15 Airport Mistakes You Don't Realize You're Making

Follow these under-rated airport tips to avoid headaches! Click "show more" to see links mentioned in this video and ad disclosure 👇
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What do you think about these air travel tips and thing to avoid? Let me know in the comments any other airport mistakes you can think of!
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🔴 C H A P T E R S:
0:00 Never do these things in the airport
0:22 Taking pics
1:25 Being antisocial
3:20 Boarding at the wrong time
4:08 Eating these foods
4:59 Trusting airline workers
6:20 Wearing headphones
7:08 Storing passport wrong
8:15 Forgetting transport plan
9:17 Forgetting internet plan
10:00 What not to do with phone in airport
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🟣 A L I T T L E A B O U T U S
Heyo! Mitch and Day here 👋🏼
We’re just your typical American-Colombian couple determined to live every second of our precious time here on earth to the fullest. After a 10-month solo backpacking trip through South America, I (Mitch) stopped in Cali, Colombia to take salsa dancing classes 💃🏻. I only planned to stay for a couple weeks, but God had other plans for me. I met a cute Colombian girl (Day) in class, those couple weeks turned into a couple years, and before we knew it...we were married 👰🏻🤵🏼
Now we’re traveling the world full time as digital nomads, supporting ourselves by working online 👨‍💻👩‍💻
Our goal with these videos is to inspire you to step outside your comfort zone, give you an inside peek at our crazy imperfect lives, and show you that you don’t have to be rich to live an extraordinary life...all you need to do is make the choice!
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Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. Project Untethered does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.

[@ProjectUntethered]

What are some interesting mistakes you've seen (or done) in the airport? Share 'em in the comments to help others! 👇

[@mentonerodominicano]

Speaking of passports, a lot of people still don't know that many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months, so always have a reminder to renew your passport in due time. Depending on which country you are travelling to, the six-month period may begin from the date you leave that country or the date you arrive. The validity period could sometimes be shorter, but if you can renew you passport easily, it's not worth the risk.

[@ProjectUntethered]

That's a great reminder, thanks for sharing! 🤓

[@dave.in.oregon]

I always have and always will go to my gate first, then backtrack to find a restaurant/bar/lounge/seat nearby so I'm never stuck in the "rush to find the gate and get caught by a random security check". Of course that doesn't help if the gate changes although commonly gate changes are in the same terminal so it's not a huge difference.

[@blindpilot3849]

THIS! We always do this as it's much easier to backtrack to find some place to eat and for entertainment and no stress this way.

[@ProjectUntethered]

So smart! I'll be using this tip next time. I think I'm normally too busy thinking getting to the lounge so I can eat 😂

[@blindpilot3849]

​​@@ProjectUntethered I think you can still do that and then find the lounge while timing how far it is from gate to lounge. (If bigger international airports they usually have an app which is very handy showing you where you are and how to get from A to B in how many minutes) I plan and look up all these things beforehand and not on the departure day self as not to stress myself out😅

[@priceandpride]

Especially at gates with shared waiting areas

[@shelaghjackson9577]

I check each electronic board when I pass them, as I have also had gate changes close to flight time. Especially in huge airports.

[@ProjectUntethered]

Very wise!

[@pinkfreud62]

I learned my lesson about greasy foods before a flight. Now I keep food light & take an anti gas gel before boarding, lol. Also I tried to get flights with at least a 2 hr min. layover because I'm 61 with a bad back so having time to get to my gate is a must if I can't get a courtesy cart taxi.

[@ProjectUntethered]

Smart move with the anti gas gels haha - I need to try those!

[@petek5523]

@@ProjectUntetheredGas-X is my go to for gas relief 😅, but I never thought of taking one before my flight! Brilliant 🎉😊

[@dotted8-]

I made the mistake of having one of those smoothies in the airport made with real fruit; man, what a miserable flight…

[@ProjectUntethered]

@petek5523 adding it to my packing list! :)

[@ProjectUntethered]

@dotted8 making a mental note to avoid airport fruit smoothies!

[@terenceada9140]

Getting the lay of the land on getting out of the arrival airport is super important. Great video!

[@ProjectUntethered]

It really is!

[@kiyoshitakeda452]

Definite yes on passport handling in airports. A loss is a big problem. Thanks for the tips.

[@ProjectUntethered]

Yeah losing your passport before a flight would be a disaster!

[@juliewood823]

Thanks soooo much for sharing!!! Appreciate you

[@davidj7516]

Thank you for your time and posting.

[@backpackingbold]

as always , very helpful video. thank you!

[@starky88]

As a female solo traveller, I find it extremely uncomfortable when random men try to start up a conversation with me on a flight or at the gate because i am sitting alone, especially if they are travelling alone. I understand it may be innocent, but because i am alone, i am extremely cautious. I wear headphones to deter this.

