6 Winter Holiday Travel Tips for your Next Trip!

Travelling is stressful, especially so during the winter season when the airports are busy and the temperatures have dropped. The roads are busy and rain and storms can delay your journey.

Unfortunately, the bad weather doesn’t just disappear if you wish hard enough; you have to do things differently in order to smooth your trip along.

Here are 6 helpful ways to use on your next winter trip:

Always check your flight – If your flight is coming from a city with bad winter weather then it can hold up your flight, don’t just assume that if you’re flying from a sunny destination to another that everything will be smooth sailing. Always check your aircraft's journey, no matter where you’re going.

Never drive in a storm – Keep an eye on the local weather forecast. If you’re planning on driving around or travelling to your next destination rather consider not hitting the road if there is a possibility that you’ll drive straight into a storm.

Rebook for free – A lot of airlines will actually track the weather and rearrange schedules to avoid bad winter weather, especially if it is bad enough that it can become dangerous for flight. Certain airlines will often allow customers to rebook for free if this happens.

Follow on social media – It is convenient to follow your airline as well as the specific airport on their social media pages so you can get the fastest news on the weather reports as well as cancellations and updates.

Charge your devices – If your flight is delayed there will probably be a crowd of people at the electrical outlets. Always have a car charger or a power bank at the ready for your electrical devices so you don’t have to share with the rest of the airport while you wait.

Have snacks prepared – Always stock up on snacks and drinks before you head to the airport as they’ll keep you going strong without spending all your holiday cash at the stores at the airport. 

Avoid drinking before you fly, rather drink water and snack on dried fruits and nuts. Read our blog on what you should NEVER eat before flying.

As much as you try, the bad winter weather won’t just go away! You need to plan and prepare yourself so you can reach your destination in peace and have a wonderful holiday!

Airport Shuttle can get you to and from the airport comfortably and on time! Book and pay for your shuttle today with the easy online booking system or contact Airport Shuttle directly if you would prefer person to person contact.

5 Top Tips to Survive the Middle Seat

You have two choices, either sit in the middle seat of a long flight, or drill a hole in your head. Which do you pick?

A recent survey was done to determine the top five middle seat annoyances:

1. Having a nosy seatmate looking over your shoulder

2. Falling over someone to get to the bathroom

3. Not being able to stretch out

4. Having an overweight seatmate on either side of you

5. Not having a place to rest your head

Here are 5 top tips to avoid as well as survive the middle seat:

Make a narrow escape – Your first chance to escape the middle seat is to select an aisle or window when your first book your flight, however some airlines charge an additional fee, but it’s definitely worth it!

Use the armrests – Travelers often get confused about proper armrest etiquette, there is a rule of thumb that has worked for many people over the years: the person in the middle seat has priority when it comes to the armrests on both sides. It’s only fair!

Go before you go – If there was ever a time to behave like a four year old and visit the bathroom multiple times in the airport before your flight, this is it! And if you do ever have to get up from your seat during the flight do it before the person starts watching a movie, reading a book or sleeping.

Use sleep and comfort aids – No, I don’t mean drugs, but rather neck pillows, eye covers, noise cancelling headphones or anything else that can make it possible for you to sleep or rest while sitting straight with nothing to lean on.

Just give in – If you do end up in the dreaded middle seat, it will help if you just accept early that it’s not going be fun, easy or comfortable, so you might as well make the best of it! It’s going to be horrible, but sooner or later you will be on the ground. In other words: this too shall pass.

People dislike the middle seat so much that they will go to great lengths to avoid it! It’s true that majority of us would rather go to the dentist than have to tell a seatmate that you have to go to the bathroom.

Avoid the middle seat completely and book your shuttle service with Airport Shuttle in Cape Town or Durban today! 

