Heading towards new destinations and discovering new cultures is a dream to most of us, but airports can suck that joy right out of us with the long lines, traffic, the delayed flights, and all that tiring process we have to go through.
In order to take advantage of airports, we need to understand many tricks and learn all their secrets to guarantee a better experience for a good start (or end!) of a beautiful journey. So we asked some insiders and travel hackers to get a better idea of how we can take great advantages of airports.
Rewards Credit Cards
We asked Eric Rosenberg, who is a travel hacker and the founder of personal profitability, and he enlightened us with the magic of rewards credit cards.
If you like to travel with a particular airline, then you should consider and research how to get a reward credit card in order to enjoy generous bonuses and great travel perks like early boarding, discounted flight tickets, and access to airport lounges.
Furthermore, you can earn thousands of frequent flyer miles. This way you will travel to your next destination for a very cheap price, or for free!
Sign Up for Airline Rewards Programs
Even if you don’t travel that often, or you don’t fly with a particular airline, you still can benefit from the airline rewards program. By signing up you’ll be grabbing the opportunity of earning miles and points for free or low-cost travel perks after just a few flights.
Airport lounges
We may be mistaken for airport lounges because we always thought it is for rich and famous people, but it is a free country and we can enjoy it as much as they do, even if our wallets are not as full as theirs.
There are many airline loyalty programs and credit cards that provide a discount, or a free of charge access to airport lounges. Not only you will relax and wait for your flight on comfortable couches, but you will also enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks.
Make sure to contact your credit card company before planning your travel date in order to find out if you are eligible for entrance.
Tuesday and Wednesday
Next time you are planning to travel, try to avoid the weekends and pick Tuesday and Wednesday instead. The weekends, of course, are when airlines increase their prices and decrease their offers for obvious reasons, without mentioning the large crowds!
So for a better travel experience, fly on Tuesday or Wednesday. You will have the opportunity to save more, lose less, and enjoy it to the maximum (plus, you’ll easily find cheap hotels in your destinations). Try buying tickets for the plane that travels early in the morning or late at night.
Clear your cookies before booking
Let’s do an experiment together: search for a flight online and notice the price. Wait an hour or so and then check the price again.
You will notice that the price strangely increased, and your cookies are the ones to blame because internet browsers track your activity online, which helps some booking sites to increase the price depending on what you are interested in.
To avoid this “manipulated” situation, you should clear your cookies or use a private browser before booking your ticket.
Airline App
Another better way to have better offers is by downloading your airline’s app. Those applications will update you the second your flight gets delayed, and let you know when any change occur.
Plus, you will be able to save so much time by having a mobile boarding pass. So technically, you are only one “free” click away from earning many flying perks, especially if you travel constantly.
Check-In Ahead Of time
If you are always annoyed by the many hours you spend only waiting at the airport check-in, then we have the solution for you. There are many airlines that allow travelers to check in early, and the secret is by bringing a carry-on bag with you!
This is how you can easily be able to print your boarding pass, which means going straight to security early. If only we knew this secret earlier, right?
Check your flight status online
Easy and simple… before heading to the airport, remember to check your flight status online! There is a big chance that you may be a victim of a delayed plane, which may ruin all your schedules. So, as long as you are still at home, check the status and make sure that everything is right!
The Airport Code
In order to avoid getting your luggage’s destination confused, you must learn your airport code or the three letters that refer to your next destination. For example:
– LAX refers to L.A International Airport in Los Angeles.
– ACY refers to Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey.
– SWF refers to Newburgh airport in New York.
– GEG refers to Spokane International Airport in Washington.
Don’t check your bags
As we mentioned before, carrying a carry-on bag will help check-in early and avoid the long lines. However, airlines allow one carry-on bag, and a small item like a laptop or a purse. This way not only help you earn back your time, but you will also avoid getting your luggage lost or even stolen. One more tip, if you have to check your bags, then make sure you know the airline’s baggage fees.
Gifts
If you are carrying gifts for your family and loved ones, don’t try to wrap them because you’ll regret that decision at the airport.
Due to safety reasons, airport security may want to check what insides the nicely wrapped gifts, which means they will destroy the wrapping that you spent –probably half an hour- making. Instead, put your gifts inside the gifting bag, cute ones.
Use Global Entry and TSA pre-Check
If you are an international traveler then you have to take advantage of Global entry ($100) and TSA ($85) that insiders always do, this is how you’ll get a five-year membership for faster screening.
According to one of the insiders, global entry is a must for anyone who constantly travels outside the country because they are known as the “trusted” traveler. Plus, you may even be allowed to skip the security lines and not even take off your shoes.
No Jewelry
Security lines can be really annoying, and your jewelry won’t help that process at all because they may set off the metal detector. So, try leaving your jewelry at home to avoid looking at them being put in the bin or getting pat-down from security. Or you could just pack them!
Empty Water Bottles
We are all aware that TSA throws away our water bottles, for no reason really, but to buy their expensive ones at the food court.
You can, however, pack an empty one which won’t be an issue at the airport security and then fill it up from the water fountains. So now, you don’t have to worry about spending extra $5 to stay hydrated during your journey.
Freeze your liquids
Last but not least, and to start your journey fresh, you can now take your liquids with you! If you freeze your drink, it will get through security as long as it stays frozen solid while going through screening.
However, if your liquid was partially melted, then you’ll have to follow the 3-1-1 liquid rule. So, you just need to freeze them very well before heading to the airport!