How to Avoid Holiday Traveling Hassles

If you've been singing "I'll be home for Christmas," do yourself a favor and read up on some tips to make travel easier however you plan to go home. While cars, trains and buses face traffic and weather delays, holiday travel by air can be a particular hassle. Simple things like flying on the holiday itself, leaving early or having current travel documents will get you home still singing happy holiday songs.

Instructions

Airline Security Tips

1

Follow the Transportation Security Administration's 3-1-1 policy. Carry only containers 3.4 oz. (100 ml) or less for liquids in a 1-quart clear zip top bag. Show larger prescription bottles, gels or aerosols to a TSA officer.

2

Place the 3-1-1 bag in a bin with your coat or jacket. Put shoes on the conveyor belt, and put computers, video games and other electronic equipment in their own bin. Don't wrap gifts for carry-on or checked luggage.

3

Wear easily removable shoes. Keep government-issued identification and boarding pass accessible. Remove pocketed keys, eyeglasses, comb, cell phones and any bulky jewelry and put in your carry-on or purse.

Family Travel

4

Use the family lane at airport checkpoints. Declare oversize containers of breast milk, baby formula, prescriptions and food to a TSA agent. Take babies out of carriers and go through metal detector separately if possible.

5

Travel with spares by car. Extra prescriptions, diapers, blankets, clothes, games, food, flashlight, a candle and cell batteries will be welcome in traffic or weather delays.

6

Ship gifts ahead to make room for games and activities for kids, especially on long trips.

Check the List

7

Take pies through airline security checkpoints, but ship or check cranberry sauce, dips or spreads, food gift baskets, gravy, jams or jellies. Snow globes, wines, liquor, beer and maple syrup are also on the Do Not Carry-on list.

8

Check the government's list of international travel regulations. Update your documents if needed.

9

Make a list of phone numbers for your destination, road conditions, airline or train/bus schedules, credit cards and bank, stops en route and alternate places to stop or eat.

Confirmed and Backup Plans

10

Avoid a horror story of driving through blizzards to pick up passengers who aren't where they're supposed to be or arriving at an airport with no one to pick you up because the information was misunderstood. Confirm travel route or rendezvous beforehand with a backup time and place.

11

Communicate your route to those at your destination before you leave. Factor road conditions into your arrival time and keep your tank half full. Have alternate routes or places to shelter in case of heavy traffic or bad weather. Call if you're delayed.

12

Set a meeting place in train and bus stations, with a known backup time and place. If delayed, call to reschedule.