Why You Should Remove Your Lenses Before Boarding a Plane

So there you are. You have a long flight (or worse, a series of flights) ahead of you, and it makes you stressed out. But don’t worry, I’ll tell you about some tricks and secrets from experienced travelers that will make your journey easier and more relaxed.

First things first, tell me the truth: are you an overpacker? Then I’ve got a solution for you. Try to use all the space available to you. For example, it’s a great idea to put small items, like socks or a swimsuit, inside your shoes. Pack your scarf and belt into your handbag and so on. If you’re going to travel with a backpack, put the heaviest items at the bottom. Also, try to roll everything — this way, your clothes will take up less space and will wrinkle less.

When going on a trip, leave your massive wallet at home. Instead, put all your essentials, like your passport or cash, into a small container or even a toiletries bag. You can also use a mint tin to keep your credit cards and money. Put everything inside, then cover it with a piece of paper and fill the tin with mints. Voila! The perfect hiding spot is ready!

Leave large bottles of lotion or moisturizer at home. Get a contact lens case and fill its compartments with the products you need. It’ll come in handy during the flight — the air is really dry inside the plane. You can use small travel containers for literally any product you think you’ll need during your trip. But if you’re worried some liquids might spill, put some plastic wrap over the top of the container and only after that, cover it with the lid.

If you have some vitamins or other pills with you, you can get a travel pill organizer, like this one from Amazon. It has several compartments of different sizes, and each of them can hold from 13 to 21 pills or capsules. It also has a sealing ring that will keep your pills safe from dust and dampness.

Now, you come to the airport well ahead of time and decide to wander through the duty-free zone. And even though you weren’t planning to buy anything, you can’t help but put some products in pockets — oops, I mean your shopping basket. Don’t blame yourself; it’s not your fault. Lots of airports are designed in a special way that makes you feel relaxed and at ease. Yep, I’m talking about all those huge windows, a lot of light, massage chairs, and comfortable seating areas. Statistically, calm passengers are 10% more likely to spend money on retail, duty-free, and food.

One more way airports manipulate you into spending your money is by making you walk through the shiny duty-free stores straight after the security check. But the most curious thing is that the walkway through such stores usually veers to the left. That’s done because most people are right-handed. Which means they use their right arm to pull their luggage and are more likely to look at the right side while passing through the stores. And the duty-free zone veering to the left leaves more space on the right — where passengers are most likely to look.

By the way, even though duty-free shops have a reputation for being cheaper than stores in the city, it’s not always true. For example, sweets, beverages, and perfumes are likely to cost more at the airport. Plus, be careful with what you buy in a duty-free store if you have a connecting flight. Some airports don’t allow you to carry liquids over 3.4 oz through your layover destination, even if they’re from a duty-free store and in sealed bags.

Arriving at the airport 2 hours before your flight isn’t really necessary. Sure, there are super-hectic ginormous transportation hubs where even 2 hours might not be enough. But in most cases, this recommendation is just an ingenious plan to make you spend more money on shopping, eating, and drinking. After you pass all the security checks and passport control, you’ll have “the golden hour” ahead. That’s 60 minutes during which you’re most likely to open your wallet: to buy a coffee and sandwich, get a book to read, or even spend a hefty sum on a new perfume. Buying bottled water at the airport can easily make you bankrupt. There’s one thing every traveler should know: there is free water at most airports. Just bring an empty water bottle through the security check and find a water refill station. These places are usually located near restrooms. If you can’t find a modern refill station, there must be at least a water fountain.

If you have an opportunity, don’t exchange cash at the airport — you’ll never get a good rate there. Those who have forgotten to buy some currency beforehand can instead order it online and collect it at the airport. Some services only need a few hours notice for such an order. Or it might be even better to use an ATM to withdraw some cash at your final destination.

To make your trip more stress-free, invest in a high-quality suitcase. This way, you’ll be sure that its zipper won’t break and your stuff won’t end up scattered among other people’s luggage. The best option is to get a lightweight one, too — you don’t need additional weight while traveling, right? And spinner wheels will help you move your suitcase around much more easily.

If there’s a possibility, put an electronic tracking device into your suitcase before you check it. It’ll help you track your bag during your trip. It doesn’t have to be something expensive. You can get one at a reasonable price.

Now, here’s a very important tip. Take a picture of everything you’ve packed in your bag before you go to the airport. This way, if your luggage is lost, you’ll be able to make a claim with the airline or your insurance company by showing them the items that have been lost. It’s bound to increase your chances of receiving compensation for your stuff. You may also consider printing out a copy of your boarding pass and putting it inside your suitcase. This way, if your suitcase gets lost, it will be easier for airport workers to identify it.

If you wear contact lenses, take them off before boarding the flight. That dry air inside the aircraft can dehydrate your eyes and make contact lenses immensely uncomfortable. Ow! When at the airport in a new country, you might be tempted to try some new food it has to offer or buy some unusual snacks to feast on later on the plane. Well, don’t do this. Eating anything you’re not used to before flying may result in spending more time than planned in the plane’s bathroom. You know what I mean?

“Where’s my passport?! Ah, here it is... Phew... Wait, have I left my credit card at the store? No, it’s here...” Sounds familiar? If you tend to worry about your documents and cards while wandering through the airport crowds, you can get yourself a multi-pocket neck wallet, like this one. It has an adjustable neck strap and has enough space to hold your passport, cards, cash, and even your keys! If you’re traveling with your family, you can get a large family travel wallet. You can find one spacious enough to contain all your documents and the most necessary stuff you need to have at hand while traveling. And if it’s also divided into several named compartments (and some of these products are), you won’t need to waste time trying to remember into which one you put your credit card.

And a bonus fact for you! If you ever see the letters SSSS or *S* on your boarding pass, get ready for additional security checks. (Instead of these letters, there may be a “checkerboard” pattern.) Anyway, if you have any of these marks, your carry-on luggage can also undergo a thorough inspection. Why might they choose you for secondary screening? Some of the criteria are making a one-way reservation or paying cash for your ticket. In some cases, the selection is absolutely random.