Travel Tips for Troubled Times

We're approaching the peak holiday travel season, and things are looking fraught for people traveling by air.

The ongoing government shutdown is already the longest in American history, and staffing shortages at the TSA and air traffic control are poised to exacerbate the usual weather- and volume-related difficulties this time of year. Transportation Security Sean Duffy has ordered a 10% reduction in flight volumes, leading to cancellations across the country, and many are anxious about how to approach their upcoming travel plans.

Well, I'm a bit of a frequent flier myself, and over the years I've picked up some critical skills for managing travel in uncertain times like these.

Today, I'd like to share some of those with you.

Pack Smart

The first steps you take to smooth your travel experience can happen before you even leave your home; a well-considered packing strategy is essential.

Whenever possible, condense down to a single bag. Pack a variety of lightweight clothing. If you plan to dress in layers, you can be prepared for all sorts of weather conditions while still leaving bulkier items at home. Bring a day or two more than you think you'll need, just in case you experience unexpected delays. Keep essential medications in your suitcase, along with a spare battery.

You have now prepared a proper sacrifice.

You will never see this suitcase again, but you have avoided angering the baggage gods, who thirst for blood and socks. Identify a Kohl's near your destination and be prepared to buy the worst belt you've ever owned.

Stay Informed

It's easier than ever to keep tabs on your travel. Gone are the days of crowding around an information board at the airport to see if your flight's on time–now, virtually every airline offers an app where you can not only track flights, but also make changes to your reservation if need be.

Of course, experienced flyers like myself know that the resources don't stop there.

Websites like FlightAware, FlightRadar24 and ExpertFlyer can supply you will all the fine-grained, up-to-the-minute data you need to drive yourself completely insane.

"Looks like we're delayed 20 minutes," your travel companion says.

"Our inbound flight from Tampa took off late because of a maintenance issue," you say, your eyes completely glazed over, "but if the ground stop in Dallas lifts we should be able to stay ahead of the front rolling in from the Rockies."

Stay Flexible

Sometimes, there's no getting around it. You've got to get to that meeting in Sacramento, and you've got to get there tomorrow.

If your plans aren't set in stone, though, a little flexibility can go a long way.

Consider this: do you need to celebrate Thanksgiving in November? What about March, or maybe two years from now? Some scholars think that Jesus was actually born in September, so there's no reason you can't have Christmas then, too.

Consider Driving

When things are humming along smoothly, there's no beating air travel for speed and convenience. I live in Kentucky, and I've flown to a meeting an hour's drive outside Philadelphia and still made it back home in the same day.

When things start to look shaky, though, the reliability of car travel can look a lot more appealing. Heck, when you factor in TSA wait times, long layovers and potential delays, sometimes it's not much faster to fly, depending on your destination. Hop online, and see how far it would be to–

holy crap this country is so much bigger than I thought it was

how the heck is it a 21-hour drive from Dallas to Los Angeles??

Google Maps is showing me the curvature of the Earth

okay well if you need some music for the drive, my ACBN Radio playlist is over 18 hours long

Find a Comfortable Place

Let's face it.

The best-laid plans of mice, men and Diamond Medallion members often go astray. No matter how well you've planned, no matter how hard you've scrutinized online flight data, there's still a chance that you're going to end up delayed or waylaid at an airport far from home or your destination. You're going to need to find a place you can be comfortable.

Airport lounge offerings are more diverse than ever, with airline-specific lounges like American's Admirals Club and Delta's SkyClub now competing with credit-card-sponsored offerings like the Capitol One Lounge and Amex Centurion Lounge.

These will be too full for you to get into, but experienced travelers like myself know that the peace and quiet you seek isn't to be found beyond those glass doors anyways.

Instead, you'll want to retreat into the traveler's coziest nook: your own mind!

Try detaching from reality entirely. Your body might be at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport food court, but your consciousness is now adrift, unbound by time or space. Your flight to Roanoke is delayed, but you have also already arrived, and you have yet to leave home.

Time is but a window, death is but a door. Try the Bojangles biscuits.

–Scott Hines (@actioncookbook)