[@ProjectUntethered]

That's a good point, I never thought of that perspective! I guess you should always use good judgement and try to read the situation.

[@victoriamcdevitt7610]

When I travel alone I casually mention in any conversation with a stranger that I'm meeting my husband or a bunch of friends at my flight destination. If the stranger has any nefarious motives, they will believe I will not be alone once we've landed and I won't be an easy target.

[@mathewmclean9128]

And another interesting thing that I witnessed happened in 2018 when I was in the Portland Oregon airport. I had a long layover and witnessed something interesting in the men's room. In one of the stalls, there was a shelf above the toilet where you could put bags and stuff on. So I look up and I see a passport, a cell phone and a boarding pass on that shelf and at this point there was no one else in the restroom. So I finish up, wash my hands and then go back into the stall and grab this property. I then drop it off at an information desk and the two ladies working there looked at me like they were shocked. I should have looked at the boarding pass to see if the person was arriving or about to depart the US. Wonder if they ever got their property back.

[@wb8ert]

On a flight from the EU back to the US, I sat next to Max von Sydow, so yes, the person beside you could be fascinating. Unfortunately, the noise from the plane (this was in the 1980s, Northwest Airlines First Class) made it difficult to talk to other passengers.

[@marycolmenar1633]

When it comes to layover, I learned that selecting longer layover is better if possible greater than 3 hours. This will give enough time to go through the airport and figure out which gate your next flight is. Just this past year I entrusted my flights to the tour company and they picked a layover less than 4 hours, that was a close call for me. The connecting flight was delayed and eventually cancelled so I ended up falling in a long line to get another flight and catch the 3rd leg of my journey. Never again.

[@JacobCR717]

Nice vid

[@user-qi1rf4ve9u]

Great content as usual ❤

[@ProjectUntethered]

Appreciate it! 😇

[@JohnSmith-bz9be]

Great job!

[@ProjectUntethered]

Thank you! 🙏

[@random-ey7zx]

I'm soon flying to Japan and have been binge watching your content those past few weeks 😭 You're the man! Love from France

[@ProjectUntethered]

Thanks for the kind words - let me know how Japan goes, I've been itching to go there!

[@LoftT]

very nice video! Greedings from Athens, Greece!

[@ElijahNetzel]

I splurged for my first international trip. Got premi economy tickets and it includes access to the lounge :D Turn thirty in October and then off to a Japan in November! Been dreaming off this trip since I was a kid!

[@ProjectUntethered]

That's so awesome! Don't forget to talk to people! 😉

[@petepinal8415]

Thx for an awesome blog, that was super informative, 👍🏼😎😉!!! How about adding to it, “never, ever, never” land in the middle of the night, period!!! Especially, if landing in a foreign country, 👍🏼😉😎.

[@ProjectUntethered]

It's definitely not ideal...but sometimes unavoidable!

[@jalabi99]

7:10 my passport is always in a passport holder slung on my neck & slipped inside my shirt.

[@britney7034]

Hi, is the USB condom/adapter listed in your video description compatible with iPhone 13 charger? Thanks

[@PREPFORIT]

Always good info.

[@Kong-kg6ij]

What is that map behind you? Very cool.

[@marycharleson3320]

I just started traveling two years ago and called the airline to find out how much time they thought you needed for international flights returns to go through customs and TSA if going to a connecting flight. They told me at least 2 1/2 hours so I am going to look for a return flight at least at least 3 1/2 hours so that I don’t panic Thank you so much for all your valuable information

[@ProjectUntethered]

Good idea - better safe than sorry!

[@nyc1164]

I myself almost got in trouble with security in Australia. I had my gopro attach to my backpack which I was carrying and ask me if it was on. Luckily turned it off before I went through security so I told them no, it was off. As for connecting flights, my advise is to reserve flights that has a layover for 2 hours or more. Especially if you have check bags. I heard it takes at least 30 minutes for the bags to get from one plane to the next.

[@ProjectUntethered]

Yeah I used to always want shots of the security area to use in KZbin videos, but was scared to take them. Then when researching this video, I realized that it says right on the TSA website that recording is aloud as long as you're not holding up the process. But every country is different! Glad you didn't get in trouble by the way!

[@Desi_Des]

I went through TSA in Kansas City and they decided to check me again and made me miss my flight. I was so ticked off!!! Had to get a later 2 hour flight

[@ProjectUntethered]

So annoying!!

[@theinspiredhomedecor]

After running in heels for a short connecting flight, if I have a layover I opt for a longer layover.

[@rezjrprod]

Question.. Have you flown Lufthansa? I'm a photog and I'm a bit worried about my carry-on..I gotta take my great and batteries on and the batteries might put me over.. Did they weigh your carry on?

