I’ve had some interesting travels of late. For one, TSA closed up shop in Albany and went home early—a full two hours before my flight—leaving me unable to make it to my gate, let alone fly out that night (nightmare). Then, there was the time last week that SVV forgot his ID and they let him fly anyway with an extra pat-down and the presentation of his dive card (news to me).

All that to say, flying has gotten increasingly more convoluted in the past few years.

Still, I try to make my own flying experiences as positive as possible, and I’ve pieced together some of my own tips—many of them learned the hard way—to help make your summer travel go a bit more swimmingly.

This post was last updated in October 2025.

Get Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check

Global Entry is a must: It includes TSA PreCheck and makes international reentry a breeze. The downside? Interview slots can take months to land. If you’re traveling soon, go for PreCheck instead. It’s $85, quick to schedule, and will save you from long security lines—especially with current TSA delays. Just be sure your application name exactly matches your flight reservations, middle initial and all, or your PreCheck benefits might not show up.

Related post: Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which One is Better?

Keep scans of your IDs in the cloud

I have a copy of my driver’s license, passport and other valuables scanned in my Dropbox should my wallet get stolen—or I forget my ID at home (*cough, cough, SVV, cough, cough*).

Be mindful of your carry-on options

You know I’m a carry-on-only traveler, and I’ve used the same version of a soft-sided Samsonite for decades, and I swear by its durability and spin-ability.

Related post: Hard-Sided or Soft Luggage—Which Is Best?

Don’t be the jerk who doesn’t know the TSA rules

I get it, the rules do seem to be ever-changing, but some have remained the same for years. Unless you have Pre-Check, you aren’t going to be able to pass seamlessly through security wearing a belt, shoes, hat, jacket or with anything in your pockets—from a phone to a hunting knife. So do your line-mates a favor and remove them all before you get to the front of the line. Ditto to prepping all your liquids to abide by the golden 3-1-1 rule (that’s three ounces or less for those of you who haven’t flown in the past decade) and having them all contained in one quart-sized Ziploc bag.

Pack an empty water bottle

I received a Swell bottle from my cousin for Christmas, and now rather than throwing away my plastic temporary bottle and getting a new one on the other side of the security line, I take the empty Swell with me in my carry-on on all trips, then fill it up on the other side of security. It saves me from having to spend money on water AND it’s good for the environment. Everybody wins! Plus, who doesn’t inevitably get parched up in the sky long before (or after) the service cart rolls through the cabin?

Create an emergency kit

You never know when you’re going to be rerouted, canceled or even stuck at the airport overnight with all restaurants and shops closed until the morning. I always keep a pouch of vitals readily at my disposal, which includes Advil, Excedrin Migraine, Zyrtec, Imodium, Band-Aids, Tums, Chap Stick, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, nail clippers and healthy, non-perishable items like KIND bars.

I wasted an hour at the Las Vegas car rental terminal last month waiting in line for a car I’d already booked and, as a result, missed the first activity on a client trip. Next time, I’ll know better. For example, I could have gone through National Car Rental’s Emerald Club and bypassed the counter entirely. The Emerald Aisle option allows you to choose your own midsize vehicle—the keys are already waiting for you in the car—and drive away as soon as you’re ready. As a Type A traveler who hates to waste time, this option of choice, speed and flexibility could not be more appealing.

What have I left out? What’s your top tip to making summer traveling as painless as possible?

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