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Finding help at the airport

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Finding help at the airport

SmarterTravel

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

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Just before Christmas, the New York Times ran a story about airport Travelers Aid stations. It’s an anecdote-packed article that draws attention to just how helpful those volunteer-staffed booths at airports and train and bus stations can be, so I thought I’d pass it along as something to keep in mind next time you’re stuck at an unfamiliar airport and need a little assistance.

Travelers Aid International has been around since 1851, and has legions of trained volunteers spread out across more than two dozen airports around the country. In addition to giving directions to the nearest restrooms and shuttle pick-up spots, workers offer assistance to stranded and lost passengers, and from the sound of the article, offer a personal touch in a place where we all sometimes feel anonymous and frustrated.

Honestly, before reading this article, it wouldn’t have occurred to me to ask anything beyond basic directions at a Travelers Aid station. But it’s nice to know there’s a place to seek assistance besides the not-always-helpful airline counters.

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