Things you’ll only Experience at an Airport

Are you flying somewhere this weekend? Perhaps you’re going on a business trip or a holiday with the family? Whatever it may be, make sure to keep an eye out for these typical airport moments…

1. Double tapping your pockets every 5 minutes for 4 hours to make sure your passport is still there.

2. Thinking why most women who work at the airport have to wear silk scarves around their neck.

3. Watching someone crouch awkwardly to charge their phone.

4. Getting jealous of the man sitting alone drinking champagne and eating oysters.

5. Seeing little children with the same roller carry-ons as their parents and wondering what they’ve got in there.

6. The awkward bachelor party where everyone is still sober and the groom is dressed as Spiderman.

7. The rush that comes after getting through security without any problems.

8. The guy in swimming shorts and a hat who still thinks he's on the beach instead of the airport.

9. Wondering why people think they have to be fancy and use a neck pillow, and then wondering why you didn’t bring one.

10. The feeling that bad things happen in 12’s when you’re at the airport, daring to take a well-deserved holiday!

Airport Shuttle is a shuttle service in Cape Town as well as Durban. Book your shuttle online today, and we'll get you to where you need to be quickly, comfortably and on time!

Never make these Mistakes at the Airport

We all make mistakes, but making these mistakes at the airport can cost you a lot of time and money.

Here are some air-travel mistakes that you should know better than to make…

#1 Leaving your bags behind

Take note of how many bags you have and make sure to do regular bag counts when you’re leaving home, arriving at the airport and waiting at the check-in counter.

#2 Being barefoot

If you have to take your shoes off for a security check, make sure to wear socks because you won’t want to be hobbling across the dirty airport floor.

#3 Forgetting to pack snacks

Airport food will burn a hole in your pocket, so make sure you pack something healthy and nutritious for when you’re waiting in a long line or if your plane doesn’t sell anything appropriate.

#4 Arriving late

On a busy travel day, arrive at the airport a few hours early – it’s better to be early than have to pay extra for a later flight.

#5 Parking in the most expensive lot

You’ll pay a lot more to park in the closest airport parking, so rather choose a cheap parking and take a short shuttle drive to the terminal.

#6 Over-packing

Huge, heavy bags result in you having to pay over the top penalties. Pack less and stress less!

#7 Losing your cool

From rude air-hostesses to creepy airport security, everyone has a complaint about someone at the airport. The fact is there are more doing good than bad, so relax and take a breath before you start to complain.

#8 Crowding around the baggage carousel

Unless you can spot your bag from a mile away and can grab it without bashing into everyone around you, don’t join the scrum around the baggage carousel, rather pick a safe spot where you’re less likely to injure someone.

We’ll let you in on a few secrets that will make your time at the airport a lot better!

Airport shuttle is an affordable, comfortable way to get to and from the airport! Book your shuttle in Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg!

Top tips to survive the airport

We’ve pulled together some expert airport survival tips to help make things run smoothly, wherever you’re taking off from. Happy flying!

Get to the airport in plenty of time – whatever time you think it will take and still be relaxed, add an hour onto this! Traffic jams happen, buses and taxi's can be delayed and last-minute things to do can pop up. Do all you can not to start the holiday with a crazy sprint to make the plane.

Weigh your bags at home before you depart for the airport – most airlines have different rules on the limit, so research this and stick to it to save making a scene and avoid sitting through a sweaty flight wearing ten layers of clothing

Consider if it’s actually cheaper and easier not to carry a bag for the cabin. Look into whether it’s worth checking a bag for ease and expense of replacing toiletries, make up and liquids.

Take a handbag/hand luggage with compartments – an airport is not the time for big handbags without compartments that open up into a black hole that constantly hides passports/ boarding pass/ phones, etc

Pack chargers for a laptop, phone, tablet, etc in hand luggage – sad but true, if delays hit, you many need the chargers to keep connected. Especially if using a digital boarding pass to board the plane.

Pre-book everything you can – from seats on the plane, transport to and from the airport (airportshuttlecapetown.co.za; airportshuttledurban.co.za) or parking place to even pre-booking shopping.

Know how family-friendly your airport is, and make the most of it! – travelling with children is stressful enough as it is, let alone at busy airports. So do your research to see how to make life easier, as some airports even have family assistance lanes through the security processes and kids’ entertainment zones.

Buy healthier, better food at the airport shops than on the plane – don’t give in to the trolleys that make their way around the plane, if you eat before you fly or take food on-board you get to choose what you eat, when you eat, and you'll get a meal that you know you'll enjoy. Drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids is important to avoid jet lag too.

Remember these 13 airport hacks before your next flight

Travelling is meant to be a fun and exciting experience, but getting through the airport can really bring your holiday mood to an all-time low. If it happens to be a bad day for you, you may be stuck with rude airport stuff, extremely long lines or delayed flights.

