Oil producing countries are bracing for a bumpy ride this year, with a precipitous drop in prices to the lowest levels in four years seen as the initial, alarming sign of looming turmoil.

A price drop benefits any country seeking to cut its fuel bill. But in oil producing nations, lower prices can feed economic troubles, and sometimes political unrest, as governments slash spending.

Analysts who had already been predicting lower oil prices because of softening demand amid increased global production said the possibility of a tariff trade war and the overall climate of uncertainty could well deepen producers’ woes.

“The steep price dive and overall volatility is sending a very strong signal that the global economy is going to be rattled this year and that will translate into a lower demand for oil,” said Gregory Brew, a specialist on the geopolitics of oil and gas with the Eurasia Group, a New York-based risk analysis organization.

Wealthy producers may be able to cushion the blow

Earlier this year, the price for benchmark crude held steady around $73 a barrel, high enough to sustain the budgets of most producing nations. But some countries, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, base ambitious development plans on a price of at least $90 a barrel, analysts say.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have earmarked hundreds of billions of dollars for giant projects to try to diversify their economies away from oil. Although Saudi Arabia pays for its Vision 2030 development program outside its annual budget, the huge, futuristic city project, Neom, depends on oil revenues.

To maintain those plans amid lower prices, these richer Gulf nations either have to draw money from their gargantuan reserve funds or borrow, analysts said. Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E. and Kuwait all have easy access to international credit, and can sustain that for years with citizens unlikely to feel the effects, analysts said.

A different story for Iran and Iraq

In Iran, international sanctions have whittled its oil customers down. There’s China, but its demand for oil has slackened markedly amid an economic slowdown. And there are small independent refineries vulnerable to secondary sanctions, which the United States has imposed against two of them in recent months. To attract buyers, Iran will quite likely have to offer steep discounts, analysts said.

Iran is negotiating with Washington over the future of its nuclear program; any agreement could bring sanctions relief. But that is unlikely this year.

Iran also faces increasing pressure to cut spending by lowering its domestic energy subsidies. When it did that in 2019, antigovernment riots erupted and were put down with force. “Keeping energy prices very low is extremely important because they know that if they don’t, then they are at a relatively high risk of uprisings, riots and demonstrations,” said Homayoun Falakshahi, an analyst at the research firm Kpler.

Next door, Iraq depends on oil for an estimated 80 percent of government revenue, so a drop in price would force it to take measures like not paying public sector salaries for chunks of time, a step sure to create domestic discontent. Since the country is not under sanctions, it too can borrow internationally to cover its bills, although that is costly.

Vulnerability in Libya, Nigeria and Venezuela

Libya’s two governments each hold a different half of the country. One runs the bank that takes in oil payments from abroad and the other controls the oil fields. Any price drop would likely ratchet up tensions between the two as they jockey over the revenue, analysts said.

Nigeria’s economy remains terribly vulnerable to a drop in oil revenue, on which it depends to help subsidize energy prices. A new, almost completed private refinery could mitigate the kind of fuel supply problems that can spark political unrest.

Aside from Iran, the other global producer most exposed to price volatility is Venezuela, whose economy collapsed during the drop in prices in 2014-15. Public sector businesses and a bloated government payroll were so dependent on high oil prices that when they collapsed, analysts said, the ensuing economic problems sparked widespread protests that the government put down violently.

Help from Russia and Iran has helped leaven the potential fallout this time around, since increased production and refinery capacity mean Venezuela is unlikely to face the kind of fuel shortages that caused widespread blackouts and fueled public anger.

And then, there’s Russia

In Russia, about one third of the federal budget, predicated on about $70 a barrel for oil, comes from energy revenues. With sanctions, Russia discounts its oil by about $10 a barrel; a $60 price matches the price cap imposed in 2022 after it invaded Ukraine.

Robust oil and gas sales, especially to China and India, have helped insulate ordinary Russians from much economic fallout from the war. The Kremlin has already eaten into its reserve funds, however, and a further price drop would make paying for the war, and everything else, challenging.

Moscow probably still has enough cash reserves to muddle through, but in the short term, there could be pain, analysts said.

From long lines to overpriced food and scarce seating, airports are rife with pitfalls.

For some people, said Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going, an app for cheap flights, “airports are like travel purgatory: You’re neither here nor there.”

But technology, advance planning and a few creative strategies can help you parry airport problems.

Calculate your transit time

Your airport journey can begin as early as 24 hours before departure, when you should check in, pay checked bags fees, which will expedite bag drop, and sign up for flight notifications by text to keep up with scheduling.