[@ProjectUntethered]

I have flown Lufthansa, but not recently and I can't really remember. Maybe someone else here in the comments has a more recent experience!

[@rezjrprod]

@@ProjectUntethered it's kinda catch 22 they want photogs to bring their batteries in the cabin but then that puts us over the 8kg limit.. Lufthansa has a 8kg overhead limit..

[@kevinquinn1993]

I flew Lufthansa in March of 2023. I went carry-on only. I was aware of their weight restrictions but no one weighed my bag. If you're traveling with a companion, you could have them hold your carry-on if you check baggage, to avoid them weighing it, . Not recommendable to ask a stranger to watch your bag under any circumstances though. You could also consider carrying your batteries in a fanny pack, they never weigh those.

[@sr9802]

Hi, thank you for this and your other videos. I do not see the link for the adapter or USB condom that you called it. Could you please let me know the link? Thank you.

[@ProjectUntethered]

Here's one with lots of reviews! amzn.to/4dDuFgD

[@sr9802]

@@ProjectUntethered thank you!

[@Hello_Vuitton]

I’m traveling to Thailand in July international roaming is too expensive for AT&T so what is the best thing to do ?

[@ProjectUntethered]

I'd get an eSIM. Airalo eSIMs offer an unlimited plan that's quite affordable in Thailand, feel free to use my affiliate link if you'd like 😇 bit.ly/3IlWfkX (you can get free credits with code MITCH9827) or Nomad eSIM has options for cheaper smaller plans: bit.ly/3RM8hYb (25% off with code UNTETHER)

[@Hello_Vuitton]

@@ProjectUntethered ok thank you ! I will get it before I go in July so how it will take to get to me the eSIM?

[@goytabr]

@@ProjectUntethered, remember that only high-end phones support eSIMs. Even iPhones didn't support them until a couple of generations back, and there are still many people using older phones. I believe that Samsung only supports them in the flagship S models, not in the very popular midrange A, M, and FE series. People should check whether their phone model supports eSIMs, but if it doesn't, there are international SIM companies that use physical SIM cards. In that case, however, one needs to take the shipping time into account. In the end, they might need to buy a local prepaid SIM card - and then be sure to only buy them at official sellers. There are many scammers who offer fake SIM cards for sale at airports and border towns. Anyway, I find it wise not to count on using the phone on arrival in a new country. Lots of things can go wrong, and you may not be able to use the Internet or make calls at the airport or border when you arrive. Do the required research before the flight and don't depend on any information (or worse, documentation) that will need to be downloaded to your phone. Always take screenshots beforehand, or better yet, good old-fashioned paper prints. Talking about that, I know of a couple who almost became a Tom Hanks duo in immigration limbo in India (of all places). They were about to depart at night from Delhi (to Istanbul, I think), checked in on the Web, had no checked bags, and went straight to security with their boarding passes on their phones - only to find out that virtual boarding passes are not accepted in India because their bureaucratic procedures require a paper boarding pass to be stamped by security. They couldn't find anyone to print their boarding passes on paper at the airport, their flight was leaving, and they were on the last valid day of their visas, so they couldn't go back to the city. They missed their flight, lost their ticket money and the paid hotel at their destination, and had to spend a little fortune on last-minute tickets to a third country (Oman) that they didn't intend to visit (and luckily Oman didn't require a consular visa for them, which would have been an additional problem) PLUS an onward ticket (to be admitted into Oman), simply because it was the only international flight about to depart that they could take, and they HAD to leave India that night! They ended up sorting out the problem (and loved Oman), but only after a lot of stress and losing thousands of dollars. All because they relied on their phones.

[@TheSimArchitect]

At some airports they only have assistance for disabled, I was shocked at Heathrow Airport when I saw employees carrying disabled people on manual wheelchairs instead of the electric golf carts or buggies that are so common in the United States. I guess that air company employee did that to you so you'd never ask for that service again, otherwise he should have strolled you to the correct gate and even used the radio if necessary.

[@ProjectUntethered]

The funny thing is, I didn't ask for the service! He was waiting at the gate when I got off holding a sign saying I needed to go with him. I later realized that my real gate was only a few gates down from where I deboarded 🤦🏻‍♂️ Live and ya learn I guess!

[@TheSimArchitect]

@@ProjectUntethered Yes! I heard there's an actual service you can get from your air line in advance when a connection is too tight. To be honest, whenever able, I prefer a long one, even if I am bored and tired, to avoid rushing. Sometimes you even have to go through security, customs etc.

