Keep informed. Pay attention to the short- and long-range weather forecasts for your departure and arrival cities. Check your flight status with your travel agent or at the airline’s website. Reconfirm your flights at least 24 hours in advance, and leave a telephone number with the reservation agent. While you’re on the phone, double-check that your special requests (boarding assistance, for example) have been noted and passed along to the correct department. If your airline offers online check-in and allows you to print out your boarding pass at home, take advantage of that service. If not, consider using or a self-service check-in, computerized kiosk inside the terminal. Don’t be shy; ask for help from an airline customer service rep if you need it.

Stay healthy. Start drinking a few extra glasses of water the morning of departure and maintain a healthy fluid intake throughout the day. Dry mucous membranes are susceptible to cracking, which allows germs to enter your bloodstream more easily. Take a small bottle of hand-sanitizer gel along and use it frequently, especially before eating and after touching public surfaces or handling money. Bring your own clean travel pillow and blanket for naps. And plan for delays by packing your own bottled water and snacks. Dried fruit, cereal bars, pepperoni sticks, even small containers of Boost or Ensure nutritional drinks take very little space, require no refrigeration and will help you get through the day.

Think early, not late. Morning flights are a safer bet than late-day departures since weather or mechanical delays can build over the course of a day causing flights to become increasingly overbooked. If you’re flexible, you can use this to your advantage by agreeing to be "voluntarily bumped" in exchange for compensation (credit for a future flight, for example). But most holiday travellers would prefer to get where they’re going, which is why it makes sense to avoid involuntary bumping by booking an early flight and arriving at the airport at least two hours prior to take-off (three hours for overseas destinations) to allow time to check-in, receive a boarding pass and clear security. If you plan to park your car at the airport, leave additional time to find a spot; space is at a premium during these peak travel periods. And if you’ve reserved a rental car at your destination, try to present yourself as early as possible for the best selection. If possible, deputize one family member to collect the luggage and send the driver directly to the car rental counter on arrival.

Remember the paperwork. Leave a copy of your itinerary, your e-ticket receipt or your printed confirmation with a friend or family member. Pack a second copy in each of your checked bags, and include the telephone number and address of your destination, so any lost luggage can be forwarded to you. Ensure that all bags, checked and carry-on, are properly tagged with your name and a contact number; a second identification tag should be placed inside the bag, too. Keep your airline-issued boarding document and proper photo I.D. (passport, driver’s license) handy to show at the security checkpoints. Likewise, you should always carry your travel agent’s phone number along with your cell phone, calling card or a fistful of change for the payphone, enabling you to quickly call for assistance if your flight is cancelled or you need to re-book.

Relax. When it comes to holiday travel, certain aspects are beyond your control — particularly weather delays and the sheer number of fellow travelers you’ll find filling the seats in airport lounges, hunting for luggage carts or lining up for gingerbread lattes. Come prepared, however, and the experience can be stress-free. Bring a good book, some music, a deck of cards and your generous holiday spirit.