Starting a new trip is incredibly exciting but can quickly become stressful given everything you need to prepare. Here's where creating a pre-flight routine can come in handy, so here's our guide.

Make a document folder

On any trip these days, document checks have become a common phenomenon. The step of a pre-flight routine should be to make a checklist of all the essentials you need for travel. This includes your passport/ID, vaccination certificate, COVID test, health insurance, reservations, and anything else you may need at the airport.

Lufthansa, Cloth Masks, Banned
Document checks have become a reality of international travel in 2022. Photo: Getty Images

Making a list in advance and putting this together is a great way to feel relaxed the night before your flight. Notably, keep an eye out for changing regulations and update the folder as might be needed.

Pick your seats in advance

Whenever possible, it's a good idea to select seats in advance of your flight. A good seat can make a huge difference in comfort, especially on long-haul flights. A quick search on Simple Flying can yield a guide to the best seats on some of the most popular aircraft by major airlines (such as the Emirates A380 or JetBlue's new A321LR).

Delta Premium Select Boeing 767
Photo: Delta Air Lines

In premium cabins, you can even reserve a meal of choice. So hopping on for before check-in (48 to 72 hours before the flight) could open up many options unavailable in the last 24 hours when orders are locked in.

Prepare your body

As we discussed in our hacks for long-haul travel last week, it's important to prepare yourself physically for flights. This usually includes some light stretching, carrying adequate snacks (to avoid paying $10 for a sandwich), and sleeping before or after to maintain a good cycle.

Singapore-Airlines-AIrbus-A350-900
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

Arrive early

Unless you're on a connecting flight or can't avoid reaching the airport late, arriving early has quite a few perks, especially at major airports. With short staffing at airlines and airports, wait times have become extremely long (this writer once spent four hours in London Heathrow's immigration queue). Arriving early can help you beat the crowd and deal with any last-minute issues, like a missing form.

Manchester Airport Queues Over Easter
Airports across Europe have struggled to recruit new staff members to replace those made redundant during the pandemic. Photo: Getty Images

It's also important to be patient and respect everyone around you, no matter how stressful or slow processes might be. Remember the trip ahead instead!

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Research ahead

One way to avoid getting bored at the airport or surprised by long queues is to research ahead of time. Airport websites offer handy guides on the best places to eat, drink, or shop, including if there are any good lounges you have access to. Twitter is also a useful way to know if you're headed into the eye of a storm at any airport.

What do you usually include in your pre-flight routine? Anything we missed? Let us know in the comments!