Here is a list I’ve compiled of helpful airline traveling tips. There are so many more tips, tricks, and hacks I’d like to share with you, but those will be sprinkled in with my other blog posts. Think of this as an introductory list to jumpstart the brainstorming for your next trip.

I’m curious if you’ve had experience with any of these tips, and if so, how did it impact your travel? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you, and if you have any travel tips of your own. 🙂

1. Always have a pen! Especially for international travel; you can expect to fill out some kind of immgiration/customs form. And yes, we (your cabin crew) probably have pens on us, but we don’t love to give them out because we rarely get them back, and if we do, sometimes the pen cap has been chewed. Ewww! And thats a true story. 

2. Bring a water bottle, fill up in the airport (no flight attendant enjoys hearing upon boarding, “Can I have a water for my pill?”). If you know you need to take medicine, please make sure you have your own water ready to go! An added bonus is helping the environment with a reusable water bottle. Many airports are equipped with no-contact filling stations, perfect for getting an ice-cold, filtered water refill in an eco-friendly, sanitary way. I love my Hydroflask. They’re pricey and a bit heavy, but do keep your water chilled for the entire day.

3. Bring headphones with an aux cord jack. The headphones available onboard are terrible! Invest in a decent pair; I really enjoy my Skullcandy earbuds, and I always keep them in my carry-on. If you can’t invest in new earbuds, get a pair from a flight, and hold onto them! Even if an airline advertises headphones, it’s no guarantee we’ll have them. So if you really want to watch movies, make sure you are equipped with aux headphones! 

5. Speaking of headphones; so many AirPods have been lost to the dark depths of the airplane. Please, if you must have them for the flight, be extra careful! They’re extremely hard to find. 

4. If you have dietary restrictions, whatever they may be, or think you may be especially hungry, bring your own food. Even if the airline says they will provide a meal catered to your needs, it’ll most likely not be what you’re expecting or what you want. Be sure to be well stocked, this goes for young children and infants too. We don’t have a lot of “kid friendly” snacks on the plane besides sugary cookies and chocolate, if that. 

6. Don’t use the bathroom barefoot or with socks! That’s not water on the floor. 

7. Plan on a backup form of entertainment. Sometimes the system goes down, and there won’t be in-seat movies or games. The same goes for plugs. Not all aircraft are equipped with outlets at the seats. If it’s important to you, make sure you bring a portable charger, and a personal device with movies downloaded before the flight begins.

8. Download the airline app; it’ll help you with connections and itinerary changes due to delays. Another helpful app is “FlightAware.” It will show you current airport and flight delays.

9. Always always always keep your important items (passport, wallet, keys, medication, etc.) in a small personal bag in the event your carry-on suitcase is checked (and in the worst case, lost in transit). If you prefer to travel light and with only a carry-on suitcase, keep a small bag inside of the suitcase which you can transfer your important items to, and bring with you onboard. Think reusable grocery bag or small canvas bag.

10. Always being a scarf for flights. The planes get cold, and a decent scarf can double as a cute accessory, a blanket or even a pillow. When I travel for leisure, that’s one item I don’t leave without; it‘s versatile and will serve you well. Here I am sporting one of my favorite travel scarves.

“Right ?!! Like thank you for the lessons but BYE HOE” 😂

~ Connie Vilomar

As a friend of mine so poignantly stated, I’m excited and absolutely ready to join the 30 club; lay the 20s to rest and really begin living. I feel that the 20s are all about learning about yourself and making mistakes and a lot of trial and error in all different aspects of your life. I have some incredible, unforgettable experiences that I will cherish and hold dear for the rest of my life. Those include graduating college with 2 majors and a minor, studying abroad in Mexico, living in El Salvador for 2 years, waking up on top of a volcano for my 25th birthday, hiking Acatenango (another volcano) not only once, but three times, becoming a flight attendant, traveling to cities near and far, and meeting the man of my dreams, to name a few. 

With all of those glorious moments come the hardships; barely affording my last semester of college, my best friend being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer (she is a ninja and fought hard and is doing well), losing my beloved Papa to cancer, living with bizarre and two-faced roommates, struggling with student loan debt, moving on average every 2 years, a fair share of heartbreak and misguided decisions, and discovering how difficult it is to stay in touch with friends. 

Struggles and all, I am extraordinarily grateful for my life thus far, and I’m proud of who I’ve become. Without the difficulties and road blocks, I wouldn’t have gained resiliency in the face of challenges, I wouldn’t have discovered how precious time really is and that it is not to be taken for granted, and without a few failed romances, I wouldn’t know what to look for in a partner. Though I’ve learned from my 20s, there is still room for improvement. And I plan on making those adjustments and continue to strive to be the best version of me, while enjoying everything life has to offer.

In the years ahead, I will run a marathon, begin an online business, build passive income, get married, have healthy children, and will be debt free. 

“Those are lofty goals,” you may say. However, lofty or not, if they go unwritten, unspoken, and un-affirmed, they are guaranteed not happen. The biggest secret to living the life you want is to affirm it each and every day. The universe will conspire to help you achieve your wildest dreams, but here’s the caveat: you need to be willing to put in the work on your end; mentally, physically, and spiritually.

I am here, I am present, I am grateful, I am ready. Bring it on! Amelia 3.0 with upgrades now ready to launch, August 20th at 4:44AM. Watch out world, here I come!