7 tips for stress-free travel at Logan this holiday season
You'll want to check this list twice before you head to the airport.
It’s no secret that the holiday season is a notoriously busy time for air travel. Add to that the recent trouble with American Airlines, and it’s enough to make the most optimistic air traveler nervous.
Ahead, Maryella Blundo, owner of Dream Come True Travel in Cambridge and a 36-year veteran of the travel industry, offers ways to decrease your stress when you’re headed to Logan airport this holiday season.
Leave plenty of time
Sorry, but you’re probably going to have to stand in line at the airport during the holidays. Blundo recommends arriving two hours prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours prior to departure for international flights.
She also suggests downloading your airline’s app so you can get real-time alerts about your trip. Massport.com offers flight information four hours ahead of flights, according to the Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns and operates Logan airport.
Take public transportation, or have a parking plan
Massport recommends using public transportation during holiday travel. If you are planning on parking at the airport this time of year, know that you may have a tough time finding a spot, Blundo said.
“Parking is gone very quickly,” she said. “So you want to either check with one of the outside parking lots or you want to take other transportation to get to and from the airport.”
You can find out which parking lots at Logan are open and sign up to receive emailed updates about the airport’s parking options on the Massport website.
Sign up for pre-check
Do you dream of breezing through the security line at Logan? There are programs that can make that happen (within reason), Blundo said. Travelers who are members of the TSA Pre✓® program use a separate security line, which is typically shorter, Blundo said. They also don’t have to remove their shoes, laptop, liquids, belts, or light jackets.
You can become a member by filling out an online application and scheduling an in-person interview at participating enrolling centers. Logan airport is one of them. The program costs $85 for a five-year membership. There is also a similar program called Global Entry for international travelers, Blundo said.
“We highly recommend it to people,” Blundo said of the programs. “Ninety percent of the time, the line will definitely be shorter and faster. It’s a huge stress relief.”
Passengers wait in line at a security checkpoint at Logan International Airport in Boston, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017.
Think through your carry-on
If you’re planning to take gifts and food through security, it’s best to leave gifts unwrapped, or security agents may choose to unwrap them for further inspection, Massport wrote in an email. Cakes and pies are allowed in your carry-on, according to Massport, but may also require further inspection. If you aren’t sure whether a food item will be permitted through security, it’s best to pack it inside a checked bag or ship it before your trip, Massport advised.
If you have questions about items allowed on your flight, Massport officials recommend checking the website TSA.gov or the Twitter account @AskTSA. On Twitter, the TSA will answer travel questions between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Travelers can also call the TSA at 866-289-9673.
When you have kids in tow, fly early
The first flights of the day are less impacted by issues such as late-arriving aircrafts and runway departure backups, Blundo said.
“The early flights are a bear to get up for,” she said, “but they are less likely to be delayed.”
And no matter which flight you’re on, make sure to pack snacks and fully charged electronics, she said.
If your flight is canceled while you’re at the airport, place a call
If your flight is canceled while you’re still at home packing, you’d probably think to call the airline. You should do the same thing even if you’re already at your gate.
“Get on the phone with the airline while you’re standing on line,” Blundo said. “Ninety percent of the time, they can help you before you move up two people.”
Also, pay attention to the reason for the cancellation. If it’s due to bad weather, you won’t receive any compensation or sleeping accommodations, Blundo said. But if the cancellation is due to a mechanical issue with the plane or a crew change, the airline may offer you a meal or overnight stay at a hotel.
“There is no standard for it, unfortunately,” she said. “But most of the airlines will do that.”
If you’re traveling internationally, use this app
Blundo suggests that international travelers save time going through customs with the Mobile Passport app.
“You basically flash your phone and they scan it and, boom, you are through customs,” said Blundo, who recently used it herself during a trip to London. “I was so shocked at how fast we got through.”
Travelers download the free app and set up a profile. After answering five questions about the trip, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection sends an encrypted receipt valid for four hours, according to the app’s website. Guests enter a Mobile Passport Control line at participating airports. The app can be used at 24 airports, including Logan. Blundo said travelers need to show their paper passport, as well.