[@ProjectUntethered]

Yeah I totally get that. Long ones can definitely be nice. I was on quite a long trajectory from Nepal > Istanbul > Panama > Colombia, so the short layovers allowed me to get back all in one (long) day. Well....I WOULD'VE made it back if it weren't for that guy...🙄

[@kevinquinn1993]

@@ProjectUntethered The same thing happened to me at Frankfurt International Airport in 2011. They didn't have a person waiting for me specifically, but they had made an announcement on the plane advising anyone with my connecting flight to "check with an airline representative" to see where the gate was, because it had been changed. So I asked the lady who was standing there in the airline uniform and she sent me down to Terminal A all the way at the other end of the airport. I had landed in Terminal D. When I got to Terminal A I saw that a different flight was scheduled at that gate! I had to walk all the way from one end of the airport to the other TWICE. My connecting flight had literally been moved to the gate RIGHT NEXT to the one I had gotten off the other flight from! Since then I always check the screens...

[@TheSimArchitect]

@@ProjectUntethered Remember it is now just a "nice(?)" memory. I missed an entire flight once like one of mine when AirCanada didn't let me pay extra to send an overweight suitcase and by the time I reduced it their 1 hour before minimum was expired and I had returned my rented car and the next flight Toronto to Guarulhos was only 24 hours later. 🤪

[@priceandpride]

People that put their small items in the overhead bin are the worst

[@tdadp]

My biggest tip of flying airplane always buy a Gatorade to avoid any dehydrated and drink water

[@ProjectUntethered]

Ooo that's a good one! I'm always torn because I want to take advantage of the free alcohol in the lounge, but I also don't want to get dehydrated and feel crappy haha.

[@alexafernandez5743]

Better buy electrolytes packs and mix them with water , no need to pay for them at the airport ,cost way less and will be good after a night out drinking or if you get any stomach issues during vacation

[@mentonerodominicano]

Nepal to Colombia? Damn. That is quite the route. 😅 Also, that is so messed up that the airline would send an employee to help you out, and they totally screw you over. Like what is the point? Run? Was he even an employee of the airline? And yes, as much as I want to forget about the world around me, I'm always alert to any announcements at the gate. You never know what could happen.

[@ProjectUntethered]

Yeah it was quite the trip! Fortunately that employee ordeal was the only hiccup. They did end up giving me a hotel to wait for the next day's flight, but at that point, I was 26.5 hours into a 28 hour trip...sooo close to being home in my own bed...so it was just annoying that I had to wait an extra night. But if I've learned anythign while traveling, it's that you gotta just go with the flow! I'm totally with you about wanting to forget the outside world. I suppose if you're really early it wouldn't be a problem, but it's riskier the closer you get to your flight time. One time I screwed myself over because I thought I read that my flight was at 4:00 (pm) but it was really at 14:00 (I didn't see the 1), so I thought I had two hours to kill, but then they started calling my name on the intercom 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@mentonerodominicano]

@ProjectUntethered I'm glad they kinda made it up to you with the hotel, but it obviously doesn't beat getting home on time. That was a very avoidable mistake on their part. Yikes! I hope you made it into that 2pm flight. Those date and time format changes across countries make you second guess even your own birth date. 😅

[@redhatbear1135]

Note that in CDG the wheelchairs are brought down to the gate AFTER the plane is empty! Internationally that can be problematic!

[@nedkelly2035]

effing gate may change 3-4 times!

[@Quantus91]

nice video, but the part about the food is just wrong!!! on a flight, i wanna fart as often as possible! especially when a toddler is nearby. They usually are blamed for causing the smell

[@ProjectUntethered]

😂😂😂

[@michelleevans9869]

Always exercise your rights in filming at airports. Don’t let TSA bully your first amendment rights. Nuff said. BTW I use to do the same and didn’t want to stand in line for 30 minutes while boarding and same thing happened to me. Lesson learned . Great video

[@ProjectUntethered]

Live and ya learn!

[@joyhuebert1219]

The physical SIM card was a big problem. Although the staff person for Lebara said it would work in Turkey, it did not work at all. Customer service was completely useless

[@ProjectUntethered]

Yeah they're nice when they work, but when they don't, it can be a nightmare. A lot of eSIM companies also have pretty bad customer service - Holafly had the fastest human response time of the 10 companies I tested.

[@greggorr314]

Power banks (external batteries) are prohibited on several airlines. Safety & reliability have gone by the wayside in recent years, and this has not escaped the check-in agents' attention.

[@ProjectUntethered]

The last time I checked, they just had to be under 27,000mAh (which is quite huge), but maybe it varies by airport.

[@maryamcoco3683]

Please keep your wife's photos in a secret locked folder 👀. My God you missed your flight 😮

[@ProjectUntethered]

Hindsight is 20/20! 😂

[@MrHmjg]

don't run in airports...may cause security panic!

[@ProjectUntethered]

Sounds like you might have a story to share!