This Is Italy
You will have noticed: it is busy at Schiphol, Zaventem and other (regional) airports. No one wants to queue for hours at the check-in desk and customs. Here are some tips to keep in mind if you're traveling to Italy by plane this summer.
1. Check in online
Do not wait to check in until you are at Schiphol or Zaventem, but check in online at home. You can sometimes check in online as early as 30 hours in advance. There are also more and more airlines that make it possible to check in online with checked baggage. All you have to do is hand in your luggage at the drop-off point.
2. Be on time
As a traveler, there isn't much you can do to avoid crowds, but you can make sure you get to the airport on time. However, you should not overdo it. Both Schiphol and Zaventem recommend arriving no more than 4 hours in advance (otherwise you will make it extra busy for earlier flights).
3. Prevent stress and reserve your parking space
Have you seen those images of travelers lugging their bags along the highway to catch their flight on time? You don't want that. You want a safe, reserved parking space at an affordable rate. View on Parking Zaventem to find the lowest prices for the Brussels airport.
4. Prepare your flight well
Make sure you have everything at hand: health certificate, QR code digitally or on paper, passport or ID card. Check the validity of all documents in advance. You will not be the first to have one or more documents expired. That is extra stress that you can easily avoid with a little preparation.
5. Departure from a regional airport
Can you also depart from Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Weeze, Düsseldorf or one of those other airports? If you haven't booked yet, it's worth looking into this. There are many options for alternative airports in Italian destinations. Otherwise you may be able to rebook to a smaller airport with flexible tickets. Then there is less chance that you will end up in a traffic jam!
6. Travel hands-free
Do you have the option to travel with hand luggage only? Then do that. This saves a lot of delay when checking in your luggage. You can also always easily check in online. If you definitely need your bags, you can consider having them picked up at home and already delivered to your destination. For this you can use a GoLuggo subscription to take. Are you already a Privium member of Schiphol? Then you are already a free member.
7. Make it easy for security
Belt, rings, bracelets, watch and other jewelry: take them all off (or not at all). This way you help to ensure a smooth flow through security. Remember that you will be checked completely if you do keep something on and that takes extra time.
8. Bypass the busiest days
The summer holiday period is logically the busiest. If possible, book your holiday outside the second half of July and the first half of August. If, like many people with children, you are tied to the holidays, you may be able to opt for a different travel day. Weekends and Mondays are the busiest at the airports.
9. Keep an eye on the airline's website
Here you will always find the latest information about your flight. You do not want to find out that your flight has been canceled because of the crowds, while you are already at Schiphol or Zaventem or one of those other smaller airports. You can also find last-minute information about the crowds at that time on the airport's website.
10. Let it go
You can start to stress, but you have no influence on the queue. So let it go and look at it positively: you are going to Italy, the land of the sweet life. Now is the time to take life as it comes. So take a break and enjoy that holiday later.
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