I always say that the hardest part of travel is the traveling — the infernal logistics of getting from one place to another. I'd like to be able to say, "Beam me up" as in "Star Trek," to disincorporate painlessly, then rematerialize instantly at my destination halfway around the planet. Then I'd be as eager and energetic as when I started. Until such technology is perfected, we are relegated, for the most part, to transport by plane. A daunting prospect.

Nowadays traveling is punctuated by delays, cancellations, overbooked flights, lost bags, hidden fees, surly personnel and a host of other seriously annoying pitfalls. No two ways about it: traveling is hard work, but savvy globetrotters know how to make the best of challenging situations.

Here are a few guidelines culled from veteran air warriors that will help to increase your tolerance for the tricky part of getting where you want to go.

Expect nothing: That way, you won't be disappointed. A recent Travelocity survey found a near-total disconnect between what air travelers expect and what they get. As a result, nearly two-thirds of the respondents said they would avoid using an airline altogether if they had a comparable choice. Airlines, are you listening?

Be nice: Gate agents are human too. When they're stressed by long lines of tired, frustrated passengers, they tend to fray at the edges just like the rest of us. They can be impatient, sarcastic, unhelpful and even rude, just like the rest of us. If you truly want to accomplish your goal, smile a greeting and proceed with your requests as though there weren't an angry mob behind you looking for blood. Exude polite empathy for the agent's tough job, and you're likely to be treated well, maybe even with an offer of an upgrade on-the-spot or some little perk to ease your way. Nice pays.

Pay by credit card: Do not pay cash. Unless you are familiar with the agent or the travel provider, or at least with their reputations, you should pay for your travel purchases with a charge card. Cards offer some protection in that you may dispute a charge and receive a refund from the card-issuer for a valid claim. Then it's up to the issuer to do battle for its own recompense.

Travel light: The single most important question to ask yourself when packing is, "Can I live without this?" If the answer is yes, leave it home. If you can tuck a minimal but serviceable wardrobe into a regulation-size carry-on, do it. Traveling light is particularly important today, given that airlines are losing checked luggage at an epidemic rate, while some are beginning to charge their customers a fee for the "privilege" of checking luggage. The less you check, the less you can lose. And the less you may have to pay for.

Make a Plan B: Count on Murphy's Law — what can go wrong, will go wrong— to prevail the moment you depart your house for the airport. No matter how simple your itinerary, no matter how many times you've been there, done that, no matter how certain you are that nothing will go awry, don't leave home without a backup plan. Determine in advance what you will do and how you will do it if your travel plans are stymied. Carry a cell phone and the phone numbers of people who can assist you immediately when trouble looms.

Be skeptical: Don't believe everything you read, from airline schedules to guide books to Web sites or even to travel columns. Do not believe unbelievable offers: If something seems too good to be true, it is. And expecting your travel agent to be aware of everything that is likely to impact your travels is unrealistic. Do your homework to ensure that your information is current and as accurate as possible.

Don't trust a reservation: Even if you have a printed reservation in-hand, your seat or your hotel room or your rental car could be given away for a number of reasons that may seem unfair and unconscionable to you. Get over it. Read the small print before you book, inform yourself of the airline, hotel or rental agency policies, and always call to confirm, again, at least 24 hours in advance. Even this careful oversight doesn't guarantee that you will receive your pre-assigned seat or the category of room you had requested or the kind of car you wanted. But every little effort helps to make traveling less stressful.

Dress the part: If you want to be treated with respect, and perhaps even deference, by folks who can make your life easier while traveling, leave the surfah slippers, shorts and T-shirt at home. Dress as though you're accustomed to traveling well, and you'll be surprised how airline personnel will cater to your requests if they can. A cabin upgrade, complimentary drinks, free movies and maybe even an endangered pillow and blanket could be offered to the confident, well-dressed passenger.

Photocopy essentials: To avoid the headache and panic in the wake of a missing passport, photocopy the ID/picture pages of your passport (and any applicable visa pages), with one copy to tuck into your luggage and one to leave at home with a family member. For even better back-up documentation, scan your passport picture, signature and visa pages as well as your credit card details and air tickets onto your computer hard drive as jpg (picture files). Attach them to an e-mail to be transmitted to your address at a universal e-mail account, the one you normally access while traveling. By doing this, you will have quick access to a copy of your essential documents that will expedite the replacement process if lost or stolen. (This also works efficiently for listing medical prescriptions, physician contacts, e-mail addresses for paying bills online and any other significant information that you wouldn't want to be without while traveling.)

Obtain travel insurance: At a minimum, purchase the least costly policy that provides adequate emergency medical, evacuation and assistance services. If you're likely to lose your travel investment should you need to cancel a trip, then buy trip cancellation and interruption insurance for extra peace of mind at a higher premium.

Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.