The airport is packed. At first, I’m surprised. But then I remember. It’s summer travel season.

It’s not just the dozens of people gathered on the sidewalk as I step off the shuttle that reminds me. But more the myriad of pajama bottoms, flip flops, sweats, family herds, and babies crying. This is not the typical business travel crowd I’m used to. That predictable group who all head to TSA-pre or Clear with their Tumi carry-on bags and briefcases, ready to remove travel-size liquids or large electronics at a second’s notice. 

I start taking Zen breaths as we cross the street to head into the terminal. I think I’m prepared for the onslaught. But as we walk through the glass doors to the bridgeway, the cacophony of sounds and smells slam into me like a bad wave I didn’t quite dive under far enough. I am not ready. 

A family of five is walking five-wide in front of us. No one can pass.

My outside voice proclaims, “Excuse me!” I speed through a narrow gap in the family wall, startling the mother. Like a good offensive team, my husband sees the screen I set and follows me through the opening. For a few glorious seconds, we move at our pace. Fast. 

We take the escalator up to the main terminal area. At the top, we try to move around the long, winding line of travelers waiting to go through security. It reminds me of the words for long line in Chinese – “long Dragon tail”. That’s exactly what it looks like – a Dragon tail – as families make their way through the maze.

Please be general screening, I pray silently. And it is.

SUMMER TRAVEL IS AMATEUR HOUR

Another hundred yards away, we see the TSA-pre sign like a lighthouse in the storm. As we get closer, we see the line is only a few people deep. Almost empty. I pump fist my husband. Yes! 

But just as we start to enter, a family of four stops right in front of us and starts debating where to go. My irritated sigh is audible to everyone but these four. 

“Can I help you figure out where you need to go?” I ask in my ever so sweet mother’s voice. Even though in my head I am yelling: “get the fuck out of my way, amateurs!”

Deep breath in through the nose. And exhale, slowly. Keep calm. 

The group figures out they need to go over to the general screening area and moves away one slow step at a time. Just as we start to enter the ropes, another family of four walks towards us, going the wrong direction. They are trying to leave the TSA-pre line and, in the process, block our way. 

I can see it in their faces. They thought they had found a magical empty line just for them that somehow no one else saw. Good karma, they thought.

But no. To the dragon tail all of you, I snicker in my head. 

WHY I LOVE TSA-PRE

We zip through the ID and boarding pass checkpoint, and go straight to an empty security screening area. I lift my carry-on bag and matching red tote onto the ramp and ease them into the black hole.

“You look like you know what you’re doing, so I’m just going to step back over here,” says a TSA officer.  

“But don’t let me down and screw up with a water bottle or something,” he jokes. 

Smiling at him, I say, “Never. All good, sir.” 

I try not to think about that one time I went through TSA-pre with my typical confidence, only to forget I’d left a screwdriver in my purse from a weekend project. When the officer asked me if there was anything sharp in my bag, I, of course, answered no. “Not even a screwdriver?” he asked somewhat sarcastically. “Oh shit,” I said. And honestly, at that point, all I could do was laugh, as I donated my beautiful tool to the airport security’s screw-up pile. 

Today, I know my bags are packed perfectly. No liquid is over 3.4oz and properly stored in a clear, quart-sized Ziplock bag. In my quest to reduce the number of liquids, I’m trying a new bar shampoo and facial bar made from organic carrots. It’s hard to fit all of my hair, facial care, and make-up products in one quart-sized bag. And I’m relatively low maintenance for a woman. But I’m on a mission. Like I’m going for level 30 in Tetris. 

Within a minute we are on our way to the train, the international terminal, and the Delta Lounge. 

But there are hundreds of people between us and salvation. I can’t even see through to the A Gates.

MY CHALLENGE WITH CROWDS 

Confession time. I don’t do crowds well. Especially if I can’t see an easy escape or open space. Once at Disneyland, when the crowds smothered me, I broke into an all-out sprint to the exit, nearly taking down small children in my wake.

I try breathing slowly and walking at the crowd’s crawling pace. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my husband ready to make a break. My body is screaming at me to run. I find a hole and leap bag first into it. We are weaving and darting like Formula 1 drivers trying to break from the pack. 

The main problem is I get overwhelmed by people’s energies. Imagine, if you can, that every person’s energy is smoke. Some of the smoke is white and misty, while some is brown like smog. Other smoke is thick and black; the kind that sears your throat and makes your eyes water.  With hundreds of people, it’s as if the air becomes a wall of smoke, making it hard for me to breathe.

Even if I take a million Zen breaths, it’s as if there is no oxygen. 

I walk as fast as my feet will move to a space ahead where the “smoke” is thinner. Just stay calm, I tell myself. 

Here’s the irony. I love humanity. However, I don’t like most people. And I don’t have a good armor against the myriad of inputs, as I am too sensitive to it all.

My empathy and sensitivity gives me an incredible ability to relate, love, and nurture, and know when someone is in pain or needs help. However, it also allows toxicity, pain, fear, grief, anger, and every other energy-draining emotion to get inside me. 

BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Have you ever noticed that many humans lack awareness of the world around them, and the impact they have on it? They move as if in a bubble, not knowing whether their movements, smells, thoughts, or words have any impact on other people or not. 

