The holiday travel season can be hectic, stressful and devoid of cheer. Wintry weather can ruin plans, massive crowds can cause claustrophobia and an overabundance of family time can induce some headaches.



  • Thou shalt check thy flight status regularly and monitor weather before arriving at the airport.

  • Thou shalt not be verbally or physically abusive to TSA agents.

  • Thou shalt leave home early, arrive at the airport early and allot ample time for security and pre-flight snack-buying.

  • Thou shalt pack wisely -- no overweight luggage, no liquids in carry-ons, etc.

  • Thou shalt make a budget for thy holiday adventure.

  • Thou shalt not gripe excessively about lines, crowds and delays (everyone is in the same boat).

  • Thou shalt pack earplugs to tune out crying children and those that did not get the "no griping" memo.

  • Thou shalt be kind to fellow travelers and airport/airline employees.

  • Thou shalt eat wisely -- in and out of the airport.

  • Thou shalt have a backup travel plan.

  • Thou shalt stay calm in the face of cancelled flights, gridlock traffic and all other circumstances outside thy control.

  • Thou shalt have a drink to calm thy nerves -- but thou shalt not overdo it.

  • Thou shalt grin and bear it during conversations with nosy family members and airplane seatmates.

  • Thou shalt take deep breaths.

  • Thou shalt remember the holiday season will be over soon. Thankfully it occurs just once a year.





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  • Christmas in Bosnia


    Bosnian Croats attend A Christmas Mass at Sarajevo4S Cathedral of The Heart Of Jesus, early on December 25, 2012. AFP PHOTO / ELVIS BARUKCIC (Photo credit should read ELVIS BARUKCIC/AFP/Getty Images)




  • Christmas in Berlin


    Members of the ice swimming club Berlin Seals attend the annual Christmas swimming at the partial frozen Oranke Lake in Berlin, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)




  • Christmas with the Royals


    Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (R) looks toward his wife Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (L) as they arrive for the Royal family Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham, Norfolk, in the east of England, on December 25, 2012. AFP PHOTO/LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)




  • Christmas In San Jose, CA


    Father Abe Anthony prays during Christmas Mass at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in San Jose, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)




  • Christmas in Myammar


    Myanmar Christians pray at Saint Marry Cathedral during a Christmas mass Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)




  • Christmas in Myammar


    Myanmar Christians attend a Christmas Mass at the Saint Marry Cathedral Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)




  • Christmas in Myamar


    Myanmar Christians gather outside the St. Anthony's Catholic Church illuminated on Christmas Day Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)




  • Christmas in Bethlehem


    Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, right, embraces Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as they attend Christmas Midnight Mass at Saint Catherine's Church in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, early Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Abed Al Hashlamoun, Pool)




  • Christmas in Bethlehem


    Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, center, holds the Baby Jesus in Saint Catherine's Church at the end of the Christmas Midnight Mass and leads the procession to the Grotto, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, at the nearby Church of the Nativity, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, early Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Abed Al Hashlamoun, Pool)




  • Christmas Bethlehem


    Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, center, holds the Baby Jesus in Saint Catherine's Church at the end of the Christmas Midnight Mass and leads the procession to the Grotto, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, at the nearby Church of the Nativity, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, early Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Abed Al Hashlamoun, Pool)




  • Christmas in Bethlehem


    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, attends Christmas Midnight Mass at Saint Catherine's Church in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, early Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Abed Al Hashlamoun, Pool)




  • Christmas in Afghanistan


    French soldiers and service members with the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) eat Christmas dinner at a dining facility at the U.S.-led coalition base in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)




  • Christmas at the Vatican


    Vatican Swiss guards stand attention before Pope Benedict XVI delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and to the World) in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI has wished Christmas peace to the world, decrying the slaughter of the "defenseless" in Syria and urging Israelis and Palestinians to find the courage to negotiate. Delivering the Vatican's traditional Christmas day message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, a weary-looking and hoarse-sounding Benedict on Tuesday also encouraged Arab spring nations, especially Egypt, to build just and respectful societies. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)




  • Christmas in Kabul


    Civilians in Santa Claus hats and service members with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) wait to be served Christmas dinner at a dining facility at the U.S.-led coalition base in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)




  • Christmas in Kabul


    Soldiers and civilians with the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) attend Chritmas mass at the U.S.-led coalition base in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)




  • Christmas in Kabul


    U.S. Army Chaplain Lt. Col. George Rzasowsk, center, leads a Christmas service for soldiers and service members with the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) at the U.S.-led coalition base in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)




  • Christmas in Bangladesh


    A man dressed as Santa Claus blesses a child at a Christmas Day party in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad)




  • A Christian nun prays during a Christmas mass at a Catholic Church in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad)




