A Guide to Navigating Airports During the Busiest Season

These holiday season tips will make getting through the airport smoother and more enjoyable.
A Guide to Navigating Airports During the Busiest Season
Travelers wait at the departure area check-in at the United Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International airport in Los Angeles on June 28, 2023. Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo
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The holiday season is upon us, with all the goodness that can entail: laughs and hugs with family and friends, homey meals, gifts given and received. But alongside all this happiness is a potential for horror: Traveling during the busiest time of year.

Airports may be gateways to joy, but they can also be a major pain. Not only are there line-ups and delays, but tired, overworked staff and fellow passengers can be, well, less than polite. But your next trip to the airport doesn’t have to be a total nightmare. In fact, with a few tips and hacks, getting there can be (almost) a pleasure. Here’s some advice you can use whenever you fly.

Find Your Refuge

A big part of keeping your smile amid the hurly burly is finding a spot to hunker down and find a little peace and quiet. Fortunately, airports have made this a lot easier these days.
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson
Author
Toronto-based writer Tim Johnson is always traveling in search of the next great story. Having visited 140 countries across all seven continents, he’s tracked lions on foot in Botswana, dug for dinosaur bones in Mongolia, and walked among a half-million penguins on South Georgia Island. He contributes to some of North America’s largest publications, including CNN Travel, Bloomberg, and The Globe and Mail.