Leading up to the holidays and during the days following, it helps to know what to expect when heading to the airport. (Reuters files)

The hustle and the bustle of the holiday season gets cranked up a huge notch if you're plans involve a jet-setting mission.

Holiday flyers can expect longer wait times, busier airlines and extra stress among fellow passengers and, most likely, airport staff, warns Dr. Gabor Forgacs of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

"A lot of us will try to go and re-unite with family; some of us will try to escape to vacation destinations - all that means that a lot of people will do some traveling at around the same time," says Forgacs.

"Longer lineups, traffic congestion, increased wait time at border crossings, airport check-ins are to be expected. Nobody wants to miss a flight, a bus, a train and everybody tries to be there on time, wherever their destination is."

While mastering the art of deep breathing and trying to entering some sort of zen-like state might be helpful but to get to that lovely place of calm, make sure you arrive for your flight early and well prepared.

"Go early to airports to leave enough time to do lineups," Forgacs advises.

"Pack as light as possible and don't buy anything that you planned to buy at the airport before you cleared security."

Leading up to the holidays and during the days following, it helps to know what to expect. It's crunch time for a lot of folks and the weeks leading up to the big celebrations are often hectic, however if your schedule is flexible and you have a short enough flight, there are benefits to traveling on the big celebratory days, such as Christmas.

"Hotels or airports can be totally empty during the days of Christmas," he says.

"Security checks for flights will probably be same as usual, however perimeter control around airports or crowd control at major hubs might be more vigilant."

- Check in online for your flight

- Print your boarding pass before leaving for the airport

- Sign up with your mobile phone for flight update information so you'll be notified for last-minute gate changes or delays

- Travel light and if possible, buy presents after you arrive

- If you shop beforehand, consider shipping gifts ahead of time

- When traveling with gifts, leave them unwrapped so they can be easily checked by security

- Avoid parking headaches by hiring an airport limo instead