As much as we love jetting off to new destinations, the reality is traveling long distances can be hard on your body. We might experience fatigue, stress, and even motion sickness, though most of us wouldn’t consider such effects serious enough to warrant staying home. And when you travel by airplane at high elevations for long periods of time, it’s no different. Want to make your next journey more comfortable? Start by learning about the science of what actually happens to our bodies on airplanes.

Dehydration

Air humidity on an airplane is lower than many of us are used to on the ground. A significant percentage of the air in the cabin is pulled in from outside. Such fresh air can have a humidity level of as little as 1%. Even though it’s mixed approximately 50:50 with recirculated air, which has a higher humidity, it still has a dehydrating effect on our bodies. This means you might experience a dry nose, dry skin, or dry lips. Low levels of relative humidity also contribute to a reduced sense of taste, so your regular Diet Coke might not taste the same at 30,000 feet.

So what can you do about the low humidity? First, if you have a choice, take a look at your plane. The latest-generation planes such as the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 are better equipped for humidity than older models. Drink plenty of water during the flight — it will also help control any bloating you may experience. Also consider using eye drops, a nasal spray, and good moisturizer. If you wear contact lenses, you might find it more comfortable to switch to glasses for the duration of your flight.

Pressure Imbalances

When a plane takes off or lands, you might experience discomfort in your ears. The condition is called ear barotrauma, and is the result of an imbalance in the air pressure in your middle ear and the air pressure in the airplane. The middle ear not only helps us to hear, but it’s also where you’ll find the opening of the eustachian tube. If the air pressure is greater than that of your middle ear, this tube is designed to open so that the pressure can be equalized.

But if you have a cold or blocked sinuses, this might not happen and you’ll feel pain when the pressure shifts during takeoff and landing. Babies are particularly susceptible as their eustachian tubes aren’t fully formed. In most cases, sucking a sweet, swallowing, or pinching your nose will alleviate the problem. In more serious cases, you’ll need to see your doctor if pain persists after you’ve disembarked.

Jet Lag

Jet lag occurs when our sleep patterns are disrupted when we fly across multiple time zones. Our bodies have built-in clocks, and our circadian rhythms help us sleep when it’s dark and be active during daylight hours. Long-haul flights can seriously mess with this routine. If, for instance, you fly from New York City to London and you disembark at Heathrow at 9 a.m., your body will still think it’s five hours earlier and crave the sleep it usually gets at 4 a.m.

There are a few strategies you can employ to reduce the effects of jet lag. One is trying to adjust to the new time zone as quickly as possible. Set an alarm to wake up at the appropriate time and make sure to eat at local meal times. Drinking water during your flight helps, as caffeine and alcohol can make jet lag worse. If planning a round-the-world trip, flying east to west is easier for your body to cope with than the other way around as you gain rather than lose time.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Many travelers might find that they have puffy ankles or swollen feet for a short time after a long-haul flight. That’s because being immobile for a long time isn’t good for your body. Sitting still for extended periods — whether in the air, on a bus, or even at home — impacts certain functions, such as the speed of blood flow. When your blood flow slows down, blood clots can form, causing deep vein thrombosis, which, though rare, can have potentially life-threatening ramifications.

You can mitigate your risk by moving around the cabin at regular intervals and doing in-seat exercises, such as rotating your ankles or stretching out your legs. Often the airline’s in-flight magazine or entertainment system will have examples of a workout that you can do without getting up. Those who are particularly at risk of DVT can opt to wear compression socks to help reduce swelling.

Dulled Taste Buds

The pressurized cabins of modern airliners also weakens our sense of smell and our taste buds. An aircraft’s pressurization system draws air into the airplane cabin and pressurizes it to an altitude of 8,000 feet, which means the air at altitude is much drier than when on terra firma.

