Ana Weaver
When you travel alone or with family, you expect to have a good time on every trip. You will even want business trips to be relaxing and easy. But most American flyers end up feeling stressed when they board a flight. It usually happens because you make some common mistakes even before reaching the airport. Further, flying from busy airports like Pittsburgh can aggravate your anxiety and pains because you have to deal with the crowd. Things are even more complicated right now when crowded spaces are fraught with risks.
However, you can still deal with the stress of the situation with the right approach. Knowing these woes and steering clear of them can help you make the flight pleasant and stress-free. If you have travel plans ahead, you can rely on some insights from locals who travel frequently. Let us share some recommendations that can help you have a pleasant experience at the Pittsburgh airport.
Choose the low-traffic flight timings
Frequent flyers state that noon and late evening are the busiest hours at the Pittsburgh airport. It means you should avoid these hours to skip the traffic jams on the way and queues at the airport. If you have the flexibility to choose your flight timings, pick the low-traffic timings while booking your flights. You can check online to get a fair idea of the airport traffic for a specific timeline.
Also, avoid scheduling travel during the busiest seasons if you can pick the vacation dates. It will enable you to skip the hassles and crowds, and it makes sense in pandemic times when social distancing is the need of the hour. Beyond avoiding the crowd, you can probably save some dollars by opting for less crowded flights.
Reach the airport early
Nothing can be more stressful than reaching the airport at the last moment. You have to rush through the security checks and health screenings. But there is still a chance of missing your flight, which is the last thing you will want to happen.
Just imagine not reaching for a critical business meet only because you did not make it to the airport on time! Missed flights on leisure trips can be even more painful as you lose money and feel sad for your loved ones. Make sure you leave early enough to avoid last-minute hassles. Ideally, try reaching two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. It will save you from a lot of stress and trouble and curb the risk of missed flights.
Commute smartly
Locals prefer using their own cars to commute to the Pittsburgh airport because they are safer from the virus perspective. Moreover, you can fit your stuff in the trunk a night before taking an early morning flight. It lets you save much time in the morning and focus on the other aspects like checking your documents and locking your home properly. The good thing is that finding Airport Parking at Pittsburgh is easier than you imagine.
You can check availability on onestopparking.com and book a space online with only a few clicks. Drive-in and park for the agreed period, and you need not worry about the safety of your vehicle. You even have a complimentary shuttle waiting for you to transport you to the airport. The best part is that you need not struggle to find a cab even when you land in the city after the trip. Your car is right there, waiting for you!
Pack light
Packing light is the smartest thing that flyers can do. It is easy to carry your stuff without help if you are not loaded with baggage. You can stick with a carry-on and save time waiting for the luggage when you arrive at the destination. Stick to the essentials and avoid carrying things you will probably not need.
Count your clothing and avoid over-packing, no matter how appealing the idea of carrying countless outfits seems. You can follow the capsule concept and mix and match outfits to look good without carrying a lot. But don’t forget the personal safety items like masks, gloves, and sanitizers. Traveling without them exposes you to the risk of the virus. You will need them everywhere, at the airport, on the flight, and even in your hotel room. You may get supplies there, but it makes sense to have your own stuff.
Carry digital documents
Savvy travelers make friends with technology because it makes the entire experience simple and easy. You can carry digital copies of all your travel documents on your phone instead of struggling to find passports, health certificates, and ID papers every time you need them.
You need a lot of paperwork in the new normal, and it is easy to miss out on something when there is a lot to handle. Digital copies serve as saviors if you happen to lose any of the documents. You can always access one from your phone and show it to the authorities. Downloading the airline app also helps get the real-time status of the flight. It is another technology you should not miss out on.
Know the pandemic safety rules
Flying in pandemic times requires you to know some safety rules to keep the virus at bay. It will also ensure anxiety-free flying because you will be on the right side of the regulations. Go through the latest CDC guidelines and understand the current regulations at your destination. It is crucial to know the prevailing status of the virus there to assess your risk factors. Further, you must also have a fair idea of travel restrictions, specifically if you plan to fly overseas. Awareness goes a long way in making flying safe and hassle-free. Make sure you do enough research to gather all the valuable information you need before boarding.
These smart recommendations from locals can make your flight from Pittsburgh smooth and easy. You can follow them as flying rules for every single trip, regardless of your source and destination. Go ahead and get ready for safe and stress-free flying.