Best airport stress-busting hacks

Holidays are all about relaxing, whether it’s a week of being horizontal on the sand, diving in coral reefs, or exploring cultural ruins. So, why do so many of us begin our holidays with raised stress levels – and probably blood pressure – as we pass through the airport? Clearly, you’ve not read our list of airport stress-busting hacks. Admittedly, when you think of Zen, a busy queue at check in might not be top of your list, but we’ve got plenty of handy tips to help you start your holiday right – so chilled out that you practically float onto the plane.

Once you've read how to holiday right, find your next holiday deal 

Don’t start a long-haul flight with a three-hour drive on the motorway, fly from your local airport instead. We fly from over 20 UK airports to a wide range of destinations, so you’re sure to find somewhere close to home where your holiday can begin. Did you know you can fly to Cancun and Orlando direct from Newcastle? Or, that you can fly to Lapland, Croatia and Jamaica from Scotland? View more places you can fly to from Scotland, or read our article about five destinations you didn’t expect us to fly to.

Take a look at where we fly from

Honestly, airlines don’t tell you to be at the airport early to waste your time, trust us, we know you’d rather get an extra two hours at the All Inclusive bar. But arriving at the airport the recommended two hours before departure will ensure you’ve got buffer time, so if there are any queues or hold ups, you can still catch your flight on time. Book taxis, train or bus tickets in advance, if you’re using public transport. And, if you’re driving, make sure you’ve planned where you’re going to park. For late night, or early morning flights, make your journey to the airport smoother by booking a stay in a nearby hotel. 

Find a great deal on airport parking and airport hotel stays

You’re going to be at the airport for a couple of hours, so why not enjoy your time there, and make it part of the holiday? Instead of stuffing down a soggy sandwich from home, tuck into traditional Mexican street food at Barburrito in Edinburgh Airport, or sip some fizz at Bottega Prosecco Bar in Birmingham Airport. If you want food and refreshments on tap, a comfy seat and a bit of peace and quiet, book yourself an airport lounge. Check out Manchester Airport’s 1903 lounge at Terminal 3, which is strictly adults-only – handy if you’re travelling without the little ones.

Find a great deal on airport lounge access

You’ve just put your documents away, and now an airport official’s asking to see them again – really? Security at airports is watertight, so expect frequent checks. Stowing your passport at the very bottom of your case isn’t the most sensible idea, so pack yourself a small bag with the bare essentials in – passport, boarding passes and so on – so you can whip them out easily. If you’d prefer to go paper-free, download mobile boarding passes via our app, and get your details at the tap of a button.

Find out more about the TUI app with this handy video

Did you know, if your flight has a TOM flight number, your flight time is eligible and you’re flying from Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick or Manchester, you can check your bags in on the day before you're due to fly. You can save even more time by checking in online beforehand.

Find out more about our day-before bag drop and checking in online

Can’t miss the latest episode of House of the Dragon, or need to stockpile episodes of Peppa Pig to keep your child entertained on the flight? Download your favourite shows to your tablet, or phone, so you can access them in a flash. But, do it at home the night before to avoid staring hopelessly at a never-ending buffering wheel. Of course, most airports have Wi-Fi, but generally speaking the speeds may not be great. Don’t worry if you don’t have a tablet or Netflix, if you’re travelling long haul with us, you might fly on one of our 787 Dreamliner planes, meaning entertainment's included, so you can zone out to a movie once you get on the plane. 

Get a sneak peek at our inflight magazine, Live Happy

A girls’ weekend in Ibiza doesn’t need 25 outfit changes, does it? Naturally, on holiday you want to look your best, but keep in mind that your bags will be weighed at the gate and you’ll be charged if things are too heavy. Don't worry, though, we've got you covered. Read our list of top 10 packing hacks to level up your suitcase-stuffing game. If you’re travelling with children, you’ll know there’s no such thing as just packing “the essentials”, because baby Tommy’s giant stuffed koala counts as an essential if you’re planning to get a wink of sleep on holiday. Parents, you’ll be pleased to know that infants under two get their own 10kg luggage allowance for free when you fly with us, and pushchairs can be taken for free, too.

All our package holidays include 20kg* of checked-in luggage when you fly with TUI Airways, and for some holidays you’ll get more.  If you’ve booked a TUI River Cruises sailing, TUI BLUE, Sensatori by TUI BLUE or Holiday Villages package holiday with TUI Airways flights, you’ll get 25kg* of luggage allowance per person. If you’ve upgraded to Premium on long-haul flights with TUI Airways, you’ll also get 25kg* of luggage, regardless of the holiday type.

*For the full terms and conditions, see our luggage allowance page.

Just so you know, TUI Airways flights have a TOM or BY flight number. If you’re not travelling with TUI Airways, you'll need to check your airline's luggage allowance policies.

If you’re heading to shopaholic paradises like New York and Dubai with us, and you’re planning to bring some goodies home, an extra few kilos can do wonders to reduce your stress levels at check in on the way home. Save yourself the pain of having to buy extra luggage at the airport, where it’s often more expensive, and top up your allowance before you go. You can buy yourself an extra 5kg by visiting your online account, popping into your local TUI Store, or giving us a call on 0203 636 1790.

Find out more about adding extra luggage to your booking

Found these handy hacks helpful? 

For more travel tips, read our guide for how to cure jetlag. And, if it's holiday inspiration you're after, check out the five shortest flights to the hottest destinations.

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles. 

Author: Sarah Clayton and Ben Staff

Last updated: 21.12.2023