Since we got married 5 months ago, we have been on 12 airplanes. We have encountered multiple flight delays, sprinted through a few airports and have begged to cut in line to make our layovers. We were denied boarding and rerouted on the way to our honeymoon, where we spent a week without our luggage that was lost in transit. We have had our carry-ons "randomly" screened, Britt has lost her phone and we have both gotten emotional public. Although traveling may seem glamorous and we are beyond thankful for our adventurous life, as newlyweds who have been chewed up and spit out by traveling, we are here to offer some advice.

Here are 15 ways to prepare for your next airport extravaganza:

• Use Private Browsing While Ticket Hunting Online We almost couldn't believe this tip when it was passed along to us, but it turns out that many travel assistant websites will track your browser cookies and will increase the prices of the tickets the more you search for a particular trip. Their goal is to make it seem like prices are going up by the minute to encourage you to "BUY NOW!" By browsing in "private" or "incognito" mode, you can avoid these scams and get the lowest prices with every search.
  

• Compare Airlines, Airports & Use Multiple Search Engines Through our many flight searches, we have learned that no travel assistant website is fail-proof. We always search for the same trip on multiple websites including Google Flights, SkyScanner and MyTrip, and also go directly to multiple airline's websites to cross-check prices. When we were searching for tickets for our last trip back to the states, none of the flight comparison sites were showing any round trip tickets for less than $650 or without long layovers. After weeks of searching (and lots of praying), we remembered that we had found cheap flights with Lufthansa in the past, so we went directly to their website and actually found round trip tickets for only $350! This deal was NOT showing up on any regular search or on the flight comparison sites, so we highly recommend being patient and thorough in your planning by checking as many airlines, airports and travel day options as you can!
  

• Read Airline Policies Before Booking This is one of those tips that you may want to glance over, but from experience, it's an important one! Although many airlines advertise jaw-dropping "deals," they tend make their money back by charging hidden fees and restricting your luggage so much that you are forced to pay for extra things at check-in. Within their policies, you will also find the answers to any questions you have about traveling with food, liquids, pets, alcohol and more.
  

• Purchase a Luggage Scale This was one of our favorite gifts from Santa this year! Our Tarriss Luggage Scale was a total game-changer when packing up our Christmas gifts after visiting family across the U.S. We can bring this lightweight, easy-to-use, affordable gadget anywhere and will never face the fear of unexpected overweight baggage fees again. You can purchase your own from www.amazon.com!
  

• Pack Light After our baggage was lost in transit on the way to our honeymoon, we learned an important lesson: Less is more. Many of us tend to overpack when going on vacation, but our advice is to bring intentional, versatile outfits that you can piece together in different ways throughout your trip. Your bags will be easier to carry, plus, packing light leaves more room for souvenirs on the way home! So, win-win!
  

• Check-In Online Not only can this step shave minutes off your wait time at the airport, you will usually receive live updates on your flight & gate information through text or email! Checking in early can also prepare you for any fees you may encounter at the check-in desk.
  

• Charge All of Your Devices Before leaving for the airport, be sure to charge all of your devices. If you have down-time at your gate, be sure to charge them back to 100% again before boarding. Most airplanes do not have accessible outlets and it is always comforting to have fully charged devices in case of emergency before, during and after traveling.
  

• Get to the Airport 2-3 Hours Early We have arrived early to the airport every time we have traveled, and we have still managed to find ourselves running through the airport on multiple occasions. If you can swing 3 hours early, the peace of mind you will have from not cutting it close will be beyond worth the wait at your gate.
  

• Double Check Your Boarding Pass(es) This one may sound strange, but we were actually given the WRONG boarding passes at the check-in desk before. Because of the error, we were denied boarding and missed our flight to our honeymoon. It's always worth it to double & triple check your documents and make sure they line up with your booking receipt. Most people tend to book far in advance, so make sure you don't just take the airline's word for it.
  

• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions This tip kind of pairs with the last one about being extra cautious. Airport staff tend to work long hours, sift through many flight numbers and deal with stressed out passengers all day long. Although they may not always be the most bubbly and inviting, don't be afraid to ask them specific questions about your itinerary and have them double check on things that you're worried about. Trusting that they got it right has left us with incorrect boarding passes and lost luggage in the past, so ask away!
  

• Start Prepping for Security While Walking This just makes security easier for everyone! After you drop off your checked luggage, start removing your scarves, jackets and jewelry as you're walking to security. Once the security staff checks your boarding pass and ID, remove your shoes and take out any electronics that are required to pass through the belt on their own. By the time you get to the bins, you should just be able to drop your things in and move efficiently through the body scanner. It makes things flow much easier if you aren't holding up the line with your entire security-strip.
  

• Go Straight to Your Gate After Security Even if you have a few hours to spare, it's always good to find your gate and check the screens or ask the staff for any updates with your flight. After getting your bearings, you can grab food, use the restroom, or just relax with the comfort of knowing you're in the right place.
  

• Pay Attention to Your Boarding Time NOT Departure Time We have (embarrassingly) made this mistake a few times but have thankfully gotten lucky. Sometimes airlines will board early and may start giving away seats if everyone at the gate has boarded and you are not there. Be sure to be at your gate at the time of boarding to avoid any unhappy surprises!
  

• Put Your Personal Bag Under Your Feet Keep any belongings that you may want to access during your flight in your personal bag instead of in your carry-on suitcase in the overhead compartment. Not only is it a hassle for you to find your things mid-flight, but we'll be honest, it will probably annoy the people around you. (And nobody likes grumpy flight neighbors.)
  

• Take a Nap on the Plane Future you will thank us for this one. Jet lag is so real and naps definitely help ease the struggle. Sweet dreams and safe travels, y'all! Seeing the world is such a magical blessing, but traveling from place to place can be a bit chaotic. We hope these tips help ease the stress during your next adventure so you can enjoy the wanderlust without any speed bumps! Have another tip? We'd love to hear it! Please write us at unitedwestanley@gmail.com!
  

Lots of Love,

Britt & Will