Thanksgiving Travel Week: Travel Tips for Smooth Flying

Get ready for Thanksgiving travel week, the busiest travel period of the year in the United States. Despite a crappy economy and sky-high fuel and airline ticket prices, people are stepping up and traveling to see family and friends for Thanksgiving.  The ratio of drivers to fliers continues to increase, even though fuel prices have increased dramatically since last year.

Busy though it is, the Thanksgiving rush for airline tickets continues to thin out, between those not wanting to deal with the hassle of flying and those who just can't afford it:

Once you get to the airport, you also have to contend with yet another hassle besides long lines, arcane carry-on restrictions, and surly security staff: broken luggage scales. nationwide, 92.8% of scales are in proper working order. That's the glass-half-full version.

Another way of looking at it: nearly one in ten airport scales will be wrong, either reading too heavy or too light. This becomes a larger issue as travelers combine their bags to avoid the per-item baggage fees imposed by US carriers. My philosophy is "carry-on only, unless absolutely positively necessary"

If you must pack luggage, pack light. Weigh it ahead of time if you can. The few times I've been over the limit by a pound or two(when moving to a new city), the counter staff have always been cool about it, but don't rely on the kindness of strangers when a $50-$150 surcharge is on the line. If you have lots of electronic gadgets (you geek!), then bring only the usb chargers if possible, and make your laptop double as a charging station. You'll only need one or two cables (iPods, iPhones and some smartphones have those proprietary connectors). Be willing to re-use outfits. You don't need one for each day. Two pairs of shoes, max (and flip-flops, if you're going somewhere sunny), one of which you'll obviously be wearing. If packing toiletries, don't bring the entire container of anything. Travel/trial sizes of anything can be found at most drugstores, and outdoor shops have those reusable little plastic containers. Think light and low-volume.

Also, get to the airport early. Your domestic ticket says something like "arrive 45 minutes early for check-in" but don't believe it. 90 minutes minimum for domestic flights,  2 1/2 hours for international flights. I know it sucks, but missing your flight this week is not an option: while overall ticket sales are down, all domestic airlines overbook, so chances are the flights you want will be packed.  If you hit heavy delays, then you're sorted. If you sail through smoothly to the gate, then you have extra time for a drink at the surreal airport bar, or a quick bite to eat with your traveling companions.

Noise-reducing or noise-canceling headphones: the cheapest way to turn a coach-class flight in to a business-class flight. Screaming babies (and adults) are instantly silenced, replaced by your Hoodoo Gurus greatest hits playlist.

Hand sanitizer: you may have heard of this thing called H1N1.

Plastic bags: I know it's dumb, but you gotta put liquids in that clear plastic bag. Whatever. Arguing with the staff (who don't make the rules) only wastes time.

How to always get the armrest: There's a trick I use to always get the armrest, that oft-disputed patch of coach-class real estate. First, you--- hang on, no way I'm giving that one up. I may have to use it against you. It's nothing personal.