Moving is a big job with multiple aspects to consider. You need proper planning to overcome the difficulties of moving day, ensure you have all the necessary things, and you can manage to pack your entire household in a small space. Based on the type of move you are making, it's not always necessary to move by car or a rental truck. For instance, if you are making a long-distance move or moving for a fleeting time, there is no need for a car. Instead, you can consider flying to your new home both easily and cost-effectively.
Flying to a new destination will definitely need hardcore planning, however, you can make it simple by reading our guide.
A few packing tips to move by plane
Ensure your carry luggage is light-weight and compact
Regardless of the weight of your checked baggage, most airline companies will charge you extra. To avoid this charge, passengers usually overload their carry-on baggage, including small backpacks and purses. This makes the carry-on baggage too heavy, heavier than the passengers carrying it. However, you shouldn't do this as the flight attendants would be checking your baggage before you board the flight.
We suggest you carry one light suitcase with you in the cabin which you can easily lift and put in the overhead bin. Apart from this you can take a purse or a laptop bag with you and place it under the seat just in front of you. However, make sure you have sufficient leg space so that you can stay comfortable during the entire journey.
Keep a close watch on your valuables
- Make sure you keep all your valuable possessions with you throughout the flight.
- Keep your vital documents like birth certificate, passport, or driver's license in a safe place in your carry-on baggage.
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Ensure you keep cash, pieces of jewelry, costly electronic gadgets, debit, and credit by your side throughout the flight.
Tip: If you don’t have sufficient space in your carry-on baggage, we recommend you transport them directly to your new address with the help of reliable courier services like FedEx or UPS.
Checklist for liquids
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Toiletries or full-size containers aren't allowed in the carry-on baggage, instead, you can put them in your checked baggage.
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You can carry personal care products of three ounces and less volume. Moreover, the liquid should be in clear bottles placed inside a quarter-size zip-loc bag.
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Medications, breast milk, and baby food can exceed three ounces, however, you must declare it at the time of inspection.
Flight Checklist for other miscellaneous items like a change of clothes, sleep-kit, and electronic gadgets
Here's what you can do to speed up your security check process:
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Ensure you keep all your electronic gadgets in an easily accessible place as you must present them for inspection. You may not want to keep other people waiting, while you are hunting for your mobile phone inside your bag.
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Don’t forget to keep your sleeping kit in case, as you might need it for taking a nap while you cross a few time zones. Your sleeping kit may include a u-shaped pillow, an eye mask to prevent light, and earplugs from stopping the outside noise, helping you enjoy a good sleep.
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Make sure you keep a pair of clothes in your carry-on baggage. It’s possible that your luggage may go missing and if this happens you have a changing cloth with you until you find the checked baggage.
Stay updated with the current airline regulations
You may be fined one day for carrying a product with you on the flight. While on some other day, your product might be confiscated due to new regulations. We suggest you stay updated with the latest protocols of the airlines you are travelling to and play smart.
Here are a few tips for you:
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Go to the Transport Security Administration website and stay at par with the latest airline rules.
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You may access detailed information about your travel, valid ID cards, disabled passengers, passengers with a medical condition, traveling with special products, restricted items, and other categories.
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Don’t forget to check the website for other additional rules that you might not want to miss.
You may not carry all possessions with you when moving by plane, especially if you have furniture or an entire household to move. Here are a few moving options you can consider:
Hire professional movers
It would be a worthy idea to hire professional movers to make your long-distance move successful. When you move by plane, the movers will move your belongings to your new home, and this can possibly reduce your stress. We recommend you consult with the moving company in advance, get the moving estimate from them, and split your tasks into smaller and easier ones. Moreover, you can make use of a moving calculator to find out your moving estimate and have an idea of how much money you would be required to invest in this move.
Temporary storage option
If you want a few of your important possessions to arrive before you to your new home, we suggest you book a local storage unit in your new location and transport your belongings there. Perhaps you can seek the help of your moving company to sort out dates for moving some possessions in advance and plan some extra loads for the moving day.
Alternatively, you can opt for shipping your cargo by boat or small-courier companies that we have mentioned earlier. Make sure you conduct comprehensive research on multiple international shipping options and save yourself from spending more money than required.
Ship your belongings ahead of time
Regardless of where you are relocating, it will take a few days for your belongings to reach your destination. In a nutshell, you will reach before the arrival of your belongings, even if you are moving within the same country.
When you are moving by plane, here’s how the moving companies transport your belongings:
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Since you can’t take all your items when you are moving by flight, moving companies will most likely transport them by sea or by a commercial plane.
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Of course, door-to-door shipping is a time-consuming option, however, it would be the best moving option for your belongings, when you are traveling by air.
Declutter your belongings
Purging your belongings before a long-distance move is essential, regardless of whether you are shipping your entire belongings separately or trying to accommodate all your possessions in a suitcase. Overall, this will make the whole moving process easier and minimize the weight of your shipment. This will reduce your shipping cost, making the decluttering step essential.
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It would be a worthwhile idea to freshen your wardrobe, substitute old furniture and improve your electronic gadgets.
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You can sell the items that you don't use or need anymore if it's in good condition otherwise throw them away.
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However, if you want to do good for others, you can donate some of your belongings to charitable organizations like Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity.
Now that you have made all the preparations and boarded your flight, here’s how you can keep yourself entertained and enjoy a comfortable flight.
Tips to relax on the flight
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Read your favorite books or a new book that you might have brought specifically for the flight.
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Watch a movie or television series on your smartphone or portable DVD player. This will pass your time smoothly until your destination arrives.
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Initiate a conversation with a person sitting next to you and successfully kill your boredom. Who knows, they might turn out to be your lifelong friend, spouse, or business partner.
Moving with pets
There are several restrictions on moving by plane with your dog, cat, or any other pet animal. We suggest you contact the airline company in advance to find out about these restrictions. Every country has different rules, you must research them in advance to avoid hassles at the last moment.
Moving with cars
If you are moving by plane and have a car to move, you can hire a professional auto transport company to ship it safely. However, if you have to make an international move, you must ship your car by sea.
Ensure you have taken the right decision
Now you must have a clear idea of how your experience would be moving by plane. However, have you taken the right decision? Here’s what you need to know:
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If you are going to fly a long distance, moving by plane would make sense.
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Check the number of possessions you need to move and accordingly decide if you want to move by car or flight.
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Calculate the distance between your new home and old home from the airport. If your new house is at a convenient distance from the airport, travelling by plane could be the best option for you.
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If you don't have sufficient time on hand to move to a new location, considering a flight would be an ideal option for you.
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Moving with kids or an elderly family member makes flight a sensible moving option for you.
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What is your budget? You must check if taking a flight suits the budget or not, mostly when you are travelling during the holiday season or other peak times.
Flying to your new house is overall a stressful job until you have a detailed plan ready to make your move easier. Moreover, you need to do good research on what you can take with you on the flight and what you ship separately. Of course, moving by the plan would be the most convenient option for you as you can reach quickly to your new destination. However, there are several things you must consider before you decide to move by flight to your new house. Don’t fall into the trap of a big expense, when you have other cheaper options that will help you make a safe and smooth move.