Odds are, you’re about to get on a plane at least once sometime in the next month or so, and time spent in transit is truly the time that tries our souls. I have five simple coping tips for you and those taking to the air this holiday season.

Tip #1: Fly Direct

I know, I know. It’s more expensive, typically to fly direct. It’s often way cheaper to take connecting flights. Don’t. The money you save will not be worth the anguish you incur. Flight cancellations and delays spike during peak holiday times, and that can mean big headaches to go along with your big savings.

Tip #2: Come Prepared

When you go to the airport, you need to be packed, and not necessarily with clothes. You’ll need entertainment (iPod, Books, laptop, whatever). It’s also really important to have as many snacks as you’ll need, because airport food is typically expensive in cost and crappy in quality. You can’t get liquids through the gate, but the rest should be allowed through no problem.

Tip #3: Buy Early

The sooner you can buy your tickets for the 2012 holiday travel season, the better of you and your wallet will be. It may be a bit of a pinch in your pocket book, now, but your pocket book will thank you for it later. The sooner you can buy, the better.

Tip #4: Turn Over Every Stone

Sometimes, you can find cheaper tickets on one of the “Cheap Tickets” websites, (Orbitz, Priceline, Hotwire, Travelocity, etc), but before you buy that ticket, check the airline’s website first. Often you will be shocked to see the same flight advertised on their website for cheaper.

Tip #5: The Airport Bar Is Your Friend

Holiday travel often brings out the worst in humanity. The crying baby, the obnoxious passenger, the business traveler with the overly large sense of entitlement are just a few of the people you are likely to run into. And likely they will piss you off, sooner or later. Holiday travel is stressful, or at least it can be.

That’s why a little drinking in the terminal never hurt anyone (except recovering alcoholics and of course, small children). Get your cocktail on, preferably more than once, and suddenly these people who drive you up the wall, are no longer so annoying. Even a teetotaler is inclined to drink during the holidays and for good reason. So knock a few back while you’re waiting for your flight. You’ll be glad you did.