Traveling can be really, really stressful. Getting to the airport takes time, parking is a drag, the queues at check-in are never-ending, security is tight and the amenities at the lounge can be overrun by hoards of bored and aggravated people. In other words, flying might be the fastest way to get from one side of the country to the other, but you pay a heavy price for it with your patience.
However, with a little foresight you can make air travel bearable and maybe even enjoyable. Travel like a pro with our travel tips!
I used these tips on a bargain holiday to Greece only a few weeks ago so they do work. If you have any comments and suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
1. Fly through the airport
Anyone who has traveled through an airport since the 2001 attacks will know the time constraints due to heightened security. While this heightened level of security is there for a purpose, it doesn’t help if you have to get from from the international terminal to the domestic terminal to catch your flight home.
Even if you have allocated sufficient time to make your transfer, you can still be help up by any number of factors that are out of your control. Bad weather could delay your flight, a member of security staff could be off on leave and screening might be slow or the sheer volume of people moving through the airport may be simply placing too much load on the system.
However, a quick visit the Transportation Security Administration website could solve a lot of these problems. This site details the average wait time at every security checkpoint in each US airport and is updated on an hourly basis. You can therefore find out what checkpoint to avoid before you arrive.
2. Don’t go with the flow
One simple tip is to avoid the crowd mentality prevalent in airports. Keep in mind that many of the people around you are either non-frequent flyers or are first time visitors, therefore, they won’t know anything about the airport that you don’t know. When you have to go through security people are naturally drawn to where the crowd is, falsely assuming that if everyone else is queuing here then so should they. Wrong! Keep your eyes open and you’ll see that the flow of people through the fringe checkpoints is moving faster. That’s where you should be.
3. Travel light, travel fast
Travel light, it’s much much easier to get through crowded airports this way. If you are going on a 2 day business trip then you should be able to fit everything you need into a hold-all that can be taken onboard. Obviously you won’t be able to take any liquids with you on flights within the USA due to security concerns, but that shouldn’t really matter. When you are at your destination you can use the toiletries provided by the hotel or run out to a convenience store and pick what you need.
Traveling without any luggage might actually save you money. Some airlines are now charging for baggage that has to be checked into the hold and because it is charged on a per kilo basis your cheap flight could turn into something much more costly. You’ll also be pleased to know that you will contribute to lowering your carbon footprint simply by checking in less luggage, lower weight means the aircraft doesn’t need as much fuel.
4. Upgrade your airline seat
If you haven’t forked out the cash for business class seating onboard your flight, fear not for help is at hand. You have 2 options, request a seat on the emergency exit aisle or ask for an upgrade to business or first class.
The easiest upgrade to get is to an emergency aisle seat, which basically means that you’ll have several feet of legroom instead of a few inches. This can make all the difference when you are tall and about to go on a longhaul flight. Getting the upgrade can cost some extra money (varies on an airline-to-airline basis), payable upon check-in, but it is well worth it. Just make sure that you are there before the crowds arrive as there are only a limited number of seats available.
Upgrading to the echelons of First Class is a little more involving, but you have 2 options open to you. The first option relies on charm and appearance, basically you present yourself at check-in smartly dressed and inquire about any seats that may be available in First Class. If there are any available, ask if you could be moved up. The airline staff will at this point probably turn you down, but this is where you should persist. Ask for the check-in manager and try to get an upgrade, even suggest that you are willing to pay a little extra. This tactic worked well for me on a trip back from Bali to London with Garuda Indonesia, but I’m not sure if the airline ever saw the $100 I gave to the manager.
If you do not want to take this risk then you can book a certain type of fare called a Y-up or Q-up, which will get you into the inner sanctum that is First Class for less. It won’t be cheap, NY – LA return worked out at $888, but the cost is affordable. It also means you don’t have to risk looking like a fool when your plea for an upgrade at the check-in desk falls on deaf ears.
