No matter how many flights I take, I can never quite shake that niggling fear that sticks to the bottom of my stomach. The changing sounds of the engines on the plane, the bumping of turbulence and the cramped conditions play havoc with my nerves so the airport experience needs to be perfect, in an attempt to ensure I am as calm as possible before all the other stuff freaks me out! My local airport, Manchester International, has some great facilities so here are my top tips for surviving the airport as a nervous flyer.
GET THERE EARLY
Before flying I make sure everything I need to check in is together and in the front of my travel bag. I know technology is a saviour and there is no need to have everything printed out these days, but I feel much more organised with my tickets and visas printed. You know how unpredictable phone service can be and I just don’t need that stress when I’m already panicking about the flight. I try and get to the airport 3 hours early so I have time to check in, get through security and check out the shops before my flight. I find factoring this in to a trip calms my nerves and helps me to enjoy the airport experience.
USE THE FAST TRACK SERVICE
The baggage check area of Manchester Airport, or any airport come to think of it, can be crowded and stressful. The Fast Track service is a life saver if you struggle in crowds or just want to get through to duty free a little quicker! The staff scan the bar code and off you go to the front of the queue! It takes away some of the nerves of queuing and potentially being late for your flight, I wouldn’t go to the airport without it.
SHOP!
The duty free shops at Manchester Airport are better than ever so I always make sure I have enough time to check out any last minute holiday essentials. World Duty Free has you covered with beauty exclusives and I always stock up on Benefit and Jo Malone. You can really relax with a free makeup lesson at Bobbi Brown or a pre flight spa treatment at Clarins too. The extra time at the airport is well worth it for the relaxation benefits!
I also make sure I hit WHSmith for a selection of magazines and some colouring books. Practicing mindfulness is proven to help destress the body and colouring helps to take the mind away from what is going on. There is a great selection at the airport and it means you aren’t using your hand baggage allowance by getting them beforehand.
ESCAPE THE MADNESS AT ESCAPE LOUNGE
The waiting area at Manchester Airport is pretty much always busy so I always book into one of their executive lounges and Escape Lounge is one of my favourites. It is light and bright with lots of seating in different nooks, so you can choose to sit in a quiet area or a busier area if you wish to. There is a great selection of food and drink available, which changes depending on the time of day when you visit. We tend to travel early morning so it is usually breakfast time. I like to sit near the departure boards so I know when my flight is boarding, whilst enjoying a spot of food to help my stomach from churning quite so much. There are also complimentary newspapers and magazines available so you can really ‘escape’ the airport vibe and relax before your journey. Prices start from £21.
HYDRATE
Whilst I would not recommend drinking before a flight, I do like a glass of fizz at the lounge before boarding. It is complimentary at Escape Lounge and is the perfect spot of luxury before a trip, if you ask me. That said, I make sure I drink lots of water before flying to prevent dehydration. The flight gives me dreadful vertigo when I land so I try and reduce this by drinking as much water as possible. It can play havoc with your skin too so it is well worth it to drink as much water as possible in an attempt to combat the effects early.
GET TO THE GATE EARLY
It probably sounds obvious but getting to the gate with time to spare can really help with the nerves before flying. If you are late and rushing, it elevates the nerves that are already there and it just isn’t worth it. Get there with plenty of time to spare, give yourself extra time to get on the plane and get settled into your seat before taking off. The extra couple of minutes really helps to calm my nerves and I am sure it will help yours too.
There you have it! My top tips for surviving Manchester Airport if you are a nervous flyer. Would you add anything else to the list?
