Thousands of people will take to the skies over the next few weeks in a bid to spend Christmas with loved ones or ring in the New Year `off de rock'.

Whether you are taking a quick weekend getaway or a two-week sojourn, air travel during the holiday season requires patience and a sense humour from even the most seasoned travellers.

While snow storms may ground and delay flights, the major airlines do offer their passengers useful advise on coping with the regular holiday hustle-and-bustle.

Most of the airlines have set up websites on the Internet listing information to help passengers get to their destinations with as little stress as possible.

The Air Canada website advises travellers to check out their destination's political, economic and cultural conditions before they depart.

A copy of your travel itinerary should be left with a local friend -- so that in case of an emergency you can be contacted.

Air Canada also recommends that passengers purchase travel or supplementary health insurance and carry proof of that extra insurance coverage with them at all times.

The identification page form your passport and any visa should be photocopied twice -- one set stays with you, separate from the originals, and the others stay with someone at home.

British Airways spokesperson Sallie Singleton offered passengers several useful tips they could take before flying during the busiest travelling period of the year.

Mrs. Singleton said everyone should label each bag, on both the inside and outside, with your name, home address and destination address.

If you have special dietary needs or require a children's meal, call your airline and place your order no later than 24 hours before you fly.

To help your body cope with jet lag, start adjusting your body to a new time zone several days before you fly.

Start adjusting your bedtime either backward or forward, depending on where you're traveling, for three consecutive nights before travel.

This will help cut back on the time difference when you arrive at you destination.

Once you board the plane, turn your watch to the correct time in the destination you're heading for.

Mrs. Singleton suggested avoiding rich and fatty foods, alcohol, tea and coffee the day before departure.

She also reminded travellers that only one carry-on, per person, was allowed on airplanes -- so do not try to carry all of your Christmas presents in several shopping bags -- pack them in your suitcases.

But she added: "Pack all medications, money, jewellery, laptop computers and cameras in hand baggage and not in checked luggage.'' And Mrs. Singleton had suggestions for passengers who have respiratory problems or have trouble adjusting to the change in cabin pressure.

"It may be wise to take a decongestant medicine before flying if the passenger has upper respiratory tract difficulties,'' she explained. "A new product which can be purchased in Bermuda called `Earplanes' is also a help to those who have problems with the changing pressure on aircrafts.'' Travellers should normally arrive at the airport and check in no later than two hours before they depart for an international flight.

But with the holiday rush, passengers may want to give themselves a little extra time to check in and clear US customs if they are travelling to the US.

For transatlantic flights, Mrs. Singleton suggested flyers wear loose-fitting clothes made from natural fibres, to allow your skin to breathe.

Once in the air enroute to your destination, everyone should drink lots of fluid because half of what people call jetlag is hangover-style dehydration caused by dry, recirculated air.

"Remember that alcohol can contribute to the body's dehydration so drink plenty of water to avoid tiredness and headaches,'' Mrs. Singleton added.

Even the most nervous of travellers should avoid alcohol because it increases fluid loss.

Sitting for long periods of time can make you feel stiff and tired. To combat this Mrs. Singleton suggested passengers get up and move around the cabin a couple of times to stimulate their circulation.

And military men and women traditionally advise sleeping as much as possible -- or at least resting -- while in transit.

Once you arrive at your destination, Mrs. Singleton recommended weary travellers take a hot shower or a relaxing bath.

"A quick jog or a brisk walk will help to stimulate circulation,'' she added.

"And try to eat at the meal times of your destination country.'' For more travel tips check out http.www.aircanada.ca, http.www. aa.com or ww.british-airways.com.

WAITING... -- Patience and a sense of humour will be required from even the most seasoned traveller to cope with the hustle-and-bustle of flying during the holiday season.