5. Make your airmiles work for you
If you have an airmiles rewards credit card or have been saving up miles as part of an airmiles scheme then you’ll want to get the most out of them, it could take a while to build them back up again.
As with purchasing any flights these days, getting in quick and booking early is the key. This principle of ‘book early and save’ also applies to airmiles, it also increases the choice available to you. However, when it comes to using your airmiles to book flights online you might actually be short-changing yourself. Try calling an agent and talking to someone who will be able to check flights offered by multiple airlines, different routes via alternative airports or traveling on other dates.
6. Give up your seat for free perks
Airlines will frequently overbook their flights, relying on people not being able to make the transfer on time or just not turning up. However, sometimes their calculations don’t work out and there are not enough seats onboard for all the passengers. If this happens on your flight and you are flexible, do not hesitate to put your name down on the list of people willing to give up their seat. The airline staff will offer you a compensation package that will probably include a free flight later in the evening, free meals or if necessary a free overnight stay. If that doesn’t sound good to you, stick to your guns and they will probably offer you a better package.
This practice, called ‘bumping‘ within the airline industry, is frowned upon by many travelers who are on time-constrained flights but if you are ready and willing you could come out trumps!
7. Upgrade your rental car for free
Just like the airlines, car rental agencies will frequently overbook their fleet of cars. If you want to get a free upgrade you should book the most popular economy car they have got, the one that everyone else will book. Then turn up at the car lot late in the morning, after the peak early morning. With any luck your economy car will have been rented out and they will hand you the keys to a better model.
For this to work you need to take into consideration your destination. Car rental companies in large cities will be under most load Monday – Friday when businesses are open. Conversely, car rental agencies in tourist resorts will experience the highest volume over the weekends and during the school breaks.
8. Get a free hotel room upgrade
Again, this tip relies entirely on timing. Getting an upgraded hotel is room is possible, but the hotel will need to have low occupancy at the time for it to work. When you arrive at reception simply inquire whether they have any suites available. If they do then kindly ask them to upgrade you because you have been traveling for a while and need to relax before getting to work.
I tried this one during my honeymoon to Thailand and Bali with great results. Instead of a room with a pool view we got moved up to a beach view suite with our own balcony, flat screen TV and king-sized bed!
January 24th, 2007 
35 Responses to “Travel like a pro: 8 tips to make your journey easier”
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thanks for the tips. very useful. i’m a huge fan of traveling light, even if it’s for weeks or months. you feel lighter and able to move around with ease, rather than constantly worrying about where your baggage is or if something being stolen. it’s practicing non-attachment at its finest.
Begging or attempting to bribe airport staff for an upgrade – Not a good look…Most U.S. carriers look to reward those passengers who they already know are loyal and frequent fliers on their own airline, before even thinking about giving away upgrades to people who are “dressed smart”, and arrive early.
Great tips! Getting the seat upgrade is next to impossible these days, but the rest of the tips are very good.
Steve
YouHeardItHere.com
here’s my car upgrade tip – book the cheapest class of car, but choose the GPS option. That combination rarely exists – I have never NOT gotten a bump to luxury – Land Rovers etc.
I have to also disagree about the ‘turning up smart’. As someone who used to fly transatlantic fairly regularly, the only advantage to turning up in a suit, was I was far less likely to be pulled by airport security for some ‘special’ attention than when I was in my baggy jeans and hooded top (yeah, I’m a skater who never grew up).
However, I cannot stress how important it is to sign up with the rewards/members club for whatever carrier you are flying with. I’d flown fairly regularly, knew a couple of the check-in staff but never upgraded or treated any different. However, the VERY next flight I was on the rewards program (I think it was Delta’s), the check-in staff classed me as a ‘frequent flyer’ (even though it was my first flight with them) and were falling over themselves to help me despite looking like I hadn’t slept in a week, wearing the first clean garments that came to hand. Free upgrade too. Not bad considering I’d got the cheapest economy fare possible.
