Whether they are fragile or not, holiday gifts are susceptible to damage when they're being transported on commercial flights. Holiday travelers can employ various strategies to ensure gifts make it to their destinations in one piece.
- Place gifts in protective suitcases. Hard-shell suitcases are designed to withstand the wear and tear of air travel, as their hard surfaces can hold up to jostling and even being dropped, while protecting the items inside. Such suitcases are ideal for travelers who will be flying with fragile gifts this holiday season.
- Purchase travel insurance. Travel insurance provides inexpensive peace of mind for holiday travelers concerned about gifts being damaged or lost during their travels. In addition, some travel insurance policies might protect travelers against flight delays or cancellations, which are not unheard of during the often hectic holiday traveling season.
- Pack especially valuable gifts in carry-on luggage. Expensive gifts or those that carry strong sentimental value can be packed in carry-on luggage. Holiday travelers might find their trips less stressful if such gifts never leave their side, and placing these gifts in the overhead bins inside airplane cabins greatly reduces the risk that they will be damaged.
- Pack fragile gifts as if they were being shipped. Though it might take up more space inside a suitcase, packing gifts as if they were going to be shipped can decrease the likelihood that they will be damaged. Wrap gifts in thick plastic or bubble wrap before placing them inside a box with packing peanuts. Once these precautionary measures have been taken, travelers can then make room for the gifts within their suitcases. Travelers who remain concerned even after taking these steps can go one step further by surrounding packages inside the suitcase with thick clothing, such as sweaters, that can serve as a final layer of protection.
Flying with holiday gifts may expose them to damage, but savvy travelers can take several steps to ensure their loved ones' gifts arrive at their destinations safe and sound.
