Flight Checklist
Table of Contents
Planning your flight
Tickets
Shop early and look for deals on tickets online or through an agent. Make sure your agent books you to the correct location!
Airline
You'll probably want to choose an airline operating out of an airport nearest you. Certain airlines have the most direct routes between specific destinations, so shop around.
Holidays
Be flexible You can save enormous amounts of money by celebrating holidays a little early or late to avoid high priced tickets on holiday weekends.
Redeye flights
Traveling late at night or in the wee hours of the morning can also garner you good deals.
Upgrades
Once you are at the airport, you may be able to sweet talk your way into an upgrade - or if the flight is overfull, many airlines offer a bump in class if you agree to take a later flight.
Air miles
Combine your miles with timely deals to get the best pricing. Don't forget to factor in fees not covered by miles.
Transportation
Plan how you will get around once you arrive at your destination.
Lodging
Book well in advance for the best rooms. Some discounts may apply to all inclusive airfare / lodging / auto rental packages
Packing
Divide
Never pack all the most important stuff in one bag. Certain items have to be in checked luggage, but aim to have at least one full set of clothes plus shoes and a jacket in your carry-on.
Carry-on luggage
Make sure your carryon fits within the airline's approved parameters.
Checked baggage.
Double check the tags before surrendering your luggage - an improperly typed country code can leave your suitcases stranded in a totally different location!
Children
Remember that kids will need to be entertained on the flight, so pack accordingly.
Pre-flight
Allow time for travel
You may find it easier and less stressful to employ a taxi service to drop you at the correct gate.
Allow time for security
You may be able to get an approximate time from the airport about when you should arrive.
Security checks
Pack your bags with an eye to security - if you get tagged for a heavier security check, you want the contents to be transparent.
Food
If a meal is served in flight, you may need to check ahead of times if you have religious or medical food restrictions or allergies.
Seating.
You can always try for a better seat, but be extra polite to airline staff - honey works better than vinegar!
Paperwork
Ensure that you have your tickets, boarding passes and passport (if needed) in order.
Clothing
Dress comfortably, in clothes that won't rumple and shoes you can kick off if needed during a long flight.
Fanny pack
All personal stuff you usually carry in your pockets can go in a fanny pack. This eliminates delay caused by extra metal (such as change and keys) at checkpoints.
During your flight
Relax
You can't control weather or how much sleep the pilot got the night before, so don't stress. Meditate, read, or listen to music. Sleep if you can.
Medicate
If you are really freaking out, popping a doctor prescribed sedative or anti-nausea pill might be just what you need.
Power up
If you can reach a headphone jack, odds are you can juice your gadgets while in route.
Arrival
Retrieve your luggage
Your carryon should be simple to reclaim, and your checked baggage should be at the carousel.
Get your transportation
You may need a cab, or have rented a car.
Check your accommodations
Call the hotel and let them know you are on your way. If you don't have transportation, they may offer free shuttle service.
Download or Print this Flight Checklist
Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.
Presented by:
Bianca Hendriks
Stats
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Tasks: 31
Details
Whether you are cheerfully hopping on a plane and flying off on vacation or are a white-knuckle flyer reluctantly forced on a plane for a business trip, there are a lot of things you can do to make the flight easier on yourself. There are also pitfalls that you should avoid for a safe and happy flight with the least amount of hassles. From ticket buying to seating to making the flight on time, there are a lot of things to remember. Using the checklist below can at least help you streamline your activity prior to arriving at the airport, and can possibly make the process a little easier after you've gotten on the plane and during your flight. As long as you've followed protocol for packing and checking your luggage, and tried to cover all possible eventualities, you can at least know that you've done your best!
Tips
In between the confusion of packing, trying to remember what government regulations are about nail polish or shampoo and worrying about how to find the right terminal, you may be overstressing before you even get to the boarding gate. Take a deep breathe and start at the beginning,. If you are fully prepared by the time you have to leave for the airport, you can sit back and relax a little, maybe have a drink at the bar before getting on your flight (just one, please!) and enjoy yourself instead of being consumed with anxiety over whether or not you checked luggage made it onto the right plane. Probably the most worrisome item on everyone's minds these days is security. How long will it take to get through the checkpoints? How can you be sure you've allowed enough time? You want to get there early enough to allow for time spent standing in line. You also need to factor in traffic around your chosen airport, and the possibility of flight delays.
Who it's for
This Flight Checklist is for anyone who wants a simple, practical way to get things done without missing steps.
- Avoid forgetting - keep all your Flight essentials in one place (external memory)
- Save time - start from a proven Flight structure instead of a blank page
- Stay on track - track progress, come back later, and keep momentum
- Coordinate with others - share the list and divide responsibilities
- Learn the process - follow the steps in a sensible order, even if it's your first time
How to use it
How to use this Flight Checklist
- Save Flight Checklist to your free Checklist account so your progress is saved and synced across devices.
- Customize it in the app: remove anything that does not apply, then add your own details for Flight (dates, sizes, addresses, notes).
- If others are involved, invite them to collaborate and divide responsibilities.
- Work through the list: check items off as you go, and set reminders for time-sensitive steps.