Pre-flight Checklist – Common Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

Going on vacation is one of those things in life that can be exciting. You have done all the research, decided on a destination, searched for the best value, and finally booked your flights, accommodation, and activities. But have you done your essential last minute pre-flight checks before your flight?

Have you included these in your pre-flight airport checklist?

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Everyone knows that when you are planning a vacation, you need to bring your luggage, carry-on, passport, phone, and anything else that will make your flight more enjoyable. Do you know what should be in your carry-on?

The first thing to do at the airport is park your car (if you drove) and go and check in for the flight. There you will show your documentation and check your luggage. Did you label them correctly? Did you pack everything in that needs to be checked? The last thing that you want is airport security discovering something that is not permitted.

Are You Ready?

Pre-Flight Checklist

Did you check for Proper Luggage Tags?

The tags on your luggage need to be visible and easy to read. I know it sounds kind of silly and an obvious requirement but just consider for a moment what happens if you do not have a tag. Or, it is hidden, lost or illegible? Can you guarantee that you will recognize your luggage on the carrousel at your destination? Many suitcases look the same.

When you fly, there are signs up everywhere about placing your luggage tags on your bags. This is one of the most important pre-flight checks and should be essential on your airport checklist.

In light of recent post-pandemic travel issues, it may be a good idea to have a digital luggage tracker such as the SmartTag Bluetooth Tracker.

So, what happens if you do get the wrong luggage…

True story…

So, I am with a group flying to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to catch a cruise the following day. One passenger in our group managed to pick up the wrong bags at the airport. BUT she did not notice until the following morning as she had her overnight things in her carry-on.

When she tried to open the suitcase to pack an additional bottle of wine, she discovered that it was not her bag, and that it belonged to a magician! (He had a business card on the bag).

So now what? You are about to leave on a 10-day cruise, and you do not have any clothes of your own! Luckily, there was a phone number on the business card, and she was able to contact him. It turns out that he was coming aboard the exact same cruise! Our friend was able to arrange for the return of the luggage.

However, that does not solve the issue that she still does not have her bag. With just enough time, she taxied back to the airport, ran to Lost and Found and luckily found her bag with time to spare and managed to get to the Cruise Terminal.

So, the moral of the story is that when you travel, always do those essential last-minute pre-flight checks for correct luggage tags and perhaps a luggage strap to help identify your own luggage!

Did you check for Pocket Knives?

Pocket knives are another item that are commonly carried, usually by men. Hey, you never know when you have an emergency that requires something to be opened or cut with a knife. Those that do carry them also tend to have keys attached to them.

But did you check where it is? Did you remember remove the knife from your keys? Do you need to bring it on vacation? Do you need to pack it into your luggage? Can you leave it at home?

So, what happens if you forget to remove it or pack it?

Actual story…
So, my husband and my son (23) decided to go on a ski vacation in France. They drove to the airport, 2 hours away and parked the car in the long-term parking lot. In the parking lot, they flagged down a passing shuttle service to take them to the terminal. They arrived at the check-in counter and checked their luggage and skis.

They got to the airport security and started to empty their pockets as you are required to do. It was then that the boy realized he still had his pocketknife. At this point, there are two choices; either return to the car and leave the knife there or, give it up to the security guard.

Luckily, they were at the airport well in advance of their flight, so he had enough time to take the shuttle back to the car and return to the security station.

In other circumstances this may not have been possible, and he may have witnessed the joy on the security officers’ faces at their newfound acquisition. I always wonder what security does with all the items they confiscate. Hmmm…

So, remember, always do those essential pre-flight checks to locate your pocketknife. An important thing to consider on your airport checklist.

Did you check for hidden zippers?

When travelling for work or pleasure one of the considerations you must make is what to wear on the plane. For business travel many will wear business attire especially if they are meeting anyone at the airport.

But what do you wear if you are going on vacation? Many would argue that the better dressed you are the more likely that you could be bumped to a higher class on a plane. (Is this still a thing?)

Others would argue that they want to be the most comfortable on the flight as they will be cramped and crowed for hours on end.

On top of comfort, you may also have to take weather and climate into consideration. If you are going on a winter vacation, then you will probably be leaving a cold climate behind for warmer temperatures.

So, what do you wear on the plane?

For men, the answer is simple, a pair of pants. While for business, dress pants will suffice. For pleasure, maybe some khakis or linen pants. Some may consider shorts, but do you really trust the plane to be cleaned enough for bare legs?

Women on the other hand, have an abundance of options. Dress, pants, leggings, sweats? What to choose? Again, I bring up the cleanliness of the plane and comfort. Dress??

For some people, the best way around these choices are zip-off pants. They can be long pants in the colder climates and zip off to shorts when you arrive in warmer climates.
But did you know, they MAY set off security alarms at the airport.

And this happened-

The last time I went to the airport, I had done all the preparations. I carefully placed all my liquids in their special bags, removed my shoes, placed my bags in the tray making sure that all the straps are inside, and proceeded through security. No problem…until you hear the beep-beep.

Then the sudden fear comes, and you think, “what did I forget to take out of the pockets?”. No problem, they will use the “magic wand” and figure out what set off the alarm. Nope, not this time!

“Ma’am, step over here, please”. Would you like the physical pat-down or the body image? I chose the body image. So, I go through the body scanner and again, beep-beep. Now I am thinking “what is going on?” The agent comes over and says, “now I have to give you the pat-down anyway”.

After a moment of embarrassment, after all, this is in public, she finds the culprit! Zippers on my travel pants!!

So, the moral of the story is that if you choose this type of clothing, be aware that you may beep while going through the security scan. Take the time to do those essential last-minute pre-flight checks for hidden zippers.

