There are plenty of things you can do to mess up your flight. And we’ve done ‘em all, at one time or another. And made life miserable. If you’re an occasional Drama Queen or King, read on…

by Suzanne Robertson

The Dumb List

Our advice: read the following Top 10 list, then read and opt for one of the better alternatives. You’ll be a much happier camper, and your flight will go smoother. And isn’t that what its all about?

1. Dumb - LOSE YOUR DOCUMENTS: Where is my passport, ID, boarding pass? Have you been brought to your knees to paw through a bag for important documents? If so, you know that disorganization is the evil nemesis of all travelers, as well as a time-waster.

• BETTER IDEA - Try a pre-board pouch to keep all your essential travel documents in one place. The hang-around-the-neck look is a tad nerdish but so what? You’re organized!

2. Dumb - HAVE INAPPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR: Those over-the-knee chocolate brown lace-up suede Manolo Blahnik boots are to DIE for. You look awesome. But try taking them off at the security check-point. Just try.

• BETTER IDEA - Wear easy-on, easy-off shoes; if you don’t like the idea of being barefoot on the cold airport floor, eschew flip-flops for clogs with socks.

3. Dumb - BE A JERK: Passenger-A yells, waves his boarding pass and demands answers. Guess what? Sometimes airline reps take their revenge.

• BETTER IDEA - Stay cool; be polite (but persistent if need be). Passenger-A is angry, Passenger-B is calm: who would you rather help?

4. Dumb - BE CLUELESS ABOUT RIGHTS: Your flights delayed and you miss your connection, or your flights been canceled altogether. You shrug your shoulders. You wonder what to do next.

• BETTER IDEA - Print out (and have with you) your airlines Conditions (or Contracts) of Carriage; you can find many of them here. This document will tell you your rights and what the airlines will (or will try to) do for you in a variety of problematic situations. Might also be a good idea to have with you a list of hotels and a list of rental car agencies in case you do have to fend for yourself.

5. Dumb - BRING TABOO ITEMS ABOARD: Say goodbye to that $100 bottle of fancy face-cream in your carry-on; if it exceeds the 3-ounces, it will be tossed in the trash.

• BETTER IDEA - Get yourself up-to-date on the latest TSA travel size requirements and you might check into those TSA Approved travel kits. Also check stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond; many have travel sections with a wide array of regulation-friendly bottles and other containers.

6. Dumb - SHOW UP LATE: A flight is not a cocktail party; there are no points awarded for arriving fashionably late. In fact, if you’re not at the gate by the time boarding begins, your seat may be given away, UNLESS, you’ve had the foresight to check-in at home and printed out that all-important boarding pass.

• BETTER IDEA - Show up EARLY. The days of blithely running through an airport came to an end forever with 9/11. Airlines say arrive 2-hours before your flight, and at peak days and times at airports such as JFK and LaGuardia, you may need every minute. If you do wind up with some extra time on your hands, well, thats why they invented People magazine.

7. Dumb - BELIEVE “BIGGER IS BETTER”: Bigger isn’t better, when it comes to carry-on bags. Did you know most are limited to 40-pounds? And all are limited in size?

• BETTER IDEA - Confirm carry-on size limitations with your airline (sizes do vary) before you pack. Go to the airline’s website, find out the allowable dimensions, then measure your bag (and remember, wheels count in calculating dimension). You can find more useful information on LuggageGuy.com and what looks to be a snappy array of regulation-sized carry-on bags.

8. Dumb - ASSUME FOOD WILL BE SERVED: Haven’t flown in awhile, have you? You’re lucky to get a tiny pack of pretzels these days. And when food is available, on most flights, you pay for it.

• BETTER IDEA - Here’s a handy guide that tells you what various airlines have in the way of sustenance, be it free-food, pay-for-food, or no-food. But call the airline to confirm; these things change quickly. Your best bet? BYO, as in, bring-your-own or buy-your-own. TIP: Call your local supermarket the day before you fly to order a boxed lunch you can pick-up on your way to the airport. Just remember, don’t bring a drink; buy it in the gate area, or get it on the plane.

9. Dumb - CHECKING FIFI AS BAGGAGE IN THE SUMMER: If you’re traveling with pets, check with your airline first! There are new restrictions; United Airlines, for example, will no longer accept Boston Terriers, Pugs, Boxers and other short-nosed breeds as checked-baggage during the summer months. And American Airlines won’t accept MOST dogs as checked baggage if ground-temperatures anywhere on the itinerary are above 85-degrees or below 45-degrees Farenheit.

• BETTER IDEA - Bring the animal on-board as carry-on luggage, but again, check with the airlines for weight and container size restrictions; if Fifi’s too big, Fifi should stay home.

10. Dumb - FORGET TO CHARGE YOUR BATTERIES: Not vital, unless you’re delayed and stuck in the gate area for hours; laptops and cells don’t work well with dead batteries.

• BETTER IDEA - Charge all batteries the night before (and pack your charger), OR fly an airline with plug-in power outlets at every seat such as Virgin America.

Don’t play dumb; act smart and you’ll have the best flying experience possible. And so will your fellow passengers.