The lack of humidity — typically between 5% and 20% — combined with the lower air pressure, and even the constant background noise heard on a commercial flight, drastically alters how well we’re able to perceive flavors — sweet and salty ones in particular. Salt is perceived to be between 20% and 30% less intense and sugar 15% to 20% less intense, at high altitude, according to research conducted for Lufthansa by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics. As a result, the chefs who prepare in-flight meals typically add more seasoning to compensate for the poor conditions. In comparison, spicy, bitter, and sour flavors don’t lose quite as much flavor at high altitudes.

With hordes of travelers, long lines at check-in, and rising prices for just about everything, you might be wondering: How can I make my time at the airport more enjoyable? Of course, the simplest way to make your travel day smoother is to follow airport guidelines and rules, especially those designated by the TSA (or other international security agencies). But we all know there is much more to trouble-free air travel than simply following the rules. From the time you arrive at the ticket counter until you board your plane at the gate, here are the top six mistakes to avoid at the airport.

You Don’t Know the Check-In Cutoff Times

In general, airlines and airports alike recommend arriving at least two hours before the departure of a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. While this might sound like too much time at some airports, having time to relax is decidedly better than sprinting through the airport to find your gate.

If you find yourself running behind schedule, though, it’s crucial to know the absolute latest time you can arrive and still make your flight. Most airlines have minimum check-in time requirements and checked baggage cutoff times, especially for international flights, and these are posted on the airline’s website. Delta Air Lines, for example, has a minimum check-in time of 40 to 45 minutes for domestic flights and one hour for international flights. Of note, the times may vary at some airports, so be sure to check the requirements carefully. Arriving later than this risks your ability to check-in or drop off your checked luggage, and you’ll likely have to pay a hefty sum to change to a later flight. 

If you still don’t want to get there too early, you can also use technology to gain a better sense of when you should ideally arrive. To see how crowded any U.S. airport might be during your date and time of travel (including estimated wait times and the busiest times of day at that airport), try using the MyTSA App.

You Arrive Too Early

It doesn’t just pose an inconvenience — it actually is possible to arrive too early for your flight, particularly if you plan to check bags. Many airports have limits to how early you can check a bag. Over a dozen U.S. airports — including heavily trafficked airports such as Denver, Las Vegas, and Seattle — have a maximum bag check time of four hours before flight departure, and most U.S. airports have a six-hour maximum limit. This means that if you attempt to give airline agents your bags more than four hours before your flight departs, they will deny you and you will have to wait at the ticket counter or bag drop until the four-hour mark.

You Check in for Your Flight in Person

Avoid lengthy lines at the ticket counter by checking in online up to 24 hours before your flight (for most airlines). This way, you’ll already have your boarding pass on your phone, or you can print it at home before you leave and you can head straight to the security line at the airport, as long as you don’t have bags to check. Simply log in to the airline via the website or mobile app and follow the check-in prompts. 

If you are traveling with checked luggage, you will need to take it to the luggage drop-off area by the ticket counter. Fortunately, in most airports, there are separate lines for bag drop-off when you’ve already checked in online, and they usually move much faster than the ticket counter lines. This also keeps regular ticket counters open for passengers with special requests, travel issues, and other scenarios that require an agent’s help. Remember: Online check-in closes 45 to 90 minutes before departure (depending on the airline). 

You Wander Too Far From Your Gate

Delays and gate changes can happen at any time, so stick close enough to the gate to hear important announcements about your flight. In 2023, an estimated 78% of domestic flights arrived on time, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. This means that nearly one-quarter of flights experienced delays due to maintenance, security, weather, technological issues, and other factors. If you’re too far away from your gate, you might get the memo too late — and your gate change, delay, or cancellation can cause even more headaches and, possibly, a missed flight. 

Boarding too late is also a concern, even if you stay near your gate. On domestic flights, most boarding ends 15 to 20 minutes before departure time (and even longer before an international flight). If you’re not at the gate by the boarding cutoff time, your seat can be reassigned to someone on standby. 

