Some Flight Travel Tips for Frequent (and Not-So-Frequent) Fliers

Some Flight Travel Tips for Frequent (and Not-So-Frequent) Fliers





For the last 45 years or so, I've traveled fairly extensively - I've
been to over 100 countries for work and pleasure and racked up millions
of miles along the way. However, the last decade and a half has been
especially challenging; I don't have to tell most of you that. Along the
way, through trial and error, I've developed some travel techniques and
disciplines which have cut down on unnecessary time, cost and stress
that I'd like to share with you. I apologize for the length of this
post, but I think the tips will prove valuable to most of you.

Whether
you travel for business or pleasure, the cost of your ticket seems to
be the primary concern for most travelers. However, especially within
the last 8-10 years or so, the aspect of flying comfort seems to be
creeping up to a close "number two" in flying priority.

Everybody
complains about not having enough leg room and, if you're a big person,
personal space for working and eating becomes a concern, as well. This
post won't contain tips on ticket purchases, upgrades and the like
(perhaps at a later date), but I will talk about what you can do to make
whatever class you're flying in much more comfortable and easier
overall.

PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP

This
may surprise you, but if you fly a lot, you just hate to pack things
you may not need. And, in today's travel environment, if you can fly
without having to check a bag or three, that will not only save you a
lot of cash, it will save you time collecting your bags from the
carousel and the hassle of carrying them or tipping someone to watch
over them for you.

No matter where I go in the world and
irrespective of the length of my trip, I NEVER take more than a regular
carry-on suitcase and a backpack for my electronics gear. The latter
first: Don't you get tired of having to go through the TSA security
line? Don't you hate it when, let's say, you're traveling from Athens to
New York, with a stop to change planes in Amsterdam, and you have to go
through security a second time? Not only that - say your final
destination is Houston and you may be asked to take your bags through
yet another security checkpoint in New York AFTER you go through
Customs? That's fun, huh?

That's why I put EVERYTHING I have to unpack to go in the conveyor bins at security in a backpack: computer, smart phone, cords, adapters...AND the little quart-sized clear plastic bag for liquids.
Do it all! Just empty your backpack into a couple of those grey
conveyor trays so you don't have to worry about opening your other
carry-on bag.

Now the carry-on itself. I ONLY pack enough stuff to
get me through two days at my destination. Here's the trick: Take with
you clothes and supplies you need for that first couple of days and buy a
suit or two (ladies - perhaps a business outfit or two) and the
incidentals you need at your destination WHEN YOU GET to your
destination. It'll take a little more planning the first time you do it
but, if you make it a habit, it will become second nature for each
successive trip.

I'm not saying that travelers should be made of
money. It's just that, with proper planning and budgeting, you can pick
up a nice bespoke suit in Hong Kong in February (perhaps you were going
to get one anyway in March in your hometown of LA?). And ladies, get
those new Jimmy Choo's in a Paris wholesaler and save a ton of moolah.
Planning.

I always try to travel comfortably - slip on shoes,
cargo pants or shorts with lots of pockets, and so on. And, if there are
old clothes I've been planning to toss at the next opportunity, make
that opportunity your next trip! This is a good way to get rid of those
old skivvies, socks, shoes, and the like.

Another tip: You can get
up to THREE TIMES MORE CLOTHES into your carry-on bag by putting them
into a vacuum bag or two and vacuum-compressing the air out of the bags.
You'll be surprised what you can get into a 21" X 13" X 10" bag (max.
sizes differ depending on airlines).

Finally, plan to ship back as
much of your "stuff" as possible at the end of your trip so you don't
have to carry it back on the plane or, worse, check a bag. Do it FedEx -
it isn't that expensive. There are a few companies who will actually
take your suitcases and ship them back to you on an earlier flight, so
that they'll be home waiting for you - but I find these services
expensive and untrustworthy, at least at this time. Perhaps they'll get
better.

