I’m really, really sorry, I don’t have any tricks to find cheap flights. Er… change your travel dates? Consider another destination? Convince yourself that leaving at 4 a.m. or landing in another country and find your way to where you want to be isn’t that complicated?

I travel more than the average person but booking flights always stresses me out. It’s hard to beat dynamic pricing, and comparing airfares proves tricky because of all the “we will charge you because we can” fees—yes, I need a seat, and yes, I have a carry-on bag (and a backpack) because I’m spending weeks or months on the road.

So no, I’m sorry, I have no idea how to get amazing flight deals. But if you do, please let me know.

However, I do know how to make your flight more comfortable, and I have a few tips to share!

Pack rationally and carefully

Do yourself a favour, and avoid the dreaded middle-of-the-airport repack.

It should be common knowledge that many countries have implemented various restrictions on what you can pack in your carry-on. Basically, liquids and anything sharp should go in your checked luggage.

Check your baggage allowance and weigh your luggage before going to the airport. Low-cost airlines enforce strict size and weight limits, while major airlines may be a bit more flexible.

Remember that your checked luggage and carry-on may be inspected manually and that anything can trigger a search. It’s best if it’s not a complete mess—keep electronic devices together, cables in a Ziploc bag, etc.

Oh, and you will need to show your passport and boarding pass several times—keep them handy.

Dress for the flight, not for the destination

Go to any Canadian airport in December and you will invariably spot a family in shorts and t-shirts. We get it; you’re going to a sun destination. But what are you going to do if you miss a connection and end up stuck overnight in a city where cold weather is a thing?

Airplane cabin temperature vary but based on my experience, it usually feels cold, especially because you’re sitting still. Many airports in warm countries are set to a freezing 18°C, and you will spend a few hours trapped in this environment.

I still wear shorts on some short flights in Latin America or China but I have my own plane blanket handy. I’m always wearing jeans and a sweater for longer flights, even in summer. Taking off layers is easy, freezing for the entire flight is painful.

Pick the right flight outfit

You’re not going clubbing, you’re not going to the beach or to a heavy metal concert, and you’re probably not going to get scouted at the airport. Leave the cute dress, Havaianas or punk studded jacket at home—or pack them.

Your typical airport and aircraft are dirty and chilly—show skin later! Don’t forget you may have to take off your shoes, and bulky jewellery or anything made of metal can trigger a wand-down.

Loose-fitting clothes may be less sexy but they are much more comfortable.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend wearing pajamas if you’re flying internationally, some border security officers may find it quite weird.

Check out the airport map

Is it best to go through security right away or wait in the public area for as long as possible? It depends on the airport!

Ottawa/Macdonald—Cartier International Airport is tiny. Once you go through security, you’re pretty much stuck at your gate. There are very few shops, nothing anything interesting to check out, really. On the other hand, Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) is quite fun—the terminals are huge, with plenty of free entertainment, including free PS5 stations, free arcade games, football tables, chess boards, and more. You bet I’m going through security right away to explore my terminal!

Get to know your airport before your flight, all the info is usually online.

You can also ask airport employees how long it takes to go through security and get to your gate for perfect timing.

Bring an empty plastic bottle or reusable bottle

You won’t be able to take a bottle of water through security but an empty bottle isn’t an issue, and many airports have water fountains.

Fill up your bottle after security and avoid buying a very expensive bottle of water before boarding!

And yes, you should bring water with you. Cabin air is insanely dry and you may not be able to get up easily to grab some water (typically always available at the back of the plane on long flights).

Pack your own lunch/dinner

This is a trick I discovered during the pandemic when onboard service was (understandably) very limited. Now I never leave without my own food for long flights.

And yes, it’s perfectly okay to bring food on board—sandwiches, granola bars, bananas, crackers, etc. For everybody’s sake, avoid smelly food and make sure it’s wrapped or packaged properly.

Why should you pack food? First, some budget airlines don’t offer a free meal, and the snacks for sale are typically both crappy and expensive. Second, some airlines have crappy food, period. Yes, looking at you, Air Canada. And finally, having your own food means that you won’t have to wait for meal service to get to you—you can eat and sleep blissfully until landing.

Download your favourite entertainment

This is the same logic as food. Most major airlines have in-flight entertainment but it’s best to have your own movies, series, podcasts or music just in case.

Occasionally, your screen won’t work or you will find that the sound is crappy (tip, bring your own wired headset!). Or maybe you don’t want your entertainment constantly interrupted by endless announcements in multiple languages (you should pay attention to the safety briefing, though!) or watch the mandatory commercials before each movie.

Just download what makes you happy on your phone or tablet.

Charge your phone during the flight

Chances are, you will use your phone a lot from the moment you step into the airport to the moment when the plane lands. If you’re anything like me, you will read the news while queueing, show your digital boarding pass a few times, take a few pointless selfies, and text friends and relatives at various airport milestones—about to go through security! At the gate!—watch movies during the flight…

. and you may end up with a “critical battery” notification just when you land and need an Uber, your Airbnb address or a way to contact relatives waiting for you somewhere.

I used to charge my phone when waiting at the gate—it’s an option, but now, many aircraft have USB ports. You can charge your phone during your flight, except when taking off and landing.

Happy travels!