On the plane Get some exercise by walking around and doing the some exercises while seated (there are usually some in the in-flight magazine).
Drink plenty of water, but cut back on the alcohol which will dehydrate you.
At the arrival airport If your luggage has been lost, contact the handling agent for your airline and fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR).
If there is another flight coming shortly from your departure airport you may want to consider hanging around the airport to see if your bag is on that flight instead.
If the tourist information desk is closed you can try the rental car agency for information.
If you arrive late at night and do not fancy going into town to look for accommodations, stay at an airport hotel or hang around the airport until you feel okey about going into town.
If your plane arrives late you can contact the airline to see if you can get some type of compensation if you have a good reason.
You can get free transportation to the city (you had someone waiting for you at the airport who had to leave), free accommodations (you missed your bus connection out of the city and have to wait for the next day), make free phone calls, get free food, etc.
Yes, this actually has worked in practice; free accommodations in a five star hotel in Mexico City was obtained after the plane arrived late using this tactic :) Customs If your bags are searched it is usually pretty quick.
More annoying than having your bags searched may be long queues.
If everybody is waiting in line to pass Nothing to declare, you might consider stepping up to the red Goods to declare instead.
Bring a small package of dehydrated food, e.
g.
mashed potatoes, and ask if it is okey to bring it inside the country.
If all goes well they will just say sure, sure and let you through.
On the other hand you take the risk that they send you back to the other line, or worse, search your belongings more thoroughly.
When you pass customs with a bus you usually have to leave the vehicle.
Make sure you bring all personal belongings as customs staff or other co-travelers passing by might steal them.
Transfers If you have an international connection your luggage is usually sent all the way to your destination whereas if you have a domestic connection you may have to pick up your bag, take it through customs and drop it off again.
Check at your domestic check in counter (although they do not always know the regulation), the airline staff on board your flight or the ground staff in your transfer airport.
If you already have a boarding pass you normally do not need to go to the transfer desk.
Be aware that some countries, e.
g.
USA, want you to leave your backpack/bag unlocked at check-in/transfer.
Make sure you leave it unlocked or they may break it.
There are special locks which can be unlocked by customs and relocked again, consider getting one of those.
From airport There are usually official taxis at the airport.
This is no guarantee for a fair price, it may only mean that the rip-offs have been made official.
You can sometimes find cheaper taxis by walking outside the airport area and hailing one on the street or going to the arrivals area and taking a taxi which has just left someone at the airport.
Note that the taxis at the airport are usually safer than hailing one on the street.