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17 Air Travel Tips

2013-08-02 · Hank · watch on YouTube · Everyday life · advice recommendation

From a hotel in Anaheim at VidCon, Hank, who dislikes flying but does it often, gives a list of tips for making travel days less terrible, from packing light and patience to security, boarding and missed connections.

What is said

00:00:00 — In Anaheim for VidCon but not talking about it; Hank dislikes flying but does it a lot

  • ★★ The description says Hank has been getting on planes 'once every four months' for four years, which makes his carbon footprint far above average and embarrasses him. — 00:00:00
  • ★★ Hank is in Anaheim, California for VidCon, late at night, but will not talk about VidCon as a favour to those not there. — 00:00:01 · VidCon
  • ★★ Hank doesn't like flying (bathroom rules, nosebleeds, airsickness, no internet, the smell) but flies a lot and feels he is getting good at it. (hedged) — 00:00:11

00:00:34 — The tips: pack light, permission to be cranky, liquids and peanut butter, security, hoodies, boarding, the aisle, first class, snacks and water, electronics, connections

  • ★★ Don't pack everything you might need; make hard decisions. Hank fits a three-week trip into one bag (he owns one pair of shoes). — 00:00:36
  • ★★ You are not your best self on travel days; give yourself permission to be tired and cranky, and give everyone else the same permission. — 00:00:54
  • ★★ Liquids and gels must fit in the small bag Hank shows to pass security; peanut butter counts as a gel, as Hank learned the hard way. — 00:01:08
  • ★ Empty your pockets completely at security. — 00:01:18
  • ★★ Don't be mean to security staff: they don't make the rules and get fired if they don't enforce them; and don't joke with them about weapons. — 00:01:30
  • ★★ Hank says wearing a hoodie gets you pulled aside for further screening, not because of profiling but because there is room in it to hide things. — 00:01:44
  • ★★ Without a big carry-on, chill at the gate instead of jostling in the boarding line; you have an assigned seat, so board at final call. — 00:01:52
  • ★★ When boarding, get out of the aisle. (playful) — 00:02:13
  • ★★ First-class passengers look unhappy because they mostly got their seats not by paying but by travelling about 200 days a year, which Hank calls no way to live. — 00:02:22
    • number check: two hundred — doubtful
  • ★★ Free in-flight food is minimal (perhaps Biscoff cookies and a drink), so maybe bring a snack and an empty water bottle to fill after security. (hedged) — 00:02:40
  • ★★ Past airport security is, Hank says, the only place where charging five dollars for a bottle of water is acceptable. (playful) (hedged) — 00:02:55
  • ★★ Electronics are banned during takeoff and landing, which Hank mocks, so bring a real book; books are nice anyway. (playful) — 00:03:02
  • ★★ With a connecting flight, first check the departures board, even if you are two hours late, since that flight may be delayed too. — 00:03:16
  • ★★ If you miss a connection, search Kayak or Hipmunk or call customer support while queuing for rebooking: wait in two lines at once. — 00:03:26

00:03:42 — Sign-off; John is on the other side of the wall

  • ★ Hank expects to see John before Tuesday, since John is in the room on the other side of the wall. (hedged) — 00:03:46 · John Green

Humor (significant)

  • Asked at security what's in his pocket, the traveller explains the tiny piece of paper — 00:01:22 > «but in fact, it is a rocket launcher!»
  • Hank advises against joking with security staff — 00:01:39 > «also don't joke with them about your pocket rocket launcher unless you want to eat the carpet.»
  • Hank tells boarding passengers to get out of the aisle — 00:02:13 > «This is one artery and if you're clogging it, everyone's dying.»
  • On the ban on electronics during takeoff and landing — 00:03:02 > «the fifty millivolts from your Kindle is going to blow up a 747 or something»

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