Airport announcements, long drives, and full houses, with a few ways to make each one easier.
AT A GLANCE
- Traveling for Thanksgiving: Planning Ahead
- Catching Gate and Boarding Announcements
- Getting Through Security
- Packing a Small Travel Kit
- Taking Breaks on Long Drives
- Staying Reachable Along the Way
- Settling In at a Full House
- Planning a Calmer Trip Home
Traveling for Thanksgiving comes with its own kind of anticipation. The smell of something in the oven meets you at the door, the house is full of familiar voices, and for a few days, everyone you care about is under one roof. As a guest, you get to skip the hosting and simply enjoy being together.
Getting there, though, can be another story. Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel times of the year, with crowded airports, packed highways, and plenty of announcements that can be hard to hear. A little planning can take much of the stress out of the trip. Here are some ideas to help you get there comfortably, settle in, and head home feeling good.
Traveling for Thanksgiving: Planning Ahead
Booking early often gives you more choices, whether you’re flying, taking the train, or riding a bus. If you’re flying, it may help to choose a flight earlier in the day, which leaves more room in your schedule if plans change, and to pick a seat toward the front of the plane, where it can be easier to hear the flight attendants.
If you’re comfortable, you can let the airline know you have hearing loss when you book. Many airlines will make a note on your reservation, which lets gate agents and flight crews know to share updates with you directly. Signing up for text alerts from the airline is another easy way to get gate changes and delays in writing.
Catching Gate and Boarding Announcements
Airport announcements can be hard for anyone to understand, and they’re even harder with hearing loss. Rather than relying on what you hear, it helps to have a few other ways to stay updated:
- Checking the departure boards often, especially after any delay
- Keeping airline text alerts turned on
- If you’re comfortable, letting the gate agent know you have hearing loss and asking them to tell you directly when boarding starts or if anything changes
- Sitting near the gate desk where you can see the agents and any screens
HLAA’s tips for holiday air travel with hearing loss also suggest asking for preboarding, so you have extra time to get settled and catch the crew’s instructions.
Getting Through Security
Security lines can be noisy and fast-paced. If you wear hearing aids, you can generally keep them in during screening. If you’re comfortable, you can also let the officer know you have hearing loss. If you have trouble understanding instructions, you can ask the officer to face you, speak a little more slowly, or show you what they need.
Arriving early gives you extra time, so you’re not rushed if the line is long or something takes longer than expected.
Packing a Small Travel Kit
Keeping a few things in your carry-on or front seat can make travel days easier:
- A hearing aid charger or spare batteries, if you wear hearing aids
- A portable phone charger
- A printed copy of your itinerary and confirmation numbers
- A small notepad and pen, in case it’s easier to write something down
- Any medications you’ll need during the trip
Taking Breaks on Long Drives
If you’re driving, planning your route ahead of time and building in regular stops can make the trip more comfortable. Stopping every couple of hours gives everyone a chance to stretch, grab a snack, and rest their ears from road noise.
Conversations in the car can be tricky, since road noise is constant and people aren’t facing each other. It may help to save longer conversations for rest stops, keep the radio low, and let a passenger handle directions. Navigation screens that show directions can also make it easier to follow along without relying on spoken prompts.
Staying Reachable Along the Way
Travel days often come with plenty of short phone calls. A shuttle might call to confirm a pickup, or family might call to check on your arrival time. Before you leave, it’s a good idea to charge your phone and pack a charger or portable battery in your bag.
Sharing your travel plans with someone, including flight numbers or your planned route, lets everyone know what to expect. Agreeing on a quick check-in, like a text when you land or reach a rest stop, helps people know you’re on your way.
Settling In at a Full House
Once you arrive, a few minutes to get settled makes it easier to enjoy the rest of the visit. If you wear hearing aids, keeping your charger or spare batteries, cleaning supplies, and storage case in one spot means less searching later.
It can also help to talk with your host about a few small things, like how you’ll know if a smoke alarm goes off during the night, or where a quieter spot might be if you need a break. At dinner, choosing a seat with good light on people’s faces and away from the kitchen or TV can make it easier to follow along. Our post on following conversation at fall gatherings has more ideas for big family meals.
Planning a Calmer Trip Home
The days right after Thanksgiving can be just as busy as the days before it. If you can, staying an extra day or leaving a little earlier may help you avoid the biggest crowds. Setting up your travel alerts again before you leave means updates reach you in writing.
Before you head out, you might let your host know you’ll call or text when you’re home. That quick “made it” call gives everyone peace of mind and wraps up the trip on a good note.
Take the next step:
- Learn how a CapTel captioned telephone can make holiday calls with family and friends easier to follow
- Find out which CapTel phone model might be the best fit for you or someone you care about
- See if you or someone you care about may be eligible to receive a CapTel phone at no cost
- For questions or to learn more, call CapTel at 1-800-233-9130
Keep exploring: More on planning holiday travel | Visit the CapTel blog | Share this article with a friend
CapTel® is the inventor and technology leader in Captioned Telephones for people with hearing loss. CapTel phones show word-for-word captions of everything a caller says, helping those with hearing loss stay connected with the important people in their lives.
