These airplane hacks from insiders will make your flying experience smoother and more enjoyable—from check-in to landing
13 Airport and Airplane Hacks for a Surprisingly Smooth Flight
Updated on Feb. 19, 2025
Pack your own power strip
You know how those multi-outlet surge protectors are lifesavers at home? Turns out they’re just as handy in airports. During peak travel season, crowded gates often mean all available electrical or USB outlets are occupied (when they work). Cindy Richards, a frequent traveler and the editor-in-chief of SheBuysTravel, notes that having a power strip makes it easy to convince someone monopolizing an outlet to swap it in—so everyone gets a charge. As a bonus, that same power strip can be useful in hotels or abroad when you have only one travel adapter.
Bring a bottle of ice
As the director of air service, customer experience and marketing at Daytona Beach International Airport in Florida, Joanne Magley has seen her fair share of overheated travelers in transit. One top travel hack she always recommends: Take ice.
“You can’t bring water through the security checkpoint, but you can bring ice in your water bottle,” she explains. Once you’re past the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check, fill up your reusable bottle with water for a refreshing, cold and free drink in the terminal or on your flight. Just be sure the ice is completely frozen—partially melted ice falls under the TSA’s 3.4-ounce liquid rule and must be in a quart-size bag.
Get rid of the baggage
It’s no secret that airlines make a fortune charging steep fees for checked bags, but packing light isn’t always an option. Valerie Joy Wilson, a solo travel expert and founder of Trusted Travel Girl, says luggage shipping services like LugLess are game changers if you want to get where you’re going without the burden of bags.
“This way, you don’t have to carry your bags through the airport or wait to get them at the chaotic baggage claim,” Wilson explains. She says this is one of those airport hacks that make getting from point A to B so much easier—especially during the busy holiday season, when airports are packed and luggage space comes at a premium.
Seek out “secret” (and quicker) security checkpoints
Larger airports often have multiple security checkpoints in the same general area. Passengers tend to go with the flow of traffic, but it’s worth asking airport staff for suggestions on quicker routes to your gates, especially if you have TSA PreCheck or Clear Plus. Case in point: As a recent TikTok video from Clear revealed, there’s a “secret” alternate security checkpoint on the lower level of Terminal Four at JFK International Airport in New York City, and it has seriously reduced wait times. Some airports even allow passengers to go through security at nearby terminals and then travel to their boarding area via internal shuttles.
Screenshot boarding passes for faster security
My ultimate travel nightmare and pet peeve? Getting held up with delays at security checkpoints, especially in those painfully long lines at busy airports, where priority programs don’t seem to make much of a difference. But one time, I was the problem. When I reached the TSA agent, my digital boarding pass refused to load for what felt like an eternity. The agent’s simple but game-changing advice? Next time, take a screenshot of your digital boarding pass.
It was a light-bulb moment, and it’s now my go-to move every time I fly. The screenshot works just as well as the digital pass—and without the need for Wi-Fi. No more worrying about waiting for slow airline apps to load! (Your fellow travelers thank you.)
Beat airplane dehydration
It’s no surprise that airplane cabins are incredibly dry, making it all too easy to get dehydrated—especially on long-haul flights or after a glass (or two) of wine during dinner service. My hydration hack: I always stash a packet of Pedialyte or another electrolyte powder in my carry-on bag. Mixing it with water before landing is a super-simple trick to replenish lost fluids. It always leaves me feeling way more refreshed and often less jet-lagged on jaunts abroad.
Here are some other airplane facts that will blow your mind.
Pack a pillowcase (but ditch the pillow)
Magley recommends saving space in your checked or carry-on bags by wearing extra layers on the plane, such as long-sleeve shirts or sweaters under a jacket. And instead of bringing a pillow, pack a pillowcase. Those extra clothes can easily do double duty, making a makeshift pillow that’s bigger and probably more comfortable than the tiny one handed out on flights. It’s one of those airplane hacks that’ll make your seatmate say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Keep comfort in mind
Cramming yourself into a tiny airplane seat and then realizing your outfit is a one-way ticket to discomfort makes for a lousy start to a vacation. Plan your travel clothes ahead of time to avoid midflight misery. I always go for loose, breathable layers so I can easily warm up or cool down as needed during the trip. Even on the hottest summer days, I always board the aircraft with a light cardigan or sweatshirt since planes can easily turn into flying refrigerators. Nobody enjoys shivering through an extra-long flight in just a T-shirt.