Did you check that your footwear is easily removed?

Shoes or any type of footwear is generally a requirement for everyone. Most people do not give much thought as to what they have on their feet. Women may choose sandals, heels, flats, cute booties or simply runners. Men, on the other hand usually only own three pieces of footwear: runners, dress shoes and sandals.

So, what to bring when you are on vacation? And how many pieces of footwear do you really need? And can it easily be removed at the airport? This decision needs to be made before you go to the airport!

Many airports require that you remove your shoes prior to going through security. If this is the case, do you really want to be wearing those gladiator style sandals with the knee length laces?

Undoing them is one thing but walking barefoot through security and having to tie them up again is another. After you pass through the security scanners, you will be more concerned about collecting your carry-on bags, wallets and purses than having to stop to tie this type of shoe.

Be sure to do those last minute checks on your footwear. It is an important thing to do before getting on your flight.

Did you check that your water bottle is empty?

In the last ten to fifteen years, society has decided that everyone must always carry a water bottle wherever they go. I am not sure when this occurred but now it seems to be the norm.

In the past, people would hydrate at mealtimes or periodically throughout the day. Now maybe I am being old fashioned, but I never felt the urge to always carry portable water with me and I certainly never felt thirsty. If there were sporting activities or exercising involved, then yes, more water was consumed. For vacations, water (or other drinks) was consumed as required. If necessary, an empty bottle was packed in checked luggage.

Today, however, everyone carries a bottle wherever they go. Even more true is the desire to have hydration available on an airplane. So how is this done?

Many will bring an empty bottle through security and fill it in the waiting area for the flight. Others may opt to purchase water or other liquids after they pass through security. But on almost any given day, there is that person who just purchased their water or juice prior to going through security.

What are the choices?

Now they are faced with three choices: leave it at security, go back to the main terminal to dump it or drink it. When this happens, there is nothing quite like the sight of someone sitting near the security area chugging their newly purchased liquid so they can have an empty bottle for their vacation.

I wonder where they will be when their bladder decides to release this sudden onslaught on liquid. Hmmm.

So, be sure to check that your water bottle is empty before going through security. An important thing to check before getting on your flight.

Did you check where your sunscreen is located?

Like many who are travelling to beach vacations, the desire to get to the beach as soon as you arrive is strong. To save time, you may pack shorts, bathing suit and sunscreen in your carry-on, so it is ready when you arrive.

But hold on a second. Is your sunscreen small enough to fit into one of the liquids bags to comply with airport security? If not, you will be surrendering it to the security personnel. Oops.

The most common time for this error to occur, is not when you are departing for your vacation. It is on the return, especially if your flight is later in the day. You want to spend the days at the beach and then go to the airport.

So, before surrendering your luggage, do that last-minute pre-flight check to be sure that your sunscreen is packed, or you will lose it at the security counter. An important thing to do during your airport check.

Did you check your snacks?

Snacks are almost always desired on a flight. With the reduction of amenities that the airlines provide, most flights do not have food available unless you are prepared to purchase.

If you plan on bringing snacks, particularly if you are travelling with children, be sure to check the airlines policy and/or the destination policy about importing food products.

For example, if you are travelling into the United States, you are not permitted to bring in fruits, vegetables, or floral products.

So, unless you plan on purchasing, be sure to make sure if your snacks are acceptable during your pre-flight check.

Did you verify where your marijuana is located during your pre-flight check?

With the legalization of marijuana in many countries around the world and some of the United States, many people have become accustomed to using this substance as part of their daily routine. However, when you are flying, marijuana is still considered a restricted drug and may have criminal implications if discovered.

Some countries have severe policies regarding this type of drug and if arrested, you may find yourself in jail or worse. A very important thing to consider.

For safety’s sake, double-check and leave it at home!

Did you check that your Travel Insurance is sufficient?

Most people plan their vacation to include at least some form of travel insurance. There are a few different kinds of insurance: trip cancellation, trip disruption and emergency medical.

Trip cancellation insurance typically allows for the cancellation of the vacation due to medical reasons. However, due ongoing changes to international travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, many insurance providers are now permitting cancellations based on these restrictions. Many airlines also have revised policies.

It would be wise to verify that trip cancellation is covered before committing to the costs of your vacation as not all insurance providers may permit cancellations without penalties.

Planning a trip is made easy with this Trip Planning Checklist Bundle. It has everything you need to keep you well organized. From Pre-planning to Budget Planning, Day Trip Planning, and a variety of Checklists, you will have the tools to plan and enjoy your vacation.

Trip disruption insurance allows for the safe return of the passenger if the trip is interrupted along the way. Typically, this would be used if flights are cancelled, and passengers require re-booking their flights. Again, this is something you should verify prior to travel as regulations may have changed due to the pandemic.

Are you prepared for an emergency?

It would be stressful and challenging if you find yourself stranded internationally if your vacation destination suddenly has travel restrictions imposed.

Emergency medical insurance is a type of policy that would cover emergency medical if you were to have an accident while abroad. This could include seeing a local doctor in clinic at resort or an ambulance to a local hospital. In urgent situations, it could also include evacuation flights back home.

With the pandemic, some insurance providers may not cover you if you become ill with Covid during your vacation as you could pose a health risk. Regular airlines may not permit you to fly with positive tests.

It would be wise to verify what your insurance provider will cover if you become ill while abroad. Insuremytrip.com is a convenient resource for comparing travel insurance plans from major providers.

Bon Voyage

Once you have completed these essential last-minute pre-flight checks, you are truly ready for your vacation.

There should be no surprises at the airport that would cause possible missed flights or embarrassment or police intervention. These important things to do on the airport checklist should be part of your trip planning.

Have a great trip!

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