Travel Like a Pro

The sniffles, the sneezing and the cough you try to muffle!

The last thing you want to do is board a plane when you are unwell. It can be the worst.

Cancelling your trip is an option, but what about your business meeting with that important client or the sad faces your children will make when they come to know the dream vacation you have been planning for a month is not going to happen?

Don’t worry we got your back!

We at AirWhizz, have compiled a list of travel hacks that can help you get through to your journey when you are feeling under the weather while you fly.

1.PREPARE BEFORE YOU LEAVE

The first key to a healthful flight anywhere is to make sure you have all the required and recommended travel vaccinations and medical supplies before you depart.

It is always wise to pack a travel sized first-aid kit, so you are prepared in the event of an emergency. Most airport stores have a pharmacy section where you can buy medicine in travel size.

In case you are carrying specially prescribed medicines, carry a prescription note from your doctor to show to the personnel at the security checkpoint.

You can also talk to an airline representative and explain your situation. See if they can help. It may not work, but it’s worth a try.

2.GET YOURSELF VACCINATED

Getting vaccinated before taking a trip is the best way to avoid serious illness and your family doctor can help you figure out the exact flu shots you need for before boarding a flight.

Even if you are just flying domestically, be sure to get your annual flu shot, especially because the busy holiday travel season will put you in touch with more people (and potential carriers of the flu virus) than normal.

3.GET TRAVEL INSURANCE

It may sound like a farfetched idea, but traveller’s insurance can make a world of difference in the event that something serious happens.

Travel insurance covers emergency medical expenses, emergency cash expenses at the hospital and personal accidents which might occur when you are on-board.

It is a wise decision to buy travel insurance since it costs just a fraction of your total trip and you are at ease while travelling when you are insured.

4.CHECK-IN YOR BAGGAGE

Try to pack light but in case you have to carry suitcases with you, get your luggage checked-in.

Although this can be expensive in some low-cost carriers, it is worth the price!

Carrying extra bags can be downright exhausting while sick, so let the airline do the heavy lifting for you.

5.DRINK LOTS OF FLUIDS

There’s nothing new about this tip but people don’t drink as much water as they should even when they’re healthy so don’t forget this one.

Also, the air on the plane is dry, cold and stifling and it can make breathing really difficult when your nose is blocked and your body is weak. Drink a TON of fluids the whole time you are on your flight!

In case you feel like having something other than water, you can drink coconut water, Gatorade or simply ask the cabin crew for some hot tea with honey.

6.EAT HEALTHY

Foods like sandwiches, tuna/chicken salad, burgers etc are easily available at the airport but avoid such deep-fried and fatty foods when you are flying unwell.

Pack some fruits rich in vitamin C like oranges or vegetable-based salads and bring them along with you on the flight as these items are often lighter and more nutritious than the regular plane food.

Loading up on fruits and veggies is really important cause they help boost your immunity system to fight illness and keep you comfortable and light throughout the flight.

7.DONT FORGET TO PACK TISSUES

Imagine having no tissues while you are sick and sneezing your nose out in an airplane filled with people giving you dirty looks!

Not a good situation to be in!

A very basic tip, but a really important one because sometimes the body fluids just can’t wait when you are sick. Pack ample tissue papers or handkerchiefs in your carry-on bag to help you get through the sneezing and coughing while you fly.

8.CATCH UP ON YOUR SLEEP

Travelling through traffic and catching your flight at the airport while being sick can take a toll on your body.

Once you are on board and the flight has taken off, try to catch up on some much need sleep your body needs. If your body is tired, it won’t be able to help you fight and fix what’s wrong with you.

The more rest you get, the stronger you’ll be!

9.PREVENT CONTACT WITH OTHERS

When you’re on the plane and you need to use the bathroom, grab a tissue to open and close the door with. Try to minimize contact with other objects people touch, as much as possible.

In an airplane, passengers are constantly passing germs back and forth between each other and you never know what could be hanging around. Prevent the possibility of contracting and spreading more germs as much as you can. You don’t want to worsen your health and make fellow passengers fall ill!

10.DON’T STRESS

Yes, you do feel angry and upset while you are travelling sick, but it won’t fix anything. In fact, stress can actually make you more sick.

DON’T STRESS OUT! Do your best to avoid stress before, during, and after your trip.

Try not to sweat the small stuff, take deep breaths, and find ways to smile through the challenging situations. After all, those “challenges” are likely to become great stories when you return!

With a relaxed attitude, you will surely enjoy your trip and stay healthier throughout.

