5 secrets to a peaceful flight

People travelling by air will likely some sort of challenge, but with these tips you may just be able to have a calmer, more comfortable flight.

Pack your allergy medication in your carry-on bag in case your seat mates have cat dander or other allergens on their clothes.

• Try putting a dot of antibacterial ointment on the inside of your nose to protect you from all the contaminants swirling around the air in the cabin.

You probably can't change seats to get away from a chatty neighbour, but you can put on the headphones you brought to signal your need for silence. You can also feign sleep. Either way, your seat mate should get the hint.

If the child behind you can't seem to keep quiet, give her your airsickness bag and a pen and ask her to make a hand puppet out of it, draw a self-portrait on it or write a story on it about her trip so far.

Not only will you get special savings when you rent a car, you'll also get to bypass the long lines at rental-car counters, meaning you won't have to wait around for extra time after a long day of flying.

Don't let lost luggage make a day of travel even longer. Since every traveller seems to have the same rectangular, black suitcase at baggage claim, consider buying an unusually colourful bag or wrap decorative ribbons around the handle of your current suitcase.

• Be sure to take off old tags from recent flights, and confirm at check-in that the new tag will send your luggage to your final destination, not to your layover.

Most of the time, you will run into one snag or another while travelling, but with a little patience and preparation, you can make the trip as enjoyable as possible.