When all the elements of air travel just don't seem to fall into  place (and let's face it - this happens more often than we're willing to admit), you'll be happier knowing you planned ahead and packed an "emergency kit". Having something to do while waiting in the airport lounge, or something to eat and drink when the airline can't meet your dietary needs can be just the thing to turn a bad trip into a good one.

On a good day, you'll get to the airport,breeze through security, get on your plane, and take off and land on time. Most of us know how often that actually happens, however, and have come to expect delays of some kind. While you can't make the trip go any faster, you can put together a kit so you don't get bored, hungry, or too uncomfortable when your plane gets grounded.

A savvy traveller knows the ins-and-outs of surviving layovers, or remembers to bring an external battery pack for laptops and tablets (not every seat comes with a power outlet). Fortunately, this article titled Create an Air Travel "Emergency" Kit to Survive Common Airplane Woes has a comprehensive list of things you should include in your personal air travel emergency kit.