So, if you are looking for pharmacies at the airport, look no further. Download the AirWhizz App and get information about shops, emergency contact details and other services available at the airport on the move. We have also partnered up with prestigious travel insurance companies such as HDFC Ergo, so you can book your travel insurance via the app itself.

Travel with ease the next time you are sick and Fly Stress-Free!

For all the first-time flyers out there, it’s important to know that when you’re flying, things won’t always go according to plan. That doesn’t mean you won’t have the most amazing time ever, but it’s almost impossible to prepare for every situation that might happen.

There is an inherent amount of risk and circumstance that befalls every trip, no matter how well planned and executed. There will always be those things we just can’t plan for, can’t avoid and can’t control.

However, with that said, you are largely responsible for how smoothly your flight goes. So get off to a good start and avoid making these travel mistakes that all seasoned travellers have made in the past while flying.

1.PASSPORT ISSUES

Passports have an expiration date, so you’d think they’re good up until that date, right?

Well, not necessarily!

Some destinations require at least 3-6 months validity on your passport in order to travel. If you need a visa for your trip, this is mandatory, but check the rules for your destination long before the trip begins. From time to time, passengers have been denied boarding because if this.

2.PROCRASTINATING ON YOUR BOOKING

You may be busy or just too lazy to book a flight months in advance, but if you want to avoid paying high last-minute charges on flight tickets, stop procrastinating!

Airlines typically release their fares 11 months in advance. The cheapest fares are the first to go, followed by those higher up the price ladder until all that’s left are the most expensive seats. The longer you delay the more you’ll pay.

How to avoid making this mistake? BOOK EARLY!

3.PLANNING CONNECTING FLIGHTS TOO TIGHT

You have just flown into the Terminal 1 of the Delhi Airport and just have an hour to catch the next flight from Terminal 3(which is 7 km away from T1 and not taking into consideration the traffic). Not a good situation to be in!

Also, weather and congestion factors can cause unforeseen delays. If you’re booking connecting flights yourself, make sure you leave plenty of time between both.

You don’t want to start or end your trip being stressed out and running to make your flight or missing your flight entirely. It might even be wise to stay the night to avoid disaster.  Take it as a chance to explore a whole new destination

4.NOT DOING YOUR HOMEWORK

Imagine shelling out thousands of extra Rupees for overweight baggage on a one-hour flight.

Overweight baggage charges are one of the ancillary fees that some airlines rely on to make a profit, the fees per kilo are high and they apply the rules rigorously. Find out the baggage limit before you fly. If you’re over, you could wear your heaviest items to cut down your check-in weight.

5.NOT DOUBLECHECKING YOUR TRAVEL PLANS

We know you/your family/your travel agent are brilliant planners and cannot have made any mistakes but do have one last look at everything you’ve planned. Be sure the dates are all correct, you know exactly which airport to go to, where the pickup location is, etc.

Mistaken flight times is probably what has actually kept the airlines in business all these years. Do you know how expensive a last-minute ticket to most places is?

6.PACKING PROHIBITED ITEMS IN YOUR CARRY-ON

Even though it is sheer common sense, people still make the mistake of packing lighters, Swiss army knives, big bottles of lotion and bottled water in carry-on luggage.

This mistake just slows down the security check process at the airport causing you and your fellow passengers a huge problem. Also, beware of packing prohibited items like power banks etc. in your check-in luggage. In fact, last month at the Delhi airport, the baggage handling system failed due to many passengers carrying prohibited items in their check-in bags leading to major delays and a breakdown of the security process.

7.FLYING WITHOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE

Many people don’t realize this but getting travel insurance these days is cheap and easy and not at all time-consuming. Yet people fly around thinking that everything is going to be fine.

Why take that risk!

Today, travel insurance covers cancellations on flight tickets, loss of baggage, medical expenses, pay the total cost of your bookings and many more situations you need to be aware of in advance when you fly.

8.NOT USING TRAVEL TECH

In today’s technologically savvy era, people are still unsure to use technology as a helping hand when it comes to flying.

Using travel apps helps you plan your trip better. From real-time flight tracking to getting information about airports and airlines, technology has got a people closer to planning the perfect trip on the move.

So go ahead, Download the AirWhizz App and avoid making these common travel mistakes. Just upload your flight details within the app itself and get Flight Information, Airport & Airline Information, Purchase Travel Insurance And Much More! It is the only App you need when you Fly!

Travel like a Pro and Fly Stress-Free with AirWhizz!

Some lucky folks can sleep standing up, simply doze off easily upon take off or just buy a business class ticket to sleep on comfortable extendable seats. But for most people, quality in-flight sleep is a struggle. And that can lead to exhaustion and several nights of playing catch-up when you arrive at your final destination.

