Last Updated on October 24, 2018
Millions of passengers fly domestically each year, whether it’s a weekend getaway, a work trip or visiting family and friends. Make sure your next trip is enjoyable and stress-free with these handy hints for domestic travel.
1. Don’t forget domestic travel insurance
Many travellers purchase travel insurance for overseas trips, but neglect to get it when travelling domestically, thinking it’s not needed if you’re not leaving the country. But being covered for domestic travel is just as important. Losing your luggage, cancelled flights, damage to a rental car, unforeseen illness or theft can all occur when travelling domestically, so it’s always best to be covered for all eventualities.
Handy hint: Some credit cards include travel insurance, but this doesn’t always cover domestic travel. Double check with your provider to find out what kind of travel you’re covered for.
2. Remember your ID
Some countries allow you to travel domestically without a passport, but that doesn’t mean you should leave all of your ID at home. You’ll still often need ID (such as a driver’s licence or a current passport) to check-in for your flight, so remember to pack a form of identification so you can check-in and board your flight smoothly.
3. Be aware of changing time zones
Australia has three different standard time zones – Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), Australian Central Standard Time (ACST), and Australian Western Standard Time (AWST), which changes to five when Daylight Savings Time kicks in between October and April (not all Australian states participate).
The US is divided into four time zones across the 48 contiguous states – Eastern Standard Time (EST), Central Standard Time (CST), Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Pacific Standard Time (PST), and Hawaii and Alaska have their own standard time zone yet again.
The moral here is to always double check the time zone you’re in and the time zone you’re travelling to, for domestic travel as much as international travel. You don’t want to miss a flight or organise your airport transfers for the wrong time.
4. Contact your bank
Just as you would with overseas travel, make sure you let your bank know you’re travelling domestically, as using your card in a different state or territory can be deemed suspicious activity and flagged as fraud. The last thing you want is for your bank cards to be cancelled, so let your bank provider know your travel plans before your trip.
5. Pack your carry-on luggage as you would for an international flight
Travelling across America or Australia can sometimes result in flights that are longer than if you were travelling internationally (flying from Sydney to Perth is more than five hours, similar for flying between Los Angeles and New York City!) so it’s best to pack your carry-on as you would for a trip overseas. Small, travel-size toiletries can be taken in carry-on luggage, but make sure you check with your airline about liquid restrictions before you pack.
Remember that medications should never go in your checked baggage, in case you require them mid-flight, or if bags don’t make it on the flight and are delayed. Budget domestic airlines often have limited entertainment options, so pack a book or kindle, and keep comfortable with an aeroplane neck pillow for an enjoyable journey.
Handy hint: Mid-week flights are popular with business travellers carrying briefcases and hard bags, so overhead locker space can be harder to come by. Consider flying with a soft bag or rucksack so you can easily squeeze it around the other bags.
6. Take note of different road rules
Believe it or not, different states in both America and Australia have different road rules to each other, as road safety is generally managed by state government. The important ones are usually consistent across states, like speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and driving on a certain side of the road. But there are minor differences to pay attention to, especially if you’re planning to drive around.
In Australia for example, the maximum speed limit is 110 kilometres on certain roads. But in the Northern Territory, some roads allow a maximum speed of 130 kilometres.
7. Get to the airport hassle-free
Even if you’re travelling domestically, getting to and from the airport can be the least enjoyable part of the trip. Take out the stress and make your commute to the airport hassle-free with an airport transfer. You can book from hundreds of airport transfers on Jayride.com, whether you want a budget-friendly shared shuttle or a private transfer all to yourself.
Heading on a trip soon? Make sure you read our essential pre-flight travel checklist before you get on your flight.
