Keep the nightmare out of flying

Take healthful snacks, and stay well-hydrated.

A hungry, thirsty traveler is a cranky traveler, so make sure you have something tucked away in case you’re doing some tarmac time, says Dr. Michael Zimring, coauthor of “Healthy Travel.”

Leave yourself plenty of time.

The clock makes a mockery of plans that depend on perfection. Therefore, fool yourself into thinking your flight is earlier than it is; traffic, long lines at check-in and that nitwit in front of you at security who’s wearing lace-up hip boots that have to be untied are just waiting to trip you up.

Consider traveling by private jet.

If you can’t afford to own a jet, you can charter one, become part of a fractional ownership group or buy time on a private jet card. You may even be able to fly the “empty legs” of a charter — that is, when the jet is on its way back empty

Choose your airline based on service, not on price.

Southwest is an industry leader in customer satisfaction surveys, but it also has its detractors. The important thing is to choose an airline you like and try to forget about fares.

Fly nonstop when you can.

When you have a stop or you have to connect, your chances of flight delays increase. If you have to take a direct or connecting flight, consider the airport where it stops and factor in weather. In winter, for instance, a Chicago connection might come with snow. In summer, if you’re routed through any place in the South, severe thunderstorms often equal tarmac time. (Bad weather can happen anywhere, of course.)

Embrace your inner Edmund Hillary.

Travel is supposed to be an adventure; it’s definitely a privilege. Only the arrogant believe that inconveniences won’t happen to them, or, as a clergyman once said to me, “Did you believe your life would be without problems?” Besides, trips that go perfectly don’t always make for good stories.

Act like a Girl Scout and be prepared.

We expect the airlines to anticipate problems and have a contingency plan for when things go wrong, and we berate them when they don’t. But do we? For instance, did you actually remember to pack your medications, clean underwear, toothbrush and toothpaste in your carry-on bag?

Get an iPod.

Credit Paul Reynolds, vice president of sales and marketing for Maybourne Hotel Group, www.maybourne.com, of London, with this idea for blotting out the bad side of travel. Download some relaxation podcasts too. If you’re not an iPod person, try noise-canceling headphones.

Make sure you get enough sleep the night before.

Easy to say but not always easy to do, especially if you’re rushing or you’re excited. But, says author Zimring, with adequate sack time, “you have better resistance” — to colds, to germs and maybe even to nasty people.

Finally, fuhgeddaboudit.

A bad coast-to-coast flight is five hours out of your week; you still have 163 others to regain your balance, whether it’s by smelling the roses, seeing an art exhibit or listening to great music. You can pick a fight, but remember, it’s your prerogative to choose which ditch you want to die in. Is this the one?