Holiday air travel doesn’t have to be stressful

They say there’s no place like home for the holidays. So for many this year, that means having to fly to get there.

If that’s you this holiday season, there are a few things you might want to consider when traveling.

Which days are the best and worst ways to travel? How can I be most comfortable on a long flight? How can I best prepare for an in-flight emergency?

So wherever you’re flying off to this year, I’ve outlined some helpful tips on how you can best be prepared on your flight during this holiday travel season.

Airline Comfort and Convenience

The way you dress can have a major impact on your comfort when flying. We all know how narrow airline seats have become, so avoid wearing anything too bulky.

Breathable cotton or wool blends are best. You may have to move quickly in the airport or possibly on the plane. Jeans and slacks are usually a better choice than skirts for women.

Make sure you don’t wear open-toed footwear, even if you’re headed somewhere warm. Of course, gym shoes are much preferable to heels.

Airline Safety

Most of the following tips are from Survival Systems in Connecticut, and they are very useful:

• Pay attention to the safety video. Even if you’ve seen it many times. And read through the picture card in the seat pocket in front of you.
• Have a heightened sense of awareness during the critical phases of flight. During takeoff, ascent, descent and landing, the aircraft frame is under the most stress and your altitude is relatively low.
• Your seatbelt should be on at all times. During an emergency is not the time to sit back and snug it up.
• Keep loose articles to a minimum and put away anything that could become flying debris.
• Reaffirm your nearest emergency exit by counting the rows and seats between you and the exit
• If the oxygen mask drops, immediately place it over your nose and mouth.
• Show respect for your flight attendants. They have a stressful job, and following their instructions can make things calmer for everyone.
• Always carry a small flashlight, just in case you’re thrown into the dark at some point during the flight or in the airport.

On the rare occasions when there is a loss of cabin pressure, there may only be a short time until people start passing out. There could be loud noises, limited visibility and flying debris.

Buckle up immediately if you haven’t done so already. Brace for impact and remain in that position until all violent motion stops.

Good and Bad Travel Days

Now, back to those holiday travel days. They say that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are good days to fly. But who wants to wait until then to get where you want to go for the holidays?

SmarterTravel.com says that Sunday, December 23 and Friday, December 28 are the best days to fly this holiday season.

What are the worst travel days over the holidays this year? Friday, December 21, Saturday, December 22 and Wednesday, December 26 are the ones to stay away from.