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Whoopee! Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. Unfortunately this also means that holiday travel, and all the stress that goes with it, is also nearly here. The Turkey Day season is the busiest travel period of the year.
AAA estimates that 31.7 millions folks will hit the road this Thanksgiving season with another 6.6 million taking to the sky. If you're quick with the math, you've figured out that adds up to 38.3 million travelers. You have probably also deduced an increase in travelers means an increase in the likelihood that you'll be dealing with a moron or six at some point this holiday season.
Houstonist offers these travel tips to help you counteract the behavior of the unseasoned seasonal traveler. Sure, most of it is probably common sense, but if it were common enough we wouldn't need to remind you, right?
Tips for Travelers
+ Be patient and recognize fellow travelers are as frustrated as you are and are not likely intending to offend you unless they are a total ass. We've tested the boundaries on planes, trains and automobiles. The extra couple of minutes you take to cool down may save you an hour plus wait time to have your traffic accident resolved or a never-ending visit to the TSA interrogation room.
+ Be excellent to each other, rather respect those around you and others just might do it, too. Just because employees at the airline ticket counter, hotels, car rental counters and restaurants are in the service industry does not mean that you can treat them like servants. If you believe that, you're a moron. These are the people that can transform your life into a "Groundhog Day"-like Hell. A former colleague still has no idea that the mysterious mid-week check-outs and handicapped bathrooms were a direct result of her bitchy attitude toward the hotel staff.
+ Lay off the caffeine unless you are about to pass out behind the wheel. Get this: caffeine is a stimulant, which may make you antsy and more likely to blow a fuse when TSA asks you to step into the special screening line.
+ Put down the phone and take the blue tooth headset out of your ear. Studies have shown that you will be able to survive getting through airport security or drive outside of the city limits without the phone strapped to your head. Plus, you may even regain some respect from your family for finally unplugging yourself. Please wait until no one else's safety is at risk before reaching out to touch someone.
+ Be proactive. Do anything and everything to decrease the amount of tasks between you and your final destination on travel day. Gas up and load the car (unless you think it will get stolen) the night before. Check-in for your flight online. Reserve your airport taxi now. Empty your pockets and place everything (except for your ID and boarding pass) into your carry-on bag while you're standing in the incredibly long security line.
+ Control your children in all public spaces especially on the plane. Yes, Houstonist understands that little Jimmy wears the big boy pants and reigns supreme over your home. However, seat backs and tray tables are not engineered to be a jungle gym.
+ Ship packages to avoid delays at airport security or damage in transit. TSA advises travelers not to wrap packages if flying. Houstonist advises not to pack gifts at the rear-most part of the trunk so they don't get crushed during a four-car pile-up on Hwy 59 like last year.
+ Carry your carry-on luggage on to the plane. Bags are equipped with handles for a reason. Do not use the shoulder strap when walking down the aisle because, more often than not, the bag will jut out behind you at an angle and hit passengers as you walk by the seat. This also goes for backpacks as well. Also, please don't try to roll your suitcase up the aisle because your bag is probably overloaded and too wide for the aisle path. If your bag is to heavy to carry, then check it.
Following these steps is no guarantee of a stress-free travel experience, but it will afford you comfort in knowing that you're probably "in the right" before calmly informing an offender of them being "in the wrong."
Ho, ho, ho! Happy Thanksgiving! Travel safely.
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Photo: flickr user sheilaz413.
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