Aside from the departure monitors inside the airport, downloading the airline’s app is an excellent way to stay informed and ensure you are at your gate on time. Opt-in for real-time text notifications about your flight if you plan on waiting in an airport lounge or another location further away from the gate. Other apps, such as FlightAware, provide similar services.

You Purchase Bottled Water

It’s not just your imagination: Airport prices are sky-high, typically 10% to 15% higher than street prices. You can easily avoid paying a premium for bottled water by taking your own empty water bottle with you and filling it up for free at drinking fountains. You might also opt for a collapsible water bottle that takes up less room in your carry-on. Tap has refillable water stations at many major U.S. airports, offering passengers free filtered water in seconds. Another option is to ask for a water cup when purchasing food from one of the airport’s restaurants or fast-food stands. 

You Leave Your Luggage Unattended

Not only are you at risk for pickpocketing and theft, but leaving luggage unattended can trigger a security alert in the airport. Travelers worldwide are encouraged to report unattended luggage to security. If you leave your carry-on at the gate while you visit a gift shop or use the restroom, another traveler or airport staff might inform security. Airport officials confiscate your bag, and you may be subject to further security screenings. If airport staff cannot locate you to return your bag, it will be sent to lost and found after it is deemed safe by security — so the moral of the story is to always keep an eye on your belongings. 

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Replacements for forgotten clothes or toiletries can always be purchased on the road, but every traveler knows a passport is the most important item to remember to pack for an international trip — and one that simply can’t be replaced. However, many travelers (even seasoned travelers) may end up making a simple mistake with their passport that could cost them unnecessary stress or money. If you commit these passport no-no’s, it may prevent you from boarding a plane, forbid you entering a foreign country, or even ban you from returning to certain destinations. Below are the top six passport mistakes travelers should avoid.

Souvenir Stamps

A passport filled with stamps and visas is a scrapbook of your travels around the world. While the standard immigration stamps are the most typical stamps you’ll receive, some destinations — for example, Machu Picchu or some scientific stations in Antarctica — offer a souvenir stamp as well. While this may seem like a fun way to commemorate your trip, these stamps can actually get you into trouble. Certain airlines may not allow you to fly if you have unofficial stamps in your passport, which is considered “alternation or mutilation,” as outlined on the fifth page of every U.S. passport. Not every airline will knock you for these novelty stamps, but it’s better to play it safe and collect these souvenirs in a journal or a novelty passport specially designed for the stamp scavenger hunt. 

Damaged Passport

Normal wear and tear on a passport is acceptable, but you might not get too far if you’re trying to travel with a damaged passport. You may be denied boarding by the airline if your passport shows water damage or there is a significant rip in the pages (especially the cover or the page that holds your personal information and photo), unofficial marks on the information page, missing or torn out pages, or a hole punch. If any of the above are true, you’ll want to apply for a new passport well before you travel to ensure you’re able to board the plane. 

Approaching Expiration

It may seem like common sense that if your passport hasn’t expired yet, you’re good to travel. But what many travelers don’t realize is that if your passport is close to its expiration date, you may not be able to travel with it. Many countries have entry rules that state your passport’s validity must extend anywhere from three to six months past the last day of your trip, but this is not a blanket statement for all countries. The best practice is to check your passport’s expiration date now and look up passport validity rules for each destination before you travel. If your passport is too close to expiration, you may be denied entry abroad or faced with a fine by the host country when you’re trying to return home. 

No More Blank Pages  

Many countries require your passport to have at least two blank pages to be admitted, and some countries may even require four blank pages. This requirement allows the immigration officers adequate space for both an entry and exit stamp, and some airlines may not allow you to board the plane if your passport does not have the required blank pages. It’s best to check the individual requirements of the country you’re traveling to, as not all requirements are equal. 

Travelers were once able to apply to have pages added to their passport if they found themselves running short on space for stamps and visas, but as of 2016, this is no longer allowed. If you’re a frequent traveler, it’s wise to apply for a “large book,” which comes with 52 visa pages.

