Don't Stress Over Holiday Air Travel

Leave your car at home: Finding parking over the winter holiday can be difficult and expensive. You are better off taking a limo, airport shuttle service or taxi, or calling a friend to get you to the airport. Another way to avoid the hassle of a trip to the airport, especially if you live several hours away and have an early morning flight as suggested, is to get a hotel room for the night near the airport. More and more hotels will let you leave your car in their parking lot for up to two weeks if you stay with them, meaning that it doesn't cost any more to stay overnight than it would cost to park your car at the airport. You can find what hotels offer this service near your departing airport at HotelAirportParking.com.

Don't wrap the gifts: With heightened airport security, you most likely will have to tear wrapped boxes open if there is any question of what is inside. Either leave gifts unwrapped and do the wrapping once you arrive at your destination, or consider sending them by mail to avoid having to drag along extra weight through an already overcrowded airport.

If You Are Delayed

Contract of Carriage: Rule 240 was a government-backed rule where airlines had to provide you with the next available flight if yours was delayed. The rule, however, was replaced in the late 1970s when airline deregulation took place. While some airlines still refer to the old rule 240 when talking about their delayed flight policy, each airline now makes its own flight delay rules called Contract of Carriage. You want to have a copy of these Contract of Carriage rules for the airline you're flying on. Even if your airline says they will get you a flight at their discretion, having the rules and politely asking to be rebooked on the next possible flight will get you a lot further toward your goal of getting to your destination than yelling at the ticket agent.

Traveling during the holiday season doesn't have to empty your wallet or increase your stress. Taking a bit of time to take precautions can go a long way to making your holiday flight a lot more enjoyable.