Also, do your research on your carrier. I once had to be re-routed because of missing a flight due to delay. I had to make a flight within the UK and had a choice of carriers/flights. I chose the British Airways one and later learned that all BA internal UK flights are classed as ‘business’ giving access to their business lounge, with free food, drinks and even showers. A godsend given I’d been travelling for over 25hrs.
The most important part to travelling though, is “take it easy”. If you miss your flight, they’ll get you on another. If you’re delayed in the air, kick back and put some music on. Delays happen and stressing about them or taking it out on the airline or check-in staff won’t help (being able to time travel isn’t part of their job requirements), just accept you’ll get to your destination at whatever time you do and you’ll find you will arrive in much better shape (and lower blood pressure) than if you allow yourself to get tense and angry about a situation you can’t change.
Tip: Use your voice recorder on your phone to record where you’re parked.
More Tips:
If you have a chance go for the Crown/Elite/Worldclub room when you get a chance. May cost a little more but you can hang out, drink and eat snacks for free. Also they have power you can use.
Power outlets, don’t be shy about plugging in. If you see an open outlet and need juice go for it.
If you fly a lot look for the best seats(besides exit row), several sites can help(you have to find them I am not going to tell).
Travel casual: Unless you are due in a meeting directly off of a flight, go completely Sunday casual, hat, slipon/flipflops, and a T-shrit.
Give up the window. While it is neat to see the ground wizzing by you can get up and down as needed and don’t have to worry about the sleeping joker sitting next to you.
Advice to others:
If you see someone in a hurry, get out of there way.
I’m not sure how “Give up your seat for free perks” makes your journey “easier”. Waiting for a later flight, having to check into a hotel and delaying travel by a day, if anything, makes your journey harder.
Sounds like grasping at straws to me.
The “dressed smart” and “arrive early” tactic is dumb and doesn’t work. Misinformation like this is what makes people look dumb at the checkin counter. Just get a frequent flyer card and rack up miles. Asking for an upgrade without any merit is tacky and makes you look cheap to the other people in line who PAID for their upgrades.
Every three months someone (blogger, MSNBC etc.) posts these ‘tips’. Here’s my feedback:
>Fly through the airport
This isn’t a bad idea – For example Denver International Airport has multiple security points so you might save some time here. However, at lots of airports this simply isn’t an option. For example, pax flying to the USA from Vancouver International all go through the same checkpoint – So you’re SOL.
>Don’t go with the flow
Often people are queuing in one place because that’s the only option. So sure, be aware of your surroundings but often this won’t help much.
>Travel light, travel fast
Good common-sense solution, but this has applied since the dawn or air travel. Generally, you’re either the type of person who can travel light and you’ve always done this, or you’re not.
>Upgrade your airline seat
In North American and western Europe this it has gotten virtually impossible to get an upgrade without either paying for the ticket or having frequent-flyer status with the Airline – And even flyers with status will frequently be denied. Some carriers allow pax to upgrade with points, and United Airlines allows users to purchase upgrades to “Economy Plus” at their checkin kiosks.
>request a seat on the emergency exit aisle
On many north American and western European carriers these seats are often reserved for frequent flyers. Also, be aware that on some carriers these seats don’t recline, and / or are sometimes slightly narrower as the ‘tray table’ is in the armest, not in the seat in front of you.
>or ask for an upgrade to business or first class.
See above.
>Make your airmiles work for you [snip] Try calling an agent and talking to someone who will be able to check flights offered by multiple airlines, different routes via alternative airports or traveling on other dates.
This is good advice. Before you book a ‘points ticket’ find out what alliance your airline is a part of, then research your options extensively. For example, if you collect points on United Airlines and you want to fly to London from Seattle you’ve got many options. In addition to United, look at options on Air Canada, US Airways, Lufthansa etc. Heck, you can even get to London Air New Zealand out of Los Angeles. When the clerk says ‘there’s nothing’ you can start saying “What about US Airways out of X” or “What about Air Canada out of Y” or “What about Lufthansa via Frankfurt?”