Next, determine when you should leave for the airport. The rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before departure for domestic flights (three for international), allowing yourself plenty of time to check bags, get through security (especially if you don’t have expedited clearance) and board.

“The biggest challenge with airports is the variability in how long it may take to get there, and to get from curb to gate,” said Gary Leff, the author of the aviation blog View from the Wing.

Use a map app to get a sense of travel time to the airport a week or a few days before departure. Airline websites commonly include security wait times.

If you’re checking a bag, you may need to do so no less than 45 minutes before domestic departures (check your carrier for cutoff times). Add this to your transit time, along with a comfortable cushion.

Expedite security clearance

The quickest way through security is to sign up for expedited clearance.

Travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck usually wait 10 minutes or less at security, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Membership, which costs between $76.75 and $85, depending on the enrollment provider, is good for five years.

Global Entry, which speeds travelers through customs screening when they return to the United States, includes enrollment in TSA PreCheck. It costs $120 and is good for five years.

CLEAR allows members to use its lanes in 59 airports around the country to get to the front of the security lines ($199 a year).

Fly standby on an earlier flight

If you do breeze through traffic and security, try to fly standby on an earlier flight, recommends Brian Sumers, who writes the newsletter The Airline Observer.

“Since the pandemic, free standby is back,” Mr. Sumers said, noting that even Southwest Airlines, which previously prohibited the practice, offers standby if space is available.

Bring your own food

Airports are notorious for inflated food prices. A sandwich that might cost $5 at a grocery store can easily run twice that at the airport.

So bring your own meals and snacks. Just make sure they can clear security (for instance, yogurt is considered a liquid, and containers over three ounces can be confiscated). Also, bring an empty water bottle to refill after clearing security.

If you can’t B.Y.O., Harriet Baskas, a Seattle-based author who writes the travel blog Stuck at the Airport, recommends browsing food courts and ordering appetizers or kid-size portions to keep costs down.

Pack your electrical needs

Many airports have vastly expanded the availability of electrical outlets to charge devices. But nabbing one can be competitive, and sometimes the outlets don’t work.

“I’ve merrily worked away while believing my laptop or phone was charging only to discover that the entire bank of powered chairs was unplugged,” Ms. Baskas said. “I’ve learned to check first before settling in.”

She recommends taking a multi-outlet cord so you can share a plug with other travelers.

Get around the issue with your own external battery. George Hobica, who founded the flight search engine Airfarewatchdog, takes one powerful enough to charge several devices at once.

Get some exercise

Use wait time to stretch your legs. Exercise delivers both physical and mental benefits, and long airport concourses offer convenient walking tracks.

Colleen Lanin, who writes the travel blog Colleen Travels Between and has been covering family travel for 16 years, suggests tiring the kids out with exercise before boarding.

“When my children were young, I paid them a small amount of money for each lap they ran around our backyard before we headed out, and they could spend their earnings on an item at the airport gift shop,” she said.

During layovers, she encourages parents to find a quiet area and play a game of Red Light Green Light or Simon Says.

Wait at an uncrowded gate

As long as you are monitoring the flight boarding call on an app, there’s no reason to be at a crowded gate where seats are scarce. Find a convenient unoccupied gate and wait there.

Use airport resources

Airport websites will help you find yoga rooms (San Francisco), art exhibits (Philadelphia), live music schedules (Austin-Bergstrom), outdoor terraces (Denver) or a butterfly garden (Singapore Changi).

Or ask an airport employee for recommendations.

“The folks at the information booths are usually happy to share favorite spots, and you don’t need to be a kid to ask them for crayons and a coloring book or a collectible airport trading card,” said Ms. Baskas.

Be your own rebooking agent

When a flight is delayed or canceled, passengers inevitably start lining up to talk to the gate agent. But log in while you’re waiting. With the airline’s app; you can usually get information more efficiently.

“Typically, customers will have the same access to seats on the app as agents at the desk can see,” Mr. Sumers said.

With storms or cascading delays, seat availability can be fluid.

“If you’re vigilant on the app, you may find seats that weren’t available just one minute before,” Mr. Sumers added.

Have an escape plan

You may not be able to escape an airport, especially during a delay, but you can treat yourself to a break.

Ms. Baskas keeps $30 in her wallet to buy a treat like a special dessert or a hardcover book.

“That makes me feel better at the moment and won’t show up on the credit card bill later to remind me of a stressful time,” she said.