Don't miss your flight: discover the ultimate tips for stress-free holiday travel

As the festive season approaches and many South Africans prepare for local and international holidays, the excitement can often lead to rushed trips to the airport or even missed flights.

Every year, countless passengers experience delays due to longer check-in queues, unexpected traffic and simple mistakes.

To help ensure a smooth start to your holiday, here are some key tips that will help you breeze through the airport and arrive on time.

Before travel: Prepare

• Leave early: Try to arrive at the airport 120 minutes before your flight departs to avoid last-minute stress. "Leaving early is by far the best advice we can give to passengers, to account for unforeseen traffic, e-hailing delays, or parking/walking delays," says Haydn Halim-Henning, brand manager at LIFT. 
• Clearly label items: Don’t forget to clearly label your bags, including your phone number. If you have valuable items like laptops, consider using tracking devices like Apple Air Tags to help recover them if lost.
• Know your baggage allowance: Make sure you check your airline's baggage limits and ensure your cabin luggage is the right size and weight. Keep essential documents, like your ID, handy if you’re hiring a car.
• Pre-select your seats: Choose your seats during booking, helping to seat groups together and prevent delays.
• Pack a snack: It’s a good idea to bring a snack, especially if you’re travelling with children. 

At the airport: Stay focused

• Double check your ticket: Ensure that you have the correct date, time and boarding gate. Familiarise yourself with the distance to the gate to avoid any last-minute dashes.
• Check-in: If you have checked in online and do not have luggage to check, head directly to security. Arriving early will help keep your stress levels down when navigating the airport.
• Have documents ready: Have your boarding pass and any necessary identification on hand as you go through security to avoid delays.
• Listen for announcements: Be sure to keep an ear out for any gate changes or announcements. Remember, boarding gates open 30 minutes before departure and close 15 minutes beforehand.

Once on board: Stay organised

"Once you’ve prepped appropriately and find yourself in your seat with all your belongings, remember to keep your items with you," Halim-Henning suggests.

He adds: "The number one item we find left behind on flights is passenger identification, which could make booking into a hotel a bit tricky!"

All it really comes down to is this: plan properly, leave early and keep track of your belongings for a stress-free festive season.