>Give up your seat for free perks
Keep in mind there’s rarely room to negotiate on this front. In North America and Western Europe in 95% of the cases, when an airline asks for ‘volunteers’ at the gate they are swamped with people offering to go. If they don’t get volunteers, they’ll often choose to simply bump people rather than offer ‘better deals.’ In this post 9/11 era with airlines on razor-tight margins the gate agent frequently has virtually zero power when it comes to a better compensation package.
>Upgrade your rental car for free
This is good advice, but keep in mind the rental car company will sometimes try to ‘upsell’ you to a better car with a ‘great deal.’ Often this is because they’re out of economy cars – So hold your ground for your economy car and you’ll sometimes get the better car for free.
>Get a free hotel room upgrade
This is good advice. If some jurisdictions, like three-star strip hotels in Las Vegas you can also pass $20 to the desk clerk at checkin and see what happens. You can read more here:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=463
Cheers,
Geoff in Vancouver, Canada
This tip was valid about 10 years ago –
“Upgrading to the echelons of First Class is a little more involving, but you have 2 options open to you. The first option relies on charm and appearance, basically you present yourself at check-in smartly dressed and inquire about any seats that may be available in First Class”
No airline will upgrade you just beacuse you look nice. You either have to pay for it, or use miles. And if it’s the day of the flight, all of the elites (frequent flyers) are already in the waitlist for the upgrade and you’ll never get one. Your best hope for an upgrade (and it is very possible) is to accumulate miles on an airline with credit card purchases (and flying) and then use a site like exppertflyer.com (if the airlines website doesn’t allow you to search for upgrades, like AA) to find them. Welcome to Travel 2.0
You’ve been Dugg. Now there will be a bunch of geeky noobs taking up my exit row seat and sleeping in my suite. Sheesh!
I appeared at the First Class counter in my usual Gas Mask, Bowler Hat, Snorkel & Flippers..and a Hawaii shirt. I was instantly given a First Class seat because my Hawaii shirt had corresponding colors with BA. They said it was the “Bowler Hat” that was sooo “British” – they couldn´t refuse my upgrade. Saved me $.1500.
If you are flexible enough to give up your seat, I recommend it. My wife and I gave up our seats on our return trip from our honeymoon. We ended up being given an extra night at a nice hotel in Madrid, meals and almost $1000 in cash. Not a bad way to finish up the honeymoon which we wanted to last as long as possible anyway.
[…] Geek About » Travel like a pro: 8 tips to make your journey easier […]
What were you doing watching TV on your honeymoon?
Increased airport screening is 99% security theater. Consider how often someone tries to take bomb materials onto a plane as compared to how many airplane flights there are daily.
The “heightened level of security is there for a purpose,” but that purpose is
a) to make you “feel” safer when you really aren’t,
b) to increase your taxes and subsequently WASTE that money,
c) to increase government oversight in private business.
It used to be that there was an unspoken rule that exit rows were reserved for taller people like myself who actually need the extra room. Now it’s whoever shows up first with $15(NWA).
[…] Travel like a pro: 8 tips to make your journey easier January 25, 2007 Filed under: Random — James @ 2:03 pm Traveling can be really, really stressful. Getting to the airport takes time, parking is a drag, the queues at check-in are never-ending, security is tight and the amenities at the lounge can be overrun by hoards of bored and aggravated people. In other words, flying might be the fastest way to get from one side of the country to the other, but you pay a heavy price for it with your patience. […]
travel w/o baggage? sounds like a surefire way to get detained by security. they might even throw in a free rectal exam.
this seems like it is based more on circumstances than actual solid tips that will work the majority of the time. I guess tips do allow for random suggestions but don’t rely on these peeps. By chance these things could happen. Always keep in mind it doesn’t hurt to ask could summarize most of these.
