· Carry everything on with you whenever possible. By doing so you can eliminate baggage fees, avoid waiting for luggage, and guarantee that all your bags arrive with you.
· On international flights resist the temptation to watch eight hours’ worth of movies, leaving you exhausted when you reach your destination. Make shut-eye a priority. Even if you don’t actually sleep, close your eyes and rest.
· Stay hydrated. Fill up on water instead of soft drinks, and use eye drops to keep your eyes from drying out.
· Carry two different kinds of credit cards. If one credit card company (such as Visa) puts a hold on your account because of unusual activity, you’ll still have access to another (like Discover).
· If your credit card charges a foreign-use fee, carry a Starbucks card for major international layovers. In some places you can use it to avoid changing funds just to buy a cup of joe.
· If you must go through customs, pack your suitcase using groupings of items stashed in gallon-sized plastic bags. If officials rifle through your stuff, they can easily see everything without tossing items about. When they finish, you can throw everything back inside and zip in a hurry.
· Dress for security. Pack, rather than wearing, heavy jewelry, belts with buckles, and clothing with snaps or studs. Also nix the under-wire bra. If you have body piercings, remove metal before heading to the airport.