With summer vacations approaching, this is a good time to remind you about some facts and hacks!
First, don’t believe everything you hear on the news. True, this year we have had airport problems with weather, air traffic and even a few airport ground stops because of computer outages, and it has kept travel professionals busy. But these blips are few and far between the normal everyday events.
Getting through airports in 2026 requires some basics. There are more travelers currently travelling than ever before and more people in airports. We suggest arrival at airports at least two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international travel prior to your flight. If it is a holiday, summer vacation or any other higher season always allow extra time. Consider backups in traffic, parking your car at the airport and checking luggage.
Check your documents. You must have a REAL ID, military ID or passport to check in for domestic flights. International travel requires in most cases that your passport has at least six months’ validity left before it expires from the day your trip completes.
Check your destination for entering requirements, even if it’s in the Caribbean. Many of the Caribbean islands are governed by foreign countries. Do you require an electronic travel authorization? If you are traveling overseas, make sure you have checked the visa and ETA requirement.
Web sites and apps? We have gone from apps being a helpful tool to becoming must-have. Having the right apps can make your next travel day a breeze. With anxiety about delays and cancellations running high and the peak summer travel season just around the corner, it’s more important than ever. Today, there is literally an app for everything to help with your travels. The airport website and app are great reference points with live tracking. You will find arrival and departure gate information, live parking availability as well as the ability to reserve your parking in advance, a time-saving option especially if you are traveling during holidays such as spring break, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas.
Downloading your specific airline’s app in advance is another invaluable source when flying. Most airline companies run nearly everything through their app — online check in, boarding passes, boarding processes, gate changes, seats, status of your luggage, terminal maps and even hotel and meal vouchers when applicable.
Tripit is a free travel itinerary management planning tool. Once you have created an account and link your email, you simply forward your travel confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and within a few seconds your plans are loaded into a neat itinerary.
For flight tracking and live air traffic details, try Flighty or FlightAware. Find out when your incoming flight or current flight will arrive, how much flight time is left before arrival, weather conditions or possible flight delay.
When traveling internationally, check out the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service allowing U.S. citizens and nationals to enroll their trip abroad. The Department of State can accurately and quickly contact you in an emergency. You will be able to get updates about health warnings, weather, safety and security situations for your destination. You will also be notified if you have a family emergency while you are out of the country.
My TSA app provides passengers with 24/7 access to the most frequently requested security information on any mobile device. Check the delay information at your airport.
Finally, do you have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry? These security pre-clearances can expedite going through airport security. Just follow the sign for the TSA PreCheck. Make sure PreCheck is noted on your boarding pass. TSA PreCheck for domestic travel — no removing shoes or laptops is a great perk. TSA is testing TSA PreCheck Touchless ID using facial-comparison technology to speed up identification verification once you upload a valid passport to your airline profile, similar to Global Entry by using a designated kiosk, looking into the screen, getting approval and moving on to your gate. Global Entry is for international travel as well as domestic travel and saves significant time in airport security and customs. If you have Global entry, you no longer need TSA PreCheck.
Consider these suggestions to make your air travel smoother. Contact your favorite travel professional to answer questions and address your concerns to help you create your trip of a lifetime.