But what about the maddening sound of wind and jet engine noise that you experience when you fly, especially on a long overnight flight? It might not cause you to commit mayhem, but it affects you in ways you might not imagine, causing stress, fatigue and loss of sleep.

We at AirWhizz have come up with a list of travel hacks that can help you doze off in a jiffy the next time you fly.

1.CHOOSE YOUR SEAT WISELY

Your seat location could be one of the most important factors in how well or how poorly you sleep on a plane.

Try to get a window seat if possible. It will give you something to lean against and get you out of the way of other folks in your row, who won’t have to make their way over you each time they need to use the bathroom. You’ll also have some control over the window shade.

2.CARRY THE RIGHT GEAR

Investing in the right sleeping gear can go a long way when it comes to sleeping on flights.

Here is a list of items that can keep you comfortable while sleeping on a flight –

• Travel pillow
• Earplugs
• Noise cancelling headphones
• Sleep Mask

Other than the gear mentioned above carry a magazine or book to relax your mind before you doze off. If you are not into reading, carry a playlist of soft and soothing music on your phone to cancel out the noise coming from the engine and people chatting on the plane with your noise cancelling headphones.

3.PACK LIGHT

If you have two full-size carry-ons, one might end up under your feet, limiting your legroom and making it harder to sleep. Instead, pack lighter so you can fit everything into a single bag.

Keep a few small necessities near the top of the bag — a book or magazine, a snack, a bottle of water. Before you stow your bag in the overhead compartment, pull out the important items that you’ll need during the flight and put them in the back of the seat in front of you.

4.WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES

While you may be a big fan of dressing up to look decent when flying, wearing loose clothing in the air will help you sleep better.

Comfortable pyjama’s might not be the best choice to wear in public, wearing sweatpants or sportswear will keep you comfortable. Carry a shawl and wear thick socks to make you feel warm and cosy to get comfortable sleep on board.

5.POWER DOWN

Passengers today have a wide range of options to choose from when it comes to in-flight entertainment. It may seem like a good idea to pass your time by watching movies on your screen but it’s a bad idea if you want to catch up on some sleep while flying.

The light produced by seatback TV screens, mobile phones, tablets, or laptops has an adverse effect on your sleep because according to medical facts, light rays coming from screens melatonin release, making your body feel tired but you mind active, giving the feeling of insomnia.

6.SKIP THE CAFFEINE

Especially on a daytime flight, where even the view out the window can be a distraction, you’ll find it much harder to sleep if you have caffeine flowing through your veins. Avoid the temptation to have a cup of coffee or a soda before boarding and stick to water or juice when the drink cart comes around.

7.RECLINE YOUR SEAT – BUT BE COURTEOUS

On a night flight, expecting someone not to sleep is like asking them to put down their window shade during a flight over the Himalayas. Ideally, everyone has the same idea and seats will tip backwards soon into your flight.

Reclining your chair will help ease some of the pressure on your lower (lumbar) spine. With less pressure on your back, it’ll be easier to fall asleep.

However, you should always look behind you to make sure the passenger behind doesn’t have a coffee cup or is resting his /her head on the tray before pushing the button to put your seat back.

8.AVOID ALCOHOL

If you are on a vacation, the thought might be tempting but booze won’t help you sleep soundly.

Alcohol will initially promote sleep, but it’s usually only in effect for three to four hours, and then you can’t get back to sleep. On top of that, you might wake with a headache and feel thirsty.

9.DONT EAT TOO MUCH

Try not to eat a meal within two hours of trying to sleep.

Also, watch what you eat because overeating or having fatty foods might feel uncomfortable and make it harder to catch some sleep. Eating large quantities of fatty foods can also lead to changes that cause blood to clot more easily, something you want to avoid if you’re on a long flight.

10.SET AN ALARM

The worst part of sleeping is waking up. It’s even worse on a plane when you’re waking up to fluorescent lights, luggage carousels and sunshine so bright you can practically hear it.

If it’s a long flight, consider setting a watch or cell phone alarm for 45 minutes before you land. That gives you time to go to the restroom, gather your gear, tie your shoes, watch the approach to your destination. Ask the flight attendant to pour you a cup of coffee and walk off the plane fully awake.

The next time you fly and are looking for travel accessories, headphones, sleeping gear or just a nice book to read before you doze off on your flight, download the AirWhizz app. Avail exclusive discounts on Swiss Military accessories as an app user and get information about airport shops and their location on the move.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your travel gear and Fly Stress-Free!