Airports are the worst. Well, and airplanes. People stop in the middle of a walkway or aisle. Travelers bang their huge bags into other people. Some eat disgusting-smelling food from their airplane seat. 

Because I travel so often, I’ve developed some strong coping techniques. Most of the time I am a vision of calm and poise. However, sometimes, it takes hard work (and running away) to maintain that. 

I am now sitting on the airplane in an aisle seat. Supposedly, this is Comfort Plus, which feels an awful lot like an economy seat without much comfort or plus. But I remind myself I am saving my company money by not flying business. And I get to sit next to my husband. 

The two women behind me are talking like they are long lost high school friends. There’s a family across the aisle from me with two young boys yelling back and forth over the seats. 

My husband points to his ears. “Music” – he mouths to me. Right. I grab my earbuds, find Pandora on my phone, and crank up my Thumbprint Radio.

Loren Allred’s killer vocals blare in my head: “Never Enough… never never.” I go to my happy place, barely noticing the backpacks and butts banging into me as the plane loads. The song switches to my next favorite, “How Far I’ll Go,” from the animated movie, Moana. 

7 SUMMER TRAVEL SURVIVAL TIPS

As I sit in squished bliss, I think about what I would tell other travelers about my survival tips, and I write them down. I want to share them with you now. 

Take time to relax and smile

1. Give yourself plenty of time: I am not one of those people who get to the airport at the last minute. I’d rather get there early, treat myself to a nice meal, and a glass of wine (or two) in the lounge while I work or write. And some airports, like Schipol, have amazing shopping for those in the mood. 

2. Stay calm and smile: Why is my first tip so important? Because if you’re rushed, it’s hard to stay calm. But regardless of how much time you have, try not to get irritated or angry. It will only result in more delays, and possibly a complete body and bag search. I am always amazed how travelers take out their frustrations on airport security, airline personnel, or other people just doing their jobs. Try smiling. Say thank you to the TSA officers. You will feel better.

3. Dress the part: I am all for dressing comfortably on airplanes. However, let’s not lose our self-respect in the process. Pajama bottoms should stay in your suitcase or at home. Same thing with sweats, unless you are a traveling sports team, then it looks cool. As I mentioned above, I also pack light and fit everything into a carry-on bag and my laptop tote. If I run out of clothes, I use the hotel laundry service or go to a laundromat. Not having to wait in line to check your bag saves a lot of time and significantly reduces the potential for stress.

Use Lounges and Antiseptic Wipes

4. Pay for benefits like lounges & Global Entry: Even if you travel only once in a while, the benefits of Global Entry are huge. You always get TSA pre, and you breeze through the lines at U.S. immigration when you come back into the country. It does not take long or cost much. Most major airports now have interview offices for applicants. The same goes for airline lounges. For some, if you have the airline credit card or achieve a certain status, you receive a free or discounted lounge membership. Some companies will cover the cost so be sure to check your benefits. During the summer travel season, the business lounge is my haven. There are few children, free food and drinks, and quiet nooks with plenty of outlets.

5. Stay healthy: Yep, I’m that person who sits next to you and wipes down my entire seat area, armrests, and tray. My doctor recommended it. I was getting sick nearly every time I flew, which was ridiculous. So, my naturopath advised me to take antiseptic wipes and keep my hands and environment clean at all times. I also take Emergen-C twice a day while traveling. Finally, I eat little or nothing on airplanes, as the food almost always makes me feel bloated or sick. And I drink several glasses/bottles of water before, during and after the flight. And yes, that means I get an aisle seat because I have to get up and pee every couple of hours.

Oh, and even though that wine and beer are often free or cheap, minimize your alcohol content on the plane. Dries you up. 

Be prepared for anything

6. Pack for all emergencies: I am gluten free, so I always have snacks I can eat in my bag, like Kind bars or nuts. Plus, I always have a small bar of dark chocolate, gum and mints. Just in case, my bag includes a small Neosporin, Band-aids, sticky notes, a lot of pens, and extra batteries.

For parents traveling with children, this is critical. Your number one job is to keep your child healthy, quiet, and entertained. Sorry, but it’s true. When we used to travel some 15 hours with young children from Taipei to Seattle, each boy had his own special bag of toys, books, snacks, and videos. We never had an airplane issue or airport meltdown. The boys learned from an early age how to travel, and we did everything we could to make it as easy as possible for them AND the other passengers. 

7. Research your destination: I love learning about new places and knowing about the weather, currency, traditions, and transportation before I arrive. Take the time to prepare for your travel, even if it’s within your own country. I also will pay a little extra to take a taxi or arrange a car from the hotel, because I feel safer and don’t have to think about directions.

For example, the driver I had in Berlin this week was not only a safe, considerate driver, but he also played tour guide all the way to my hotel. He even took a couple of detours to drive me by historical monuments (for no extra cost). I know folks are anti-taxi these days, but I always have the best conversations with taxi drivers. Even in New York.

Summer Travel Doesn’t Have to be Stressful

It’s summer! We are meant to be happy and relaxed. But travel these days, whether by plane, train, boat, or automobile, seems to only result in stress and aggravation.

However, you can survive and thrive while traveling. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure this summer, take the time to be prepared and stay calm. If I can do it, so can you. I hope my seven tips help you have a wonderful summer travel season. Bon Voyage!