Overstaying Visas

Remaining in a country past your visa expiration date will almost certainly cause a fuss when you try to exit the country in which you’ve overstayed. You may face a fine or deportation. In more serious cases, the immigration department may choose to ban you from entering the country again for a certain amount of time. Moral of the story: Check your entry stamp to confirm the number of days you were granted on arrival, count out the days on the calendar (the day you got the stamp is day one), and make sure to exit on or before the last day of the visa’s validity. 

Incorrect SIgnature

A U.S. passport is not valid unless it’s signed with blue or black ink, and adults should make sure their signature is on their own passport before traveling. However, you should not sign your child’s passport. There are specific rules about how to validate the passport of a child under 16. The parent should print the child’s name on the signature line and sign their own name next to it, followed by their relationship to the passport holder. 

Featured image credit: ANNVIPS/ iStock

If you stay in hotels frequently, you probably know what to expect in your room the moment you check in — a mini-fridge, complimentary toiletries, and perhaps an ice machine down the hall. However, there’s a good chance your hotel provides other amenities you didn’t even know to ask about. These small luxuries and secret perks might make your stay even more comfortable or help you save money as you explore your destination. Discover seven common hotel amenities you might not be taking advantage of.

Bike Rentals

Accommodations in bike-friendly cities such as Boise or Amsterdam are likely to offer complimentary or heavily discounted bike rentals to encourage guests to alleviate their carbon footprints. Many guests overlook this perk if they plan on renting a car, but it will greatly reduce the cost of your trip if you don’t have to pay for a car rental or parking. Particularly at hotels in urban areas, bike rentals are becoming more and more popular, so be sure to inquire and reserve in advance if you plan to try it out. 

Complimentary Beverages

Complimentary breakfast isn’t usually guaranteed, but oftentimes, your overnight hotel stay will certainly be accompanied by free coffee or tea. If there isn’t a coffee maker or espresso machine in your room, ask the concierge upon check-in if there are any complimentary beverage services available. Often, hotels will provide fresh-brewed coffee in the lobby each morning. Other times, hotel bars and restaurants offer exclusive happy hour deals or drink discounts to guests. In particular, Kimpton Hotels are known for hosting free wine hours for guests each evening. 

Amenity Kits

The little things go a long way, especially if you’ve left something at home. Oftentimes, front desk staff will be happy to provide complimentary items such as ear plugs, a sleep mask, a toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, lotion, and even socks free of charge. 

Pillow Menus

There’s nothing worse than not sleeping well on vacation. Some people will get stiff necks from an overly fluffy pillow, while some people will find it hard to sleep without one. Whether you’re a stomach, side, or back sleeper, there’s an ideal pillow for you. Fortunately, many hotels — particularly luxury hotels — are now offering a “pillow menu” to ensure you get the best rest. Guests can choose from a range of pillows, including feather or down pillows and memory foam pillows.

Laundry Service

If you have an unfortunate spill or have been on the road for a while and need to wash the essentials, you can often utilize laundry services right at your hotel. For a small fee, guests can often send out clothing for the hotel staff to clean, or they can use the property’s washers and dryers themselves to ensure they stay feeling fresh.

Access to Streaming Platforms

Forget flipping the channels on cable — many hotels now offer smart TVs with access to popular streaming platforms. Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video may be available to access using your own personal login, or the property may have its own guest account. Just don’t forget to log out of your profile when you check out. 

Shuttles and Rideshare Offers

Need a ride to and from the airport? Don’t forget to check with your hotel before you reserve a rideshare or try to figure out public transportation. Many properties offer complimentary shuttle service so that their guests can easily travel with luggage to and from their accommodation. Some properties may not advertise this service, but it’s always best to ask — especially if your hotel is close to an airport. Some large hotel groups, including Marriott, have also partnered with ridesharing services so that members of their loyalty program can earn bonus points on rides.

Featured image credit: Credit: Boyloso/ Shutterstock