The 15 Worst Mistakes You Can Make When Flying

Excerpted article was written by

Laura Begley Bloom | Forbes

I said I would never do it again, but I did—I booked a late flight so I could put in a full day’s work before flying for a business meeting. Weather delays turned an hour-long flight from New York to Toronto into an eight-hour odyssey. My relaxing night became a few hours of pre-meeting sleep, and I was even delayed on the return.

After my business trip disaster, I checked in with the smartest travelers I know to get their flying tips. Here’s what they said.

Not booking your seat when you book your plane ticket. “Now, I always book my seats when I book my ticket. I forgot once and was seated in the back row—no incline, from the west to east coast for six very long hours. (During that trip, I also discovered people waiting in line for the bathroom don’t realize that their hovering invades personal space for those sitting on the aisle.” —Stacy Shoemaker Rauen, editor-in-chief, Hospitality Design Magazine

Dressing down for the flight. “Once, I traveled in torn jeans, flip-flops and a T-shirt to Aruba, where I had an important meeting with a client (who was not happy). My mission was to save the client. My luggage didn’t make it and my flight was delayed, so I had just enough time to go from the airport to the meeting in clothes that I would only wear for running errands. Needless to say, I didn’t save the account.” —Florence Quinn, founder, Quinn PR

Trusting your flight will have Wi-Fi. “I took a flight between two business hubs. I assumed the airline would offer Wi-Fi since the flight was not crossing an ocean. I didn’t bother to confirm and it turned out the flight did not have Internet. I was stuck on a five-hour flight with no Wi-Fi and my documents on the Cloud. Now I always check. If the flight won’t offer Internet connection, I download the files.” —Alex Zatarain, cofounder, Eight Sleep

Wearing uncomfortable shoes. “I’ve been doing more European travel and have discovered there can be a very long walk from the international terminal to the domestic terminal. I dealt with this recently at both the Frankfurt and Madrid airports. Racing for a flight in heels has been challenging, so I carry a pair of flip-flops to ensure I make my flights and protect my feet.” —Celia Rao Visconti, VP global marketing and e-commerce, Briggs & Riley

Forgetting to check your plans before you land. “I landed in Vegas after a long flight and was planning to go to my hotel to freshen up before meetings. I didn’t realize they were sending a car and the COO to pick me up. I desperately needed to clean up after a work dinner the night before and a 5 a.m. flight. Lesson learned: Know your plans before you land so you can be ready.” —Allie Hope, head of development and acquisitions, Virgin Hotels

Not bringing back-up cosmetics in your carry on. “I always pack a small freshen-up kit (baby wipes, toothbrush, deodorant, lipstick, mascara, powder) in my carry-on. A great tip if you are caught without anything when you land and need a pick-me-up? With a small purchase, most high-end beauty counters will freshen your face and make you feel presentation-ready in under 30 minutes.” —Alyssa Bushey, vice president, marketing, RockOrange

Not planning ahead to accommodate travel time from the airport. “When I’m traveling, I find it’s best to plan as much as possible ahead of time so once I land, I have stress-free travel to my appointment. I check the distance between the airport and my destination, taking into account my arrival time and the city’s traffic. I schedule a car to meet me at the airport and ensure I have a cushion of time.” —Troy Guard, chef/owner, TAG Restaurant Group

Forgetting to bring an extra tote. “I’m always collecting things on my travels, and when I’m packing up, sometimes I can’t shut my suitcase. Just in case, I keep one of those cheap shopping totes—a reusable 99 cent tote from Trader Joes—stashed in the front pocket of my suitcase. That way, if I buy too many items and my luggage is overweight, I have a sturdy tote to cram it all into.” —Carey Reilly, lifestyle/travel expert and editor, Not So Skinny Mom

Booking an aisle seat. “While traveling on a company trip, I was given an aisle seat on a five-hour flight. I was next to a woman who I assumed was pregnant, because she got up at least 10 times for the bathroom. After inquiring, I found out she was not pregnant and had a bladder infection. The last two hours were uncomfortable. Now I make sure I book a window seat (and never assume someone is pregnant).” —Jae Scott, motivational speaker and image consultant

Booking a window seat. “If I’m taking a long-haul flight, anything more than two hours really, I always book an aisle seat in advance. The window is so tempting for leaning against for an overnight flight, but if the person next to you is asleep, you are basically trapped there. I’m a frequent visitor to the bathroom—I hate not having easy access to it.” —Gretchen Thomas, wine and spirits director, Barteca Restaurant Group

Assuming you’ll get food on the plane. “I like to eat something light before so I’m not hungry during the flight. There’s a decent amount of good restaurants in airports now so it’s never too difficult to find something.” —Laurent Tourondel, owner of multiple restaurants, including the newly renovated and opened restaurant at The Betsy Hotel in South Miami Beach

Not getting a jump on jet lag. “For business travel with big time-zone changes, I try to book a flight that arrives in the late afternoon or early evening the day prior to my first appointment, sleep in spurts on the flight and consume tons of green tea. Then I hit the ground running and get to bed early. This formula works for me every time: short naps in flight + green tea + a run + early to bed = minimal jet lag.” —Tammy Peters, founder, Media Mixology

Suffering through coach (especially if you’re pregnant). “I was traveling for work while pregnant and booked a standard economy seat on the plane. We were delayed on the runway and I became extremely uncomfortable sitting in, what was for me, a cramped space. After that, I’ve always made sure to book at least economy comfort, even if it meant spending more.” —Gabrielle Blitz Rosen, chief digital officer, Beautiful Destinations

Not planning ahead if you want to bring wine home. “If you want to bring home bottles of wine, you have to pack them in your suitcase. Bring some padded bottle sleeves that are resealable. They pack flat and can easily slide in your suitcase when you are not using them, but will protect bottles from breaking. If one does get damaged, the resealable bag will absorb liquid.” —Gretchen Thomas, wine and spirits director, Barteca Restaurant Group

Thinking the gate agent will be of help. “Skip the gate agent—especially if you’re an airline club member. The executive club concierge will understand your travel needs and will make sure all is taken care of in the most efficient manner. I’ve waited 45-plus minutes with a gate agent for an issue that took the ECC less than five.” —Howard Wein, founder, Howard Wein Hospitality and the Diplomat Restaurant Group at the new Diplomat Beach Resort