And I never forget my feet—especially since they tend to swell up at cruising altitude. I opt for comfy, easy-to-slip-off (and on) shoes because stretching my legs midflight is a must, but walking around in socks? No thanks.
Strategically pick your seat on the plane
Whenever I fly to a new destination, I like to select my seat (always a window, when available) based on the side of the plane most likely to offer the best view—whether of landmarks along the route or during takeoff and landing. SeatGuru is a great tool for making sure you’re not trapped next to one of those dreaded windowless walls.
While the ideal side for views can vary depending on the flight conditions of the day, a quick online search can often guide you toward the optimum side for your route, giving you the best chance to get a great view. For example, frequent fliers often recommend the right side of the plane for impressive views of Honolulu upon arrival and the left side for the best skyline views during departure.
Cocoon yourself for comfort
On long flights, comfort is key. And it often takes a lot of creativity to make the most of those cramped quarters. Establishing a personal cocoon can go a long way toward making your time in the sky at least a little more bearable. Since flimsy airplane eye masks never do the trick, I often flip my sweatshirt around and use the hood to cover my face whenever I need some darkness to sleep during an overnight flight—or to shut out that curious kid staring between the seats.
Before I splurged on quality noise-canceling headphones, I relied on a DIY soundproofing trick to drown out the chaos of a packed plane: If your over-ear headphones don’t quite cut it when it comes to blocking out distractions, pair them with a set of earplugs from your in-flight toiletry kit (remember to pack this in your carry-on!). The combo doubles up on noise reduction.
Combine these two tricks, and you’ll have no trouble falling asleep on the plane.
Keep your essentials safe, sanitary and super handy
Seat pockets are notorious breeding grounds for germs and danger zones for items to go missing. To avoid the chaos, travel journalist Vivian Vassos packs an extra-large zip-close bag to store essentials like her phone, tablet, snacks, tissues and more. “I slide it into the seat pocket so I don’t have to go rummaging through my bag at my feet or up in the overhead compartment,” she says. “I also don’t have to worry about losing anything important since all my things are conveniently stashed in one place.”
Wear your travel pillow backward
Whenever I see travelers put the standard U-shaped travel pillow with the opening at the front, under the chin, I want to shout, “You’re doing it all wrong!” I don’t, but at some point during all my travels, one kind soul somewhere in the sky took pity on me and did. They changed my life by sharing that it’s easier to get a more restful—and less painful—sleep if you flip the script by putting the opening at the back of the neck. That way, I quickly learned and now never forget, your head doesn’t thrust forward at an odd angle, which can strain your neck muscles.
With this trick, your chin can rest on the thicker part of the cushion for better support and head stabilization. As Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery treatment center points out, it’s better to have at least some neck support (even if it’s not perfect) than none at all.
Turn back the clock to beat jet lag
Jet lag can be brutal, but one simple airplane hack can help your body adjust to a new time zone faster—starting at the airport. Scott McNeely, co-founder and chief operating officer of the travel company Modern Adventure, swears by an old-school wristwatch to ease the transition. His strategy? Set the watch to your destination’s local time any time before takeoff and then avoid checking the time “back home.” By mentally synching up with the new time zone before you even board your plane, you can trick your mind and body into adjusting a little more quickly.
About the experts
|
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. For this piece on airplane hacks, Aaron Rasmussen tapped his experience as a longtime travel writer and travel guidebook editor to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Joanne Magley, director of air service, customer experience and marketing at Daytona Beach International Airport; email interview, Feb. 13, 2025
- Vivian Vassos, editor-in-chief of Bold Traveller; phone interview, Feb. 10, 2025
- Valerie Joy Wilson, founder of Trusted Travel Girl; interviewed
- Cindy Richards, editor-in-chief of SheBuysTravel; interviewed
- Scott McNeely, co-founder and chief operating officer of Modern Adventure; interviewed
- Clear: “This is JFK’s best-kept secret”
- Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery: “Are Travel Pillows Good for Neck: An Analysis”
