don’t expect every detail to go as planned. Delays, misconnects, and seat problems are just a few hassles associated with flying. It’s unusual to make it through an entire journey without something going wrong.

Air travel these days is stressful, nerve wracking and can be quite frustrating. But if you keep these tips in mind and look beyond those annoyances, you can often find interesting and quite humorous aspects.

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