REAL SIMPLE AND TRAVEL + LEISURE PRESENT

TRAVEL PREP 101 | YOUR PREFLIGHT CHECKLISTWHATEVER YOUR FINAL DESTINATION MAY BE, GETTING THERE WILL GO A LOT SMOOTHER WITH THESE 10 BEFORE-YOU-BOARD STRATEGIES.

AT HOME __ Get fast-tracked. If you haven’t already,

sign up for TSA PreCheck ($85 for five years; tsa.gov), which will expedite you through security in more than 130 domestic airports. Better yet, become a member of U.S. Customs & Border Pro-tection’s Global Entry program ($100 for five years; cbp.gov); you’ll get PreCheck and be able to zip through U.S. customs.

__ Buy some peace of mind. Worried that a flight delay or cancellation will ruin a vacation? Berkshire Hathaway’s AirCare insurance ($25; bhtp.com) will reimburse you $50 for a delay of more than two hours, $250 if you miss a connection because of a delay, and $500 if your bag goes missing for more than 12 hours. The company tracks your flight status auto-matically and can issue some payments directly to a PayPal account.

__ Stay up-to-the-minute. You shouldn’t depend on your airline to let you know when there’s a delay. Sign up for text and e-mail alerts with an online flight-tracking service like FlightStats (free; Android, iOS). Or manage your itinerary with TripIt Pro ($49 a year; Android, iOS), which comes with built-in alerts.

__ Score a prime seat. Don’t want to pay extra for premium economy, and you’re not into ponying up for an aisle seat ahead of time? Then your best bet is

AT THE AIRPORT__ Know your way around. GateGuru

(free; Android, iOS) will help you navigate terminals at some 200 airports around the world and point you wherever you need to go. Particularly handy during a layover, the app lists airport amenities and restaurant reviews.

__ Stay connected. A Boingo account (from $4.98 a month) will keep you online at more than 50 airports across the globe. And if you set up a profile with the hot spot provider’s new Passpoint Secure service, you’ll get even faster connec-tions at a growing number of airports. (Tip: American Express Platinum card holders are eligible for free accounts.)

__ Join the club. If you’re facing a long layover or extended delay, you can usu-ally get a day pass to a lounge for $25 to $50—which often pays for itself in free Wi-Fi and food. Or consider a member-ship to an independent club, like Priority Pass ($99 a year; prioritypass.com), which has 700 lounges worldwide.

to sign up with website ExpertFlyer, which alerts you when your seat of choice becomes available, so you can log on and grab it. Use SeatGuru’s online cabin maps to help you pick.

__ Check that your carry-on is really a carry-on. Some domestic carriers have started enforcing a 22" x 14" x 9" size limit, which not all bags advertised as carry-ons meet. So if you want to avoid having to gate-check (and pay for) your bag, know your airline’s size restrictions before you leave home.

__ Size up your toiletries. Carry-on liquids, gels, and aerosols have to be 3.4 fluid ounces or less and fit in a clear, quart- size bag. Head to 3floz.com to find mini TSA-approved versions of more than 60 brands.

__ Dress smart. To move through airports with ease and emerge from a flight unrumpled, stick to wrinkle-free fabrics, such as tight knits and wool. For over-night flights, a pair of leggings or jeans with a bit of stretch go a long way. And a good cashmere wrap or sweater is invaluable when facing the chill of an air-conditioned cabin.

¡ FOR TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR SUMMER ROAD TRIP, GO TO TANDL.ME/ROADTRIPPREP.

ILLUSTRATION BY VALERO DOVAL

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