MASTERING NYC AREA AIRPORTS

JFK AIRPORT CAR SERVICE AND OTHER TRAVEL LIFE-SAVERS

You know the typical ways to streamline an airport experience—check in online and print your boarding pass, wear comfortable clothing and shoes that you can easily remove, etc. However, New York’s airports are notorious for the amount of people who walk their floors every day, so any tips that make surviving the airport better can be a great help. From hiring JFK airport car service to signing up for the TSA Global PreCheck program, there are several ways to make your travel experience better.

WAIT IN THE VIP LOUNGES

These special parts of the airport will allow you to relax, because they’re set off from the bustle of other airport travelers. The seating’s more comfortable, the surroundings are cozier, and they often have perks like showers, business centers, and light refreshments. If you aren’t a frequent flyer with one of the airlines that offer lounges, consider a one-day lounge pass. For a fee, you can enjoy all the amenities found in the lounges, even if you’re not a regular airline member.

PURCHASE TSA GLOBAL PRECHECK MEMBERSHIP

This program is a frequent traveler’s dream come true. The TSA Global PreCheck program lets you skip the mile-long line at security and experience a much quicker screening process. All of the things that travelers must normally remove from their bags—such as laptops and bags containing liquids—can stay right where they are. What’s more, travelers don’t have to remove their shoes, belts, or light outerwear. This benefit is available at 40 different airports nationwide, including JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark.

BUY A LAPTOP BAG

Perhaps you don’t travel enough to justify purchasing a TSA Global PreCheck membership, or you need a quick and easy way to improve your experience with security. In which case, a security-friendly laptop bag may be just the thing you need. You can now purchase bags that are designed so that you don’t have to remove your laptop from them when you send it through security. While this doesn’t make a huge dent in the amount of time spent at the security line, it can make the process a little less troublesome.

STAY HEALTHY

A subtler downside to New York’s crowded airports? Sickness. With all the people you pass in the airport, the chances that you’ll come down with something are strong. Airline travelers are 20 percent more likely to catch a cold. To avoid being part of that statistic, be sure to take B-complex vitamins and vitamin C before flying. Other good practices would include carrying your own bottle of hand sanitizer and carrying packets of Emergen-C for an extra boost of vitamins.

USE CAR SERVICE

Driving to the airport is a stressful experience, regardless of your reason for traveling. Hiring car service to drop you off and pick you up can eliminate the stress of getting to the airport on time, dealing with traffic, and searching for parking upon arrival. Instead, a Chauffeur will keep a close watch on traffic conditions so that he knows what to expect on the road. With that knowledge, he can plan the route and pick-up time accordingly so that your day doesn’t miss a beat.

Mastering NYC’s airports can be done, if you know the right shortcuts. While you can’t always control what will happen at the airport, you can take steps to ensure that your travels are a little bit easier. Book car service, arrange for a shorter screening process, and do what you can to stay healthy. Though New York’s major airports may never be a relaxing haven, with these measures they can be a little more bearable.

photo credit: ~Oryctes~ via photopin cc