Another tip: when you travel or when you’re back home, write a complaint letter and claim a compensation. You’ll be amazed how often you get something. Not only from airlines, but also from hotels.
Hi, Here is a free tip for ya.. For a free suite upgrade request a “Conference Suite” or “porter suite” at check in. These suites are the ones corporate guests usually book for business meetings etc.
99% of the time they are available with no upgrade fee.
They are as big as a luxury suite.
The only downside is you usually get a Murphy Bed.
The Daily Traveler
http://thedailytraveler.com
I am a very frequent flier and wanted to point something out: In number 4, “Upgrade your airline seat”, you are correct that you gain several feet in the emergency exit row – but the seats don’t recline! Not one on any airplane!
[…] Via […]
I use the dress smart and bribe the manager process a lot where I live in South East Asia and it usually works if they have the better seats available
As others have commented, upgrades are pretty much always doled out to those who spend the most with the carrier these days. I would argue that not looking like a bum helps in other ways though. Fair or not, people seem more likely to work with you if you are nice, you smile, and you don’t look homeless.
To advance the point you made about the security lines, follow the business travelers. The line they are in will always move faster. The slowest lines are the ones full of families (I am in one sometimes so I know what a pain it is) and people who haven’t been on a plane in years.
Just a thoght
Tip 2
>you’ll also be pleased to know that you will contribute to lowering your carbon footprint simply by checking in less luggage, lower weight means the aircraft doesn’t need as much fuel.
and
Tip 7
> Upgrade your rental car for free
Upgrading a rental car almost always means a BIGGER car, which almost always comsumes more petrol. So reducing the carbon output by reducing your luggage weight is offset by producing more carbon output by having a bigger car!?
[…] Why does everyone have to call everything “Killer“? There are so many Killer guides, and Killerest tips and tricks, and I can never get used to that word. It’s just so dramatic. It’s too self-assured. I guess it works, but it just screams “I’ve read the statistics and I know that if I use the word Killer, then everyone will read my manifesto on “10 Killer Steps to Better Underwater Basket Weaving.” […]
The “dress smart” tip does actually work in some circumstances.
If you are flying British Airways out of london – it can make a world of difference. Dress smart, arrive early and at the check-in counter ask if you can be added to the “SFU” list. This is a term BA staff uses – “Suitable For Upgrade” to identify people they would like to be seen flying in their 1st of business class cabins.
I find on US-airlines, it adds no value at all.
Currently the flight from Asia to Europe are horribly expensive. Hope they are getting cheaper soon again.
Seems like the capacities are really at their end. Overbooking is common, but perks are not – unfortunately. Let’s hope for the A380 next year, should ease the situation a bit. 😉
Chris
Life is what you make it!
http://www.nomad4ever.com
[…] It seems that just about everyone these days is itching to offer up travel advice — some good, some bad — but it’s a sign that things are a-changin’. More and more first-timers are flying, and this is a major cause for unnecessary airport travel traffic, says “Geekster” over at GeekAbout.com in the article, “Travel like a pro: 8 tips to make your journey easier.” […]
[…] It seems that just about everyone these days is itching to offer up travel advice — some good, some bad — but it’s a sign that things are a-changin’. More and more first-timers are flying, and this is a major cause for unnecessary airport travel traffic, says “Geekster” over at GeekAbout.com in the article, “Travel like a pro: 8 tips to make your journey easier.” […]
Extremely good info. I’m liking these flight tips, i’ve taken a lot of flights and have never even considered implementing some of the tricks you’ve outlined on this site.
http://lejendzroundtheworld.blogspot.com/
I think this is great! Definitely these tips help the journey become much smoother. Also I find sites like http://www.tripntale.com very helpful when planning my trip to see real people’s experiences and I get great ideas of what I would like and dislike from their travels.