Flying to the UK? Here are 15 Travel Tips to make life abundantly easier!
PART I | Individuals & Couples
Individuals/Couples
1 - Try not to overpack
Some people tend to err on the side of overpacking for a vacation or holiday. A trip to the UK would be no exception because you'll most likely want to wear layers depending on the season. We all have our bare essentials in mind, and it's good to start with those. From there, bring clothing that can be used with one another in multiple ways and try not to overdo it with bulky items such as jackets and shoes. We recommend packing early and then doing another run-through to remove anything that is just not needed. We typically use one large suitcase for both of us and then a small carry-on suitcase for anything extra. We always have our laptop and camera with us; in fact, backpacks will house both items in one. The travel is long and arduous—having too many bags, especially carry-on bags that you're lugging through the airport, can be an additional burden.
2 - Oversized luggage
If you research oversized luggage (or boxes) on your airline's website, take note that things aren't always what they seem. I looked for the exact maximum dimensions (190 x 75 x 65cm = 74.8 inches x 29.5 inches x 25.59 in) for oversized luggage to determine what box we could check in, but I still got hassled for using a Home Depot wardrobe box. Although he let things slide and said they wouldn't charge me for the box, he pointed to our other box (a Large heavy-duty home depot box) and said that would work best next time. If you're looking to take large items, it may be best to call ahead and confirm what's permitted for use by the airline.
3 - Food and snacks
For those who can't quite stomach the food served on long flights, which may cause discomfort or may require you to wait a while to have a meal, we recommend packing certain foods to go. In fact, we typically bring food that we buy ahead of time in a reusable grocery bag that we take through security with no issues (always mindful of liquids, of course), and we usually try to have a meal before boarding a flight. Our go-to snacks are:
Homemade muffins (we love simple ones such as pumpkin)
Beef jerky (odorous when unsealing bag, but good)
Dried fruit and fresh fruit (mangoes, apricots, apples, oranges)
Protein bars (we like short ingredients list and somewhat high in calories)
4 - Compression socks
Some may decide to take shoes off on a flight to give their feet some freedom. We highly recommend wearing compression socks for especially long flights (such as SFO or LAX -> London Heathrow). Your legs and feet will thank you for the reduction of pain and swelling while sitting for long hours. Pair this with some laps around the aircraft cabin like you're training for the 10,000m long-distance event, and you've got yourself a winning combination that will help keep you healthy too!
5 - Power converter
Since residing in the UK, one of the more interesting problems we had to solve was which power converter to use for kitchen appliances, TV, laptops, and phones (to name a few). We've blown out fuses and seen appliances malfunction—through trial and error, we've narrowed down the best 220v to 110v power converter to use for plugging in almost any device you bring along (even phones, as it has built-in USB ports).
6 - Currency exchange
If you're planning on traveling to small villages or market towns to visit pubs and family-owned boutiques, it's always helpful to bring around £100 of cash-on-hand. Your local bank or credit union will have the means to exchange currency. When Steph and I were in San Diego, we lived near a mall with an international currency exchange booth, so we used their service for an upcoming trip to the UK.
7 - Online check-in
We sometimes forget there's an online check-in option before arriving at the airport. You may have a seat assigned and associated with your ticket, but you'll be boarding the aircraft in different groups. If you want to stow away all your carry-ons in the overhead bins before they run out of space, set an alarm for 24 hours prior to your flight and check-in online.
8 - Empty stainless steel flask or water bottle
Bottles or flasks filled with water are not permitted through TSA security checkpoints. It's common sense nowadays but easy to forget when you've got so many other things to account for while in transit (hands raised over here as people who have forgotten). Simply bring the empty flask or bottle of your own to fill up near the terminal at a free water refill station before it's time to board an aircraft.
9 - Be careful with everyday carry items
Most of us have everyday carry items that we can't seem to leave home without patting our pockets or double-checking bags: keys, wallets, watches, gadgets, devices, and the like. Some even bring compasses, pocket knives, or small tools along with them everywhere they go. Unless you want some of these items confiscated by the TSA, make sure to leave most things at home. I was once stopped at security for having a keychain multi-tool attached to my house and car keys.
10 - Booking a place to stay
If you have a timeshare or interval ownership, check to see if they have exchange accommodations in the UK. We saved thousands by using a family member's RCI (Resort Condominiums International) account and booking service. For those with neither, Airbnb and Vrbo are great and affordable options depending on your destination in the UK. London, Birmingham, Manchester, and other big cities have many properties listed on both sites. A bit more pricey option is Unique Homestays, a lesser-known company based in Devon (southwest). During our honeymoon, Steph and I stayed at one of their listed properties, a very charming barn conversion cottage in the Cotswolds.
11 - Purchase a SIM card or turn on international service with your carrier
If you're looking for pay as you go (PAYG) service, they don't typically give you a SIM with a phone. Once you arrive at London Heathrow, you'll notice vending machines that sell PAYG SIM cards which are useful in a pinch. Still, you're better off heading to Argos or Sainsbury's (local grocery stores) to purchase any SIM card bundle, which comes with data (4G & 5G) and unlimited texts and phone calls, for a better deal from any of the major carriers in the UK. If you don't want to deal with a PAYG, you can call your current US carrier and switch on international service/data.
12- Book a Taxi Service
You may have some UK friends willing to brave the trek to pick you up from London Heathrow. If you want to save them the trouble and the stress, we recommend booking a taxi service in advance. There are many options for booking a service, such as 001 Taxis, Taxis Heathrow, Airport Taxi Transfers, Britway Airport Transfer, UK Airport Taxis, and Pink Berry Cars. They each give you several vehicle options from sedans, SUVs, MPVs, 8-seaters, and more. Most, if not all, of them, have a "meet and greet" service, where they wait for you at arrivals with your name written on a sign—they welcome you and assist with your luggage. If you don't request a "meet and greet," your taxi will most likely pick you up on Level 5 (top level) of Terminal 5 where drop-offs usually happen. Be sure to arrange for an exchange of contact information to communicate with your driver (text or call) once you've exited the baggage claim area. If you've got that spontaneous spark about you, London Heathrow has bus stops and taxi service lanes on Level 1 of Terminal 5.
13 - Book Direct Flights
While you can definitely save money with flights that have layovers, we recommend getting a direct flight if possible. We have experienced nightmare situations with layovers that have added immense stress and time to our travel, one in which Steph and I were up for 36 hours straight. It was a very unexpected journey that included a wild storm that shook our plane and grounded us, fire engines racing up to check our plane, a canceled flight due to weather, several hours spent at the airport, a crowded taxi, and waiting for one comped hotel only to be told they filled it up right before we arrived. We got to another hotel, where we were finally able to close our eyes and get some much-needed rest after a day and a half of being awake. Definitely, a trip to remember!
14 - If you happen to have a layover/connecting flight
The best experience we had with layovers, by far, was flying through Zurich, Switzerland. A massive international hub of an airport and beautiful backdrop paired well with efficient and orderly transit. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, and we even had time to enjoy a cuppa while awaiting our connecting flight to Birmingham.
15 - UK Border and Customs
If you're a US passport holder, the good news is London Heathrow has eGates, aka Automatic Border Control Systems. You don't have to wait in a massive line to have that somewhat awkward conversation with a Border Force Agent. Personally, we've never had any difficulty going through the UK border and customs areas when we spoke with an Agent. Still, it's nice to know that if you're older than 12+ years of age and have a US passport, you can bypass the lengthy wait times by scanning your passport (which has a biometric chip) and having your picture or fingerprint taken.