Let’s be honest—by now, you’ve probably heard the classic airport advice: get there early, wear slip-ons, bring a water bottle, and so on. But what about the lesser-known tips? The ones that actually make your travel life easier in clever ways you don’t hear often?
In this post, I’m sharing 12 uncommon airport tips that may sound quirky at first—but trust me, they work. From clever ways to speed through security to surprising tricks for better sleep on planes, these hacks will make you the most brilliantly prepared traveler at any terminal. 🧳💡
1. 📸 Take a Photo of Your Parking Spot
After a long trip, the last thing you want is to forget where you parked. Snap a photo of your row number, section sign, or nearest pillar before heading inside the terminal. It takes two seconds and saves major headaches later.
2. 🌅 Book Early Morning Flights
The earlier the flight, the fewer delays—fewer domino effects from late crews, less sky traffic, and more on-time departures. Bonus:
✔️ Planes are usually already at the gate
✔️ You can book an airport hotel the night before
✔️ Some airlines offer Twilight Bag Drop—check in your bags the night before!
3. ⏱️ Pre-Book Your Security Time Slot
Many airports (like Lisbon 🇵🇹) now allow you to book Fast Track security times for a small fee (e.g., €9). Check your airport’s website about 24 hours before your flight to skip long lines.
4. ↩️ Go Left at Security
If no one directs you to a specific lane, choose the leftmost one. Studies show people naturally go right—especially if they’re right-handed—so the left line is often faster. I also use this trick for escalators and airport trains!
5. 💧 Hand-Check Some Liquids
Traveling with items like large contact lens solution bottles or camera film? You can request a manual check for these instead of risking damage through the X-ray. Just let the security officer know in advance!
6. 🧳 Organize Your Security Trays Smartly
Here’s a flow tip: place items through the scanner in the order you’ll need them:
1️⃣ Backpack or bag
2️⃣ Valuables (like laptop – place in the middle tray)
3️⃣ Personal items (watch, belt, etc.)
This makes re-packing faster and smoother!
7. 🥪 Use the “Sandwich Tray” Trick
Put your laptop or valuables in the middle tray—sandwiched between your personal item and main carry-on. It makes them less likely to get bumped or mixed up with others.
8. 👜 Pre-Pack Small Items Into Your Bag
Before reaching the scanner, stash your phone, wallet, belt, keys, and watch into your bag. It’s quicker and avoids delays during the bin shuffle—and it’s more secure too.
9. 😴 Use a Packing Cube as a Pillow
Delayed flight? Long layover? Grab a soft packing cube from your carry-on and use it as a pillow. It works surprisingly well for a quick airport snooze!
10. ⚾ Forget Tennis Balls, Bring a Muscle Roller Ball
Instead of tennis balls (too soft), pack a muscle roller ball for your back and legs on the flight. It’s great for sore muscles—and amazing to use in your hotel room after a long travel day.
11. 🌿 Try Valerian Root for Sleep
Struggle to sleep on flights? Try Valerian root tea or capsules, a natural herb known for its calming effects. (But always consult your doctor first!) Bring a few teabags or capsules to help you relax and drift off. 🌙
12. 🎧 Listen to ASMR to Fall Asleep
Okay, this one’s weird—but it works.
Download ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) playlists before your flight—whispering, tapping, brushing sounds—and play them through noise-canceling headphones. Odd? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely. 🤫💤
🧳 Final Boarding Thoughts
With just a few of these uncommon (and oddly brilliant) airport tips, your next trip can be smoother, less stressful, and even a little more enjoyable. Try one, try all—and become the kind of traveler who actually looks relaxed at the airport.
🛫 Safe travels—and let me know which tip was your favorite!
