There are many important things to do at the airport before you board your flight. It is critical to ensure you get these important things done and done correctly so that you will have the most enjoyable flight possible. Most people sometimes forget these simple things, and therefore may end up having a very stressful trip. Here are the three important air travel tips of things you must do at the airport before you fly out.

Tip #1: Arrive to the airport for check in at least 2 hours before departure

Most airlines start the check in process three hours before departure. However if you arrive too early, there is the issue of having too much time to kill in the airport while waiting for your flight, and also there is the issue that by being one of the first to check in, you are usually going to be one of the last to receive your luggage upon arrival. Therefore it is recommended to arrive to the airport about 2 hours before the scheduled departure to check in your luggage. This optimal timing should provide you enough time to check in, cross through customs and security, and have a minimal waiting time to board your flight.

Tip #2: Go the washroom right before you are ready to enter the boarding gates

This may sound obvious, but many people do not do this and pay the price later. It is a very good idea to go to the washroom right before you are ready to enter the boarding gates to the plane. It is better to get this out of the way so that you can avoid the last minute urge to go to the washroom right when the airplane is about to take off! Also as a plus point, usually the washrooms in the airport are spotless and much cleaner than the washroom on the plane!

Tip #3: Buy any last minute snacks and reading materials

Especially for long flights, you may be stuck in the plane for a long time without anything to do. Therefore while waiting for your flight to depart, it is a good idea to pickup any last minute items such as snacks (such as candy and gum), and reading materials (magazines and books). This way you can arm yourself with things to do during your flight.

Flying can be a tough time for some, simply because of the fact that there are many things to prepare. However if you follow some of these air travel tips, it can help to ease the stress when you reach the airport.