  • Rowan Williams


    Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams consecrates communion during his final Christmas Day sermon during the Christmas day service at Canterbury Cathedral, south eastern England, Tuesday Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/PA, Gareth Fuller) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE




  • Queen Elizabeth II


    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from children after attending the British royal family's traditional Christmas Day church service in Sandringham, England, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)




  • Lithuanian Christians prays during the Christmas mass at the Cathedral-Basilical in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, Dec 25, 2012. Over 80 percent of Lithuanians are Christians who celebrate the festival of Christmas on Dec. 25. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)




  • Christmas in Lithuania


    Lithuanian Christians prays during the Christmas mass at the Cathedral-Basilical in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, Dec 25, 2012. Over 80 percent of Lithuanians are Christians who celebrate the festival of Christmas on Dec. 25. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)




  • Christmas in Lithuania


    A worshipper lights a candle at the Cathedral-Basilica in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, Dec 25, 2012. Over 80 percent of Lithuanians are Christians who celebrate the festival of Christmas on Dec. 25. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)




  • Christmas in Sudan


    Sudanese Christians attend Christmas mass in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)




  • Christmas in Bethlehem


    Nuns and worshipers pray during mass in at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)




  • Christmas in Sudan


    Sudanese Christians hold Christmas mass in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)




  • Christmas at the Vatican


    In this photo provided by Vatican paper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and to the World) message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI wished Christmas peace to the world, decrying the slaughter of the "defenseless" in Syria and urging Israelis and Palestinians to find the courage to negotiate. Delivering the Vatican's traditional Christmas day message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, a weary-looking and hoarse-sounding Benedict on Tuesday also encouraged Arab spring nations, especially Egypt, to build just and respectful societies. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)




  • Christmas at the Vatican


    In this photo provided by Vatican paper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and to the World) message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI wished Christmas peace to the world, decrying the slaughter of the "defenseless" in Syria and urging Israelis and Palestinians to find the courage to negotiate. Delivering the Vatican's traditional Christmas day message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, a weary-looking and hoarse-sounding Benedict on Tuesday also encouraged Arab spring nations, especially Egypt, to build just and respectful societies. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)




  • Christmas in Indonesia


    Indonesian devotees hold holy water inside clay water containers as they attend a traditional Javanese Christmas mass in Klaten, Central Java, Indonesia, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Gembong Nusantara)




  • Christmas in Iraq


    Iraqi Christians light candles to make wishes after a Christmas mass at Virgin Mary Chaldean Church in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Iraqi Christians gathered for Christmas services amid tight security. The exact number of Christians remaining in Iraq is not known, but it has fallen sharply from as many as 1.4 million before the U.S.-led invasion nearly a decade ago. Community leaders believe there are about 400,000 to 600,000 Christians left in the country, according to figures from the U.S. State Department. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)




  • Christmas in Iraq


    Iraqi Christians light candles to make wishes after a Christmas mass at St. Joseph's Chaldean Church in central Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Iraqi Christians gathered for Christmas services amid tight security. The exact number of Christians remaining in Iraq is not known, but it has fallen sharply from as many as 1.4 million before the U.S.-led invasion nearly a decade ago. Community leaders believe there are about 400,000 to 600,000 Christians left in the country, according to figures from the U.S. State Department. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)




  • Christmas in Iraq


    Chaldean priest Louis al-Shabi address the faithful during a Christmas mass in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Iraqi Christians gathered for Christmas services amid tight security. The exact number of Christians remaining in Iraq is not known, but it has fallen sharply from as many as 1.4 million before the U.S.-led invasion nearly a decade ago. Community leaders believe there are about 400,000 to 600,000 Christians left in the country, according to figures from the U.S. State Department. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)




  • Christmas in England


    Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams leaves Canterbury Cathedral after delivering his final Christmas Day sermon at the Christmas day service in Canterbury Cathedral, England, Tuesday Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/PA, Gareth Fuller) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE




  • Christmas in England


    Members of Britain's royal family gather for their traditional family Christmas Day church service with Britain's Prince Charles, left, and his wife Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Philip seen centre behind, at St Mary Magdalene Church, on the royal estate in Sandringham, England, Tuesday Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo / Chris Radburn, PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES




  • Christmas in India


    A young Indian Christian devotee carries incense during Christmas midnight mass at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Allahabad, India, early Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. Although Christians comprise only two percent of the population Christmas is a national holiday and is observed across the country as an occasion to celebrate. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)




  • Christmas in India


    Indian Christians participate in Christmas midnight Mass at the St. Joseph cathedral in Allahabad, India, late Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Although Christians comprise only two percent of the population Christmas is a national holiday and is observed across the country as an occasion to celebrate.(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)




  • Christmas in Pakistan


    Christian women pray during a Christmas service at a local church in Lahore, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)




  • Chirstmas in Pakistan


    People attend Christmas service at a local church in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)