Think First and Avoid Airport Chaos
High demand and fewer available seats add an extra dimension of planning to any holiday plans this year. Add to that the unpredictable aspects associated with airports, like lost luggage, flight delays, and crowds, and you might experience some frustrating hiccups in your travel plans.
Precision Planning Saves the Day
You can avoid most of the mishaps associated with airline travel by booking early and taking advantage of conveniences like online check-in and boarding passes to eliminate some of the queues from your travel experience.
Some other ways to avoid airport chaos include:
Researching Your Options
Find out which airports offer the flights you need and which of these have fewer crowds and more efficient services. Traveling to and from already packed airports only makes matters worse for everyone involved.
Rather, arrange your flights so that you arrive and depart at quieter airports with fewer crowds and keep tabs on the progress of your flight, so you know about any delays.
Alternatively, you can travel on four wheels rather than wings, hire a car and drive to your destination.
You’ll need to rent a car anyway, unless you’re flying to a city destination with a solid public transport system, and you’ll pay the same deposit regardless of when you hire the vehicle. Sure, you’ll pay a little more to hire a car for longer and drive further with it, but this might not be as much as you think when compared to the escalating prices of air fares nowadays.
Be sure to calculate all the costs involved with both flights and car hire vs car hire only when making your decision. It all depends how much your time is worth to you and how well you tolerate the stress of unplanned delays.
When you go the car hire route, you can manage your time more effectively and enjoy South Africa’s glorious scenery along the way, too.
Have a Safety Net
While most airlines recommend you arrive between one and two hours before your flight, it’s better to arrive earlier in case of delays. You can always take advantage of airport restaurants and shopping opportunities if you end up waiting around.
Travel insurance costs a little extra, but it can protect you from delayed or cancelled flights and lost luggage.
If you’re renting a car with First, you can opt to pick it up at outlets in all the major centres and avoid the airport queues and delays altogether. There’s no wait when you arrive to pick up your vehicle and you can’t lose your luggage when it’s locked in the boot of your rental car.
In many cases, your credit card covers the cost of insuring your hire car, too.
Travel Light
Stowed luggage is a major pitfall associated with travelling through an airport.
You’ll need to queue to get your suitcases packed on the airplane and undergo security checks. After all that, there’s no guarantee you’ll end up in the same destination as your bags do.
Unless you’ve mastered the art of packing only what you need and managing your hotel’s laundry service cost effectively, you’re bound to end up paying extra for your luggage to travel in the cargo hold, too.
If you want to take any sports equipment along with you, or you have a baby that needs large items, you can expect to pay a lot extra for the privilege, too.
One way around this is to courier the heavy items you need to your destination ahead of time or rent them on arrival.
With car hire, you choose the type of vehicle that suits your family’s luggage needs. You’ll pay a little more for a larger vehicle, but it’s worth skipping the inconvenience and risks associated with checked luggage.
Keep Your Phone Handy
Airport delays can wreak havoc with your travel plans, so make sure your phone is charged and close at hand in case you need to phone ahead to explain delays.
Make sure you have all the necessary contact numbers saved on your device in case you need to get hold of someone urgently.
Having your travel agent on speed dial or easy access to a flight booking website can help you make alternative arrangements in the event of unacceptable flight delays or cancellations.
This golden rule of travel applies equally to car hire except you must keep your car hire company’s number handy in case of a breakdown or other mechanical emergency.
Making the Most of Car Hire to Avoid Chaos During Travel
Again, careful planning helps reduce the costs associated with car hire. Booking early means you’ll pay cheaper rates, but you should also keep tabs on price comparison websites in search of last-minute special offers or low season discounts.
Packing light and doing laundry at your destination means you’ll need a smaller car for your travels, and you can still save money by hiring sports equipment at your destination.
If possible, choose a hybrid vehicle to save on fuel costs and reduce your carbon footprint while in transit.
When you implement these cost-saving measures for hiring a car, you’ll avoid the stress of counting every penny during your holiday and ensure that you narrow the gap between flight and car hire costs.
Explore More Travel Options
Avoid the stress of cancelled flights by not booking a flight at all. One last way to ensure effortless travels is by planning your trips a little closer to home. South Africa has an abundance of wonderful holiday destinations in every province, so you’re bound to find something you fancy closer to home.
Browse our blog for more exciting travel ideas and tips for maximizing your holidays across the country.
