The Travelers Checklist – The last 48 Hours before Take Off
Check your Flight again – Check-in online
Sometimes airlines change something last minute. The departure time for example. It is good if you are informed. Most airlines have an App for your smartphone. You can check-in online and get your boarding pass in the App. I save it in my Wallet App on the iPhone so it is on the screen the day I fly. No need to search for it on the phone this way. The App usually tells you if anything changes or you can see your gate on it as well.
Save your ticket information on your smartphone in case they need it at the airport. The actual receipt from your travel agency or the airline! I save a PDF on my iCloud and phone for example. Some airlines let you print the boarding pass up to 48 hours before you fly. Save paper and have it as PDF instead. And if you need to print – print only the page you actually need – in black and white. If you did not choose your seat while you booked your ticket you can do so at the online check-in. This way you can go to the Drop Off Counter of your airline at the airport. That should save you a lot of time since the line is usually much shorter.
If you want a special meal – vegan, vegetarian or ovo-lacto. You can book that with most airlines up to 48 hours before the flight. Usually, it is too late after that.
Arrange your Airport Transportation
A friend told you to drive you to the airport – make sure he/she does remember? Book a car or shared transportation or check how to get there with public transport. Usually, you have to be 2-3 hours before the flight at the airport. If you come only 30 minutes before it is possible for the airline to give your seat to somebody else.
Pack your Carry On Bag
Passport, tickets, credit cards, cash should stay with you and I would not leave them in the carry-ons. I have them in the pocket of my trousers. Expensive electronics, camera, and computer or tablet – go into the carry on a bag together with chargers and cables. Check the liquid allowance – you can bring a water PET bottle and fill it after security again to avoid the overpriced airport markets or restaurants. Keep in mind that all liquids, creams and even the toothpaste have to fit in one 1 Ltr plastic bag. I saw a few times very unhappy travelers having to choose what to put in the bin at security.
If you do Duty-Free do not open the plastic pouch they give you if you have a connecting flight!
Check with your airline about the weight and size of the carry-on. Most airlines are easy but some are strict and you have to pay extra if you bring too much. But you can put all the heavy items in your jacket or trouser pocket. They can not weight your trousers after all!
Pack your Bag
Usually, from and to the US your bag can weight 23 kg – for the rest of the world, it is 20 kg in Economy. Some airlines allow 23 kg in general. I would never travel with such a heavy bag. But usually I bring presents to friends and it gets easy over 20 kg. Again – some airlines are cool with 1-3 kg more – other airlines will make you pay the overweight. Most of the time it is cheaper to leave that kilo behind and get it at your destination than pay the extra weight at the airport.
Empty the Fridge and Freezer
Save Energy – give the food to friends or start early to empty it so you do have nothing left.
Turn down Heater and Air condition
Save Energy – turn down everything to a minimum or turn it off.
Did I forget anything? Please let me know in the comments below!!
Part 1: A few months before your trip
Part 2: A few weeks before your trip
Part 3: The last 48 hours before you go