tips for flying about the usa
comfy shoes you can take off and put back on easily/quickly, such as flip flops or velcro shoes/zipper boots. if going somewhere requiring a different kind of shoe, you'll need to decide whether you want to get through security faster, or have more room in your suitcase.
light jacket with large, secure(can close/things won't fall out easily) pockets for storing phone, wallet, and any other especially important items, so you can simply remove the entire jacket without having to empty pockets during screening, and don't risk losing said items if a bag needs checked or is otherwise lost.
comfy pants that don't require a belt(which would need to be removed for screening), such as sweatpants, and if they have pockets, don't use them so you don't have to empty them for security.
a face mask is recommended due to the high volume and density of both airports and planes, as well as the higher risk of illness from foreign bugs you may be newly exposed to and thus have no natural immunity for. just be aware you will probably be asked to remove the mask briefly during the initial security check to compare your face to your id.
from my personal experience, southwest airlines suck (the layover they gave us wound up too short and our next plane left before we could even disembark the first one, and they did not reimburse us for the hotel we had to get while waiting for the next available flight), and united is good.
also just from my personal experience, la quinta inns are just nastier, shoddily put together versions of the nicer holiday express inns. (like they had the same exact showers but the ones at la quinta were put together wrong so the shower curtain couldn't close at all and stuff like that)
try to book tickets several months in advance, and use private browsing/clear your cache often, to get lower prices
early morning flights are best as they are less crowded, the staff are nicer, and you are less likely to be tempted to try to squeeze in more activities before departing, thus risking missing your flight entirely
plan to get to the airport no less than 2 hours early in case of traffic, issues getting through security, or other unforeseen delays
if possible, try to avoid any layovers that are less than 1 1/2 hours long, as they often result in either rushing or just straight up missing your next flight. if you can afford it, it may be worth manually booking individual flights, or just staying overnight somewhere rather than risking a tight layover.
try to only fly 2 hours or less per day if possible so that you can feasibly drive the distance in a day instead in case you miss a flight.
pack light. wear clothes multiple times and only bring what you are HIGHLY likely to need. do not bring extra entertainment items. your destination and/or phone apps should be plenty.
if you must pack an extra pair of shoes, maximize space efficiency by putting small clothing items like socks and underwear into plastic bags and then into the extra shoes.
miniature bottles of toothpaste and meds should be stored in clear plastic bags but likely won't need to be removed from suitcase during security check. you may want to pack them so they are easily accessible just in case though.
electronics larger than a phone may or may not need to be pulled out so pack them in a way that makes them quick to pull out and put back.
no knives. ever. some airports allow small ones but some don't, so you may get them through initially and then not be able to take them back home.
don't bring neck pillows, there's typically not enough room to use them on the plane anyway.
try to leave some room in your main suitcase/carry-on if you can, and bring an additional purse or other smaller bag even if you don't need it, so you can fit potential souvenirs.
verify that all tags on luggage have up-to-date address and phone number, and make sure bag isn't too easy for others to mistake as theirs. (if you like plain black suitcases like i do, cover it in ribbons or keychains to make it easy to identify at a distance. i've had someone mistakenly take my bag and then turn it into security when they realized it wasn't theirs before)
don't eat less than an hour before any flight, as you may become ill due to turbulence/gas fuel smell and the enclosed space of an airplane is pretty much the WORST place to be sick.
if you have time before a flight, go to the restroom even if you don't currently feel a need to. you REALLY don't want to have to go on the plane.
don't be afraid to ask to swap seats if your ticket doesn't get you where you want to be. people are generally nice about it, especially within the same row. (just be prepared to accept a no- they payed for that seat and aren't obligated to give it to you)
if you drive yourself to the airport, make note of exactly where you parked. the spots are usually numbered and lettered.
