The holidays are here and many people are flying out to see their family and friends back home.  Major airports are about to be packed like the LAX nightclub at the Luxor in Las Vegas. Since LAX the airport doesn’t have a good DJ like LAX the club, travelers better prepare to make the best of it.

We’ve prepared four survival tips for air travel, follow them and hopefully you’ll make it home in time for figgy pudding.

4 – Check in online and print your boarding pass at home.  I know, I know! That seems like a given in the internet age but I’m always amazed by the long lines at the Print Boarding Pass Only Kiosks.  Either people don’t know or they forget.  Take care of as much check in business online as your airline will allow (seat selection, pay for bags, etc.). The ticketing and check in area is to be avoided during the holiday season.  “What if I have to check luggage,” you ask? See tip 4.

3 – Don’t even think about checking luggage! Baggage lines are out. Door -to- Door luggage shipping is in.  Standing in the baggage check line will cut into the valuable time needed for the long TSA security lines.  Use Fedex or some other shipper to ship your bags ahead.  Odds are your bags will make it (fingers crossed) but why risk it?  If your family is like mine you don’t want to risk showing up without Christmas presents.  Even if your bags are in the lucky number properly routed, why waste time on the other end at baggage claim.  If anyone in your family cooks like my cousin Brenda then you want to get straight to the holiday feast.

2 – Push your Carry-ons to the limit. Avoid the baggage fees! If you’re honest with yourself about what you really need on your trip then you can probably fit everything into the allowed two bags.  Try the whole ‘less is more’ Zen thing.  Stuff clothes and non breakables in a soft bag that you can stuff under the seat (it’s not like you’ll be comfortable anyway with the ever shrinking (yet profitable) cabin space).  Everything else can be tightly packed into a large carryon bag and stowed in the overhead bin.  I’ve seen Flight Attendants work miracles with oversized carryon bags in the name of sticking to a departure schedule.  Sure the other passengers will give you the evil eye but at least you won’t miss your flight standing around in the baggage check line (again – see tip 4).

1 – Keep your ears open for the gate agent to announce that your flight has been oversold. Yes Virginia, the airlines really do overbook their flights.  To fix their greedy little boo-boo the airline will usually offer a free roundtrip ticket to anyone who is willing to take a later flight. Don’t play Deal or No Deal in your mind. Quick! Take the deal! Or you’ll be bested by a quicker traveler who doesn’t care so much about getting home on time. Hey! Not everyone has a Cousin Brenda waiting with a Paul Deen like holiday spread.

Happy Holidays!