If you listen to the word on the street from travelers these days, you might get the impression that traveling by air is a chaotic, inefficient mess. There are so many complaints about delays and slowdowns that you might think it’s not even worth it. These claims, however, are exaggerated quite a bit.

There’s no question that airports have tightened security, meaning you’ll have to wait in more lines and pass more checkpoints than you’d probably like. You also won’t be able to have a friend or family member accompany you to and from the gate. But that’s about the extent of the changes, and delays in commercial flights have been around for ages anyway.

There are still a few things you can do to make your flight experience a smooth one, however. Here are a few tips that will reduce the stress of the modern flying experience.

It helps tremendously to pack light. You may be accustomed to bringing more clothing and supplies than you’d ever need, but you can greatly cut down on the hassle by bringing only your carry-on bag and leaving the checked luggage at home.

To get by with just a carry-on, bring items of clothing that can be used in multiple outfits, giving you flexibility from a smaller number of items. If you can fit everything in your carry-on, you won’t have to waste time in line getting your bag checked.

Bringing only a carry-on will also save you the hassle of waiting for your checked bag at baggage claim. You’ll have your carry-on already with you and you’ll be ready to hit the ground running once you arrive. Lastly, if you don’t have a carry-on the airport may allow you to check in via the internet before you even get to the airport, which will save you the time of waiting in another line.

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t bring anything dangerous on an airplane. If you find yourself wondering whether a particular item would catch the attention of security, you’re better off just not bringing it.

Incendiary items, including flammable liquids and matches, are out of the question. Metal objects and sharp objects such as scissors are also not allowed. Airport security now allows liquids, although it must be a reasonable volume of liquid for air travel and must be in a clear, zippable plastic bag.

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