I’ve spent time in dozens of airports around the world and these are my favorite travel hacks of all time. This is a jam-packed article with little-known and practical tips to help you get free stuff, skip the lines, and make the most of your time at the airport.
-The first hack is a simple and effective way to beat traffic while getting off at the airport-
Ask the driver to drop you off at the arrivals level, which is usually located on the first floor of the airport instead of the departures level. While the departure lane is packed, but the arrival lane is empty since most flights are not arriving at 6:00 AM. Once inside, it’s a quick ride down the escalator and you’ll find yourself in the exit area on the second floor. If you arrive at the airport at peak time and need to drop off a bag or check in in person with an agent, curbside check-in lets you check bags and get your boarding pass so you can skip the indoor check-in line entirely. It’s fast, convenient and quite useful if you have a lot of luggage as you don’t have to carry it through the airport.
It’s important to know that airlines often charge fees for curbside check-in, and tipping baggage handlers is often expected. If you do not use curbside check-in,rem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Then this third hack will get you through the indoor check-in line as quickly as possible
When you’re checking in on a flight or dropping off a checked bag at the airport, always aim for the line closest to the business or priority desk. The moment these priority desk agents deal with passengers who have status, they often call passengers from the nearest economy line.Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. This may mean that you will go through the line faster than you expected. And as an added bonus, you’ll likely be checked in by a more senior agent used to dealing with high-profile clients. The easiest way to avoid any check-in lines or any bag drop lines is to travel carry-on only.
Then check-in for your flight online before you reach the airport.
But traveling with just carry-on isn’t easy, so hopefully this next airport hack will help. If you’re on the fence between just being able to pack a carry-on and needing to check a suitcase, But consider wearing a hip pack or fanny pack or cross-body sling under your jacket for a little extra packing space. But traveling with just carry-on isn’t easy, so hopefully this next airport hack will help. If you’re on the fence between just being able to pack a carry-on and needing to check a suitcase, consider wearing a hip pack or fanny pack or cross-body sling under your jacket for a little extra packing space.
Many major airlines consider them personal clothing and allow passengers to wear them without counting the carry-on allowance.
Before going to the security checkpoint that I use in the article description,
The next hack is to make sure you have both a physical copy and a mobile copy of your boarding pass.
-You can print your ticket at home, ask an agent to do it for you at the airport, or you can go to a self-service airport kiosk to print a copy for free. Having a physical copy of your boarding pass is a lifesaver in situations where you can’t access the internet or your phone battery dies. This can give you a significant advantage over other passengers. You will sometimes find that there are separate lines for passengers with mobile boarding passes and those with physical boarding passes Having both allows you to go to whichever line is the shortest,Â
-That’s usually going to be the line for the physical boarding pass because the barcodes are easier to scan If you miss the announcement about which line is which, you can go to any line and not have to worry about going to the front of the line and being sent to the back of another line because you had the wrong type of boarding pass. If you have other business to take care of, So aim to use the restrooms before the security checkpoint. Restrooms you’ll find before going through the security screening process are usually less crowded and often cleaner, making them a better choice than those you’ll find inside the terminal.Â
One last thing to do at the airport before going through security is to stock up on TSA-approved clear liquid bags
-Which you can often find for free at a stand just before the security gate. Having a little stash of these TSA liquid bags will simplify the process of packing liquids for the airport next time. They can also make great stocking stuffers if you have friends and family who travel. When it comes to security, there are plenty of hacks for getting through checkpoints efficiently, including investing in a trusted traveler program. If you qualify, TSA PreCheck is less than $100 for five years, and it will significantly speed up your security screening. And while TSA PreCheck is a worthwhile investment, there are many travelers, including my fellow Canadians, who may not qualify.
The next hack is to check out the app Grab Airport to skip the takeout lines at any restaurant.
The Grab Airport app lets you view food options near your gate and offers the convenience of pre-ordering your food so you can skip the line and head straight to the pickup counter. If you’ve got a lot of time to kill, there are a few things you can do to make the most of that time at the airport. Check out the Sleeping in Airports website, where you can find the best stuff It may surprise you that you are flying from an airport with a movie theater or a museum or a butterfly garden. Some airports, such as Singapore’s Cheyenne, even offer free layover tours that take you into the city. If you have some time to kill, But if there isn’t a lot of time, something simple that I personally like to do is visit the airport bookstore. Lots of travelers hang out at these shops, explore some new books and even just read magazines.
One of the best ways to spend your time at the airport is to visit the lounge.
Lounges give you a great place to relax and they come with amenities like comfortable seating, WiFi, food and sometimes showers. If you’re flying an economy ticket and don’t have a credit card with lounge access, check for day passes on second-hand marketplaces like Craigslist. Where you can usually find them at a discount. Walking up to the airport lounge and paying full price for a day pass can also be worth it, especially if food and drinks are included in the price. Using the free website Lounge Buddy is an easy way to check the costs and amenities of a lounge you’re considering. Let us know in the comments if you have ever used an airport lounge.
This is definitely my favorite way to pass the time before a flight.
But it got me into trouble, at least in the past, before I discovered this next hack. Set an alarm on yourself for an hour before your flights are scheduled to leave so you never end up running through the airport to catch a flight because you got distracted or overslept. When the alarm goes off, don’t blindly go to the gate for your flight ticket. But instead, double-check the flight board or your mobile pass on the airlines app to ensure you have up-to-date gate information. Gates change all the time, and you don’t want to end up at the wrong gate an hour before your flight’s departure, especially since some international flights are boarding.Â
Another airport hack is to check your flight status on the free app or website, FlightAir.
Flight delays can happen all the time, and you may find yourself at the gate near the flight’s scheduled departure when the plane hasn’t arrived yet. I find it especially frustrating when there is an obvious delay,ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. But the airline didn’t even make an announcement. Flightware can help you predict how long the delay will be, since you can type in your flight number and see where the plane actually is and get an estimate of when it will arrive at the gate. If your trip is disrupted, such as a delayed flight,
This next hack will ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Airlines often take advantage of passengers not knowing their rights by offering things like meal vouchers for long delays.Â
Accepting these offers may even waive your rights to greater compensation that you should have received as credit for future travel. The US Department of Transportation is helping travelers by making the major airlines’ consumer plans easily accessible so you can always find the compensation you’re entitled to in a variety of situations.
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The best way to end a great airport experience is with a great flight, and the best way to end a great flight is to choose a great seat.
