The Holiday Travel Survival Guide Every Flyer Needs

After a record-setting 2024, the 2025 holiday travel season is expected to be even busier, with flight bookings already up 2.2% this year. For air travel, that means crowded terminals, long security lines, and an influx of impatient passengers that can make even the most seasoned flyer feel less than merry. But with the right gear and a few clever hacks, you can handle the chaos like a pro. This holiday travel survival guide is packed with clever products and practical tips to help travelers stay calm, comfortable, and organized from takeoff to touchdown.

TSA and Flight Hacks

Whether you’re dealing with liquid rules or trying to figure out how to bypass lines, these are the best ways to reduce stress at TSA checkpoints.

• TSA-approved toiletry kit: Follow the 3-1-1 liquid rule for carry-ons by purchasing a toiletry kit with leakproof silicone bottles that you can refill with your favorite full-size toiletries. Unsure which toiletries to pack? There are also cost-effective, curated toiletry kits for men and women, ensuring you never forget the essentials.
• TSA PreCheck or CLEAR membership: If you don’t have a membership already, the holidays might be a good time to explore enrolling in TSA PreCheck or CLEAR, which allow you to use designated lines that offer faster service than regular lines. While they do come at a cost, a less stressful experience may be worth it (and a TSA PreCheck membership is good for five years).
• Digital boarding pass holder or wallet app: Keep all your boarding passes in one place using your airline’s app or a virtual wallet on your phone. This is especially useful when traveling with small children — instead of rummaging around at the gate for your paper ticket before your board, simply pull out your phone and scan.
• Flight apps: You can always use your airline’s app, but a favorite among seasoned travelers is FlightAware, which provides real-time, historical, and predictive flight insights. Sometimes, FlightAware is even updated before the airline’s app. It’s free to download, and you can search by airport and flight time if you don’t know a flight number, which helps you easily keep track of friends and family.

Comfort Is Key

No one enjoys being cold, cramped, or restless on a flight. Bringing a few cozy essentials can help transform a stressful travel day into a surprisingly relaxing experience.

• Compression socks: These specialized socks keep blood flowing during long flights and help reduce cramping, swelling, and leg pain. Choose a classic neutral pair from a trusted brand like Dr. Scholl’s, or get in the holiday spirit with these fun patterns.
• Neck pillow: Whether you’re taking a cross-country red-eye or a quick morning hop across the state, a supportive neck pillow can make a big difference in comfort. Look for ones made of memory foam that offer chin support for better rest and less strain.
• Travel blanket: A packable travel blanket is a great way to make your experience a little more comfortable — and a lifesaver for chilly jetways and airplane cabins. For a more versatile option, consider a cashmere travel wrap, a stylish yet cozy accessory.
• Hydration helpers: With dry cabin air, flying can be dehydrating, so it’s important to keep up with your water intake. Passengers can take an empty water bottle through TSA and fill it post-security. If you’re worried about saving space, consider a collapsible travel water bottle. Bonus points if you bring TSA-friendly hydration packets to mix into your water for an added electrolyte boost.

Peace and Quiet, Please

With airports and flights busier than ever during the holiday season, things may be noisier than usual. Fortunately, you can pack a few small accessories to make your experience a little more peaceful.

• Noise-canceling headphones and earplugs: These can help cancel out noisy neighbors on flights and in the airport. The Bose QuietComfort headphones are top-rated among travelers for their comfortable over-ear design, Bluetooth connectivity, and 24-hour battery life. Bose also makes QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds with the same capabilities but an in-ear design. For travelers who prefer peaceful silence, the Loop Quiet 2 earplugs are  comfortable enough to sleep in and come with four different ear tip sizes.
• Sleep mask: Bright terminal lights and glaring cabin screens can be jarring during early or late travel days, but a sleep mask can help you relax wherever you are. Look for a mask with concave eye cups so the fabric doesn’t press against your face — no contact lens irritation or makeup smudging.
• Meditation and white noise apps: Apps like Headspace and Calm offer guided meditations, white noise, sleep exercises, and mindfulness programs to help manage stress and anxiety wherever you are. You can download them on your phone or tablet and have access to them throughout your journey.

Keep Organized and Efficient

A tidy carry-on can make all the difference during a busy travel day. Keep everything in its place with these organization essentials.

• Packing cubes: To avoid rummaging around your carry-on bag, separate clothing, hats, and other travel must-haves in packing cubes. Opt for a set of compression cubes to create even more space in your luggage.
• Tech organizer: Traveling with tech keeps us more comfortable, especially when we can listen to our favorite music or catch up on a television show. But this requires charging cords and headphones, which can become a tangled mess in your carry-on bag. A small tech organizer can help you keep everything in a dedicated place.
• Unique bag tags: Many people travel with a neutral-colored bag, so a unique luggage tag is a good way to make your belongings stand out on the carousel. From neon monograms to holiday-themed characters like this charming snowman tag, tags are an inexpensive way to personalize your bag.