More tips: Be prepared for more than the usual slowdowns at security. Even though frequent travelers see new security measures as old news, folks who fly rarely, and have not done so for a few years, may be caught off guard.

*Gas up the night before you travel; no one leaves enough time for buying gas on the way to the airport.

*Investigate your frequent flyer options to get better (and better guaranteed) seats.

*Bring diversions. Take along work, books, magazines, a CD player, some healthy snacks -- whatever you need to get through delays. This goes double when traveling with kids.

*Keep your cool. Airline employees have considerable power over your well-being. Unfortunately many enjoy wielding it against you, and few respond well to anger.

*Have phone numbers for everything: your hotel, your car rental agency, your airline, friends at your destination. Directory assistance is expensive, whether from your cell, from a phone booth or from home.

*Check flight status repeatedly. Know your airline's 800 number as well as your flight numbers and exact times.

*When traveling on an E-ticket, carry a printout of your itinerary from your airline or booking site.

*Choose nonstop flights. The worst, most brutal delays occur in connecting airports, where you have no home, friends or family to retreat to.

*Don't overpack even checked luggage; overstuffed bags that must be opened for a security check are much harder to repack.

*Do not wrap gifts, especially if you intend to carry them on the plane. Even in checked baggage, there is a strong chance they will be unwrapped for inspection by security personnel. Consider gift bags instead of wrapping paper this holiday season -- you can easily remove the items from their bags if required and you don't have to do a last-minute wrapping job at your destination.

*Give your cell phone a full charge, and write down or program the phone number of your airline so you can call easily as your flight time approaches.

*If you're leaving pets at home, and you haven't made kennel reservations, do so right away. If Fido is coming along, check out our article on Traveling with Pets.

Put it all together
Travel during the holiday is the time to lay all your travel savvy on the line. For example, if you: purchase a package deal in one click of the mouse print out your boarding pass at home
leave early enough not to sweat the small stuff travel light enough not to have to check any bags proceed directly to and through security arrive at the gate on time and at ease and nail your connections ...

You might actually enjoy traveling this season!

The Independent Traveler is an interactive traveler's exchange and comprehensive online travel guide for a community of travelers who enjoy the fun of planning their own trips and the adventure of independent travel. You can access our wealth of travel resources and great bargains here at www.independenttraveler.com, or at www.bargainbox.com.

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