Travelogue Tales - The Airport

Airports are among my favorite places in the world; full of chatter, employees working purposefully, mishaps, and people buzzing at the thought of their upcoming trips. That excitement is palpable and contagious! However getting to one's departure gate is but the end of a long list of steps to tick from the to-do list.

The following are musings from over a decade of travels, expressed by self-made toy brick sets. 

And every great trip begins with planning! A solid three months before every flight: flights are booked, hotels are researched, tours and itineraries are mapped out, and documents such as visas and insurance are prepared.

The adventure officially starts at the airport, where our tradition of packing light (and shopping heavy in our destination) makes for a hassle-free check-in.

Always be kind to the check-in staff. It's not only the classy thing to do, sometimes you might even score an upgrade (three, by our count).

Online check-in lines are always shorter than regular queues. To this day, it boggles my mind why most people don't take advantage of this time saver.

The earlier we get through immigration and security check, the earlier our vacation starts!

Sometimes our immigration officer is polite, other times our officer has had a long day. In either case, answer questions with a smile and try not to overshare (or answer more than what was asked).

Going through security check is a breeze if you: put all contents of pockets in a handbag beforehand, remove your belt (or better yet, don't wear any), and ready laptops for placing on the trays.

Ahhh the departure area, the milestone that officially starts your journey!

But first, ALWAYS check what gate your flight is. This is to avoid errors such as being an airport train or shuttle away from the right terminal. 

A favorite past time is checking out country-exclusive liquors and spirits and taking note of their prices. Discounts can wildly vary between the duty free stores of different countries.

I also love checking out the gadget and travel accessory section which showcase the latest ways human beings distract themselves.

And of course, book and magazine kiosks offer a productive way to pass the time: brushing up on current events, the latest gossip, or just plain learning something new.

There's something about airports that amplifies the enjoyment of sweet iced coffee and pastries. Hanging out in cafes is also always more comfortable than doing so at the departure gates.

A good rule of thumb is to be by the departure gate a full hour before the flight. Try to go to the toilet a couple of times before boarding the plane to minimize the need to go inside the plane (which often involves a queue).

Don't forget to take advantage of special boarding lanes for mileage programme members, PWDs, and those traveling with infants, depending on your circumstance.

Orderly queues are the key to everything. Skipping the line won't get you to your destination any faster.

There is something utterly magical about traveling to an exotic new location by way of an elongated metal tube hurling you thousands of kilometers an hour across the evening sky.

Ready to fly!