Luckily for you, with these airport hacks, your journey will be faster and way more comfortable. Learn to navigate the airport like an absolute pro, and you’ll be surprised at how much time and money you save.

Bring your own spare Ziploc bags
Depending on where you’re travelling; you will be required to separate your liquids into clear plastic bags. Bring spares in case some are lost or you need more.

Get a reliable taxi serviceIf you really want to travel via car, which is quick and convenient, check out services like Airport Shuttle in Cape Town, they are a lot cheaper than most shuttle services.

Freeze your liquids to bring on the plane
The only con to this trick is that your liquid must actually be frozen solid like a rock. If you’re on a long flight, consider freezing your favourite drinks too.

Pack your own snacks
If you can, always avoid buying drinks and snacks at the airport because they are ridiculously overpriced. Instead pack your own travel snacks, like nuts, fruit, chips and other dry goods.

Bring an empty water bottle
Like snacks, water costs a lot more at the airport. The best way to cheat the system is to bring your own water bottle or canteen and fill it up once you get passed the security checkpoints.

Take a nap at the airport
Some fancy airports, like London’s Heathrow, offer sleeping pods where you can catch up on some rest. If you’re not lucky enough to enjoy a comfortable nap in one of these sleeping amenity, find a seat in a quiet corner and catch some Z’s. Make sure to watch your bag is close to you at all times.

Pick the checkpoint farthest to the left
If you hate waiting in line (who doesn’t?), research shows that people who are right handed choose to go to the checkpoint which is on the right, so do the opposite and go left.

Don’t be afraid to ask for free things
Especially when it comes to flight upgrades. Take advantage of special events, like your birthday or honeymoon and tell the airline staff – they may be willing to upgrade you!

Wear your extra luggage
Worried that your carry-on is over the weight limit? Wear the heaviest items and layer your clothes to get past security, then head to the bathroom and switch out the clothes.

Fly red-eye
If you really hate busy airports and rush-hour traffic and you don’t mind overnight flights, then ty and book for a flight that leaves past 10pm. You can simply go to sleep and wake up in your next destination, without all the hassle!

Wear glasses
If you wear contacts, you’ll notice that your eyes will get really dry during the flight. Glasses may not make a fashion statement, but you’ll be comfortable and can switch back to contacts when you land.

Check airport real-time conditions
Before your leave your home, check to see what is happening at your airport, like a delay in flights, long lines or other issues.

Carry a portable battery charger
Always be on the safe side and carry a small portable charger with you. There’s nothing worse than having a dead battery when you really need some entertainment in your life.

Getting through the airport can be a struggle, so used these tips and tricks we’ve rounded up to make sure your trip to the airport is done like a real professional.

Quick Survival Tips if you are ever stuck at the Airport

Stuck at the airport? It could be for a number of reasons; a winter storm, a late flight or technical issues. Whatever the reason may be, make sure you are fully prepared with some of these invaluable tips.

Keep your cell ready > As soon as your flight cancellation is announced, quickly call the airline or your travel agent. You can book a new flight to prevent you from getting stuck at the airport again.

Get a business lounge day pass > Many airports now offer one-day passes to their business lounges for a small fee, which means access to  a business centre with desks, data ports, computers, WiFi hotspots and sometimes even showers.

Look beyond the gate > If you don’t need to camp out right at your gate, consider relocating to one of the less busy eateries inn the terminal, where you’re more likely to find an available electrical outlet.

Pamper yourself > If you’ve got the time and money, most major airports have reasonably priced services for massages, facials and haircuts to help the time go by a little more pleasantly.

Stock up on supplies > Most airport’s food stores close before midnight, so if you’re stuck overnight, make sure you stock up on enough food and drink to last the night.

Practice safe napping > If you have to take a nap, put your feet on top of your bags. Stick your cash and credit cards in your shoe or in the pocket of your pants.

Network > Getting cancelled can actually mean a great opportunity to network and make connections with fellow business travelers. Carry extra business cards just in case!

Have you tried any of these tips before?  Make sure you are prepared just in case cancellations or delays occur at the airport.

For a reliable shuttle service to and from Cape Town International Airport, book one of our taxis with Airport Shuttle today!