CHECK-IN AND SECURITY

I
always get to the airport early. Not because I like the food or the
ambiance, but so I can go through my "rituals." Since I only am taking a
carry-on bag and a backpack, I don't have to check anything. But I will
get in a "check-in" line to ask for earlier flights and/or free
upgrades. If you get to the airport say, 2 1/2 hours early, there's a
good chance you may be able to snag an earlier flight or a free upgrade
to Business or First Class. I find that one of these things happens
about 40% of the time for me, enough so that I will invest some time
checking them out.

Another thing you can do is buy some miles from your carrier for an upgrade. In
many cases - not all, but many - the money you pay to buy miles is
actually less than the difference in money it would have taken to get a
higher class ticket in the first place! At any rate, start
doing these things to develop a habit - practice talking to the counter
rep; you'll find that she is a wealth of information and, over time,
you'll score some goodies.

The next thing is going through the
security line. For Pete's sake, invest in some slip on shoes, metal-free
belt, and a change purse for your loose change. Besides the tip with
the electronics I outlined above, this will save you some time...and a
lot of needless movement. (You'll be surprised how tired you can get
just by the stress and needless activity you put yourself through on
your flight. I mean, jet lag will be enough; don't add to your misery.)

The
last thing about security: take clothes with you that can be folded
tightly - preferably without wrinkling. That way, you can take whatever
outerwear you've got on and put it into your carry-on BEFORE you go
through the security line.

When you get to the gate, ask the
counter person to go through the exercise again for upgrades - more
people have checked in by that point, and the airline staff have a
better handle on possible vacancies. Remember, if you don't ask for
"free," they probably won't offer you "free."

Finally, when they
are ready to board the plane, this is the time to develop a limp. Only
once in my entire life have I ever been denied early boarding because of
an affliction - real or perceived. Now, you're probably saying to
yourself: "Oh, YOU'RE the guy who does that, eh?" Yeah, I'm "the guy."
But here is why I do it. When the airlines started charging for checked
bags, people started bringing more crapola onto the flight with them.
And the airlines do a lousy job of enforcing their own guidelines. I
want to: A. make sure I get an overhead bin for my carry-on next to me
and, B. get into my seat and get arranged before the masses flood in. I
may even ask the attendant for a scotch at that point.

THE ACTUAL FLIGHT

So,
here you are - somewhat refreshed, relieved to be in your seat and
having a place for your stuff, and listening to your iPod while the
sweaty masses are pushing and shoving by you. When they finally get
seated and you, sitting on the aisle, can finally stretch out a little,
look around for a more preferable empty seat. In this day and age it
will be rare to find one; not too many flights have empty seats anymore.
But you may find one. And NOBODY will stop you from asking (yet again)
if there are any "empties" in Business or First Class. Yes, even then
they will move you if they have a vacancy!

Once you're up in the
air, and before they start the drink service, go back to the pantry and
ask an attendant for a few bottles of water. They will give them to you.
If you get any pushback, say you need them for "your medicine." You're
not lying! You suddenly developed a headache, is all.

Hopefully,
you've had the foresight to bring with you some disposable cleansing
cloths for your hands and face. Those bathrooms are horrible and you
will get sick. Believe me. It will happen. Rule of thumb: Anything that
anybody else touches more than once you want something to clean it. And
that includes the magazines, the tray tables, you get the message.

Finally,
I alluded to the "aisle seat." Get used to getting that seat,
especially for long flights. You may be one of those rare people who
don't care if they need something from the overhead bin for ten hours,
or perhaps you're Mother Teresa in disguise and will let everybody off
the plane when it lands - before you. I think not. But you will learn to
love and embrace the aisle seat for these and other little blessings.
That's just the way it is.

MISCELLANY

I
know I said I wouldn't talk about tickets and their acquisition, but
one tip here: On trips where you MUST make connections, try to book
tickets which make the layovers at least two hours (2 1/2 hours
internationally); let me tell you why. Many flights are late and,
consequently, you don't want to test your new pacemaker by running like a
madman between gates. And, like I iterated before, you may have an
another unexpected round of security or passport check during your
layover. But most importantly (and unfortunately, this is yet another
added downside to traveling nowadays) many flights are cancelled with no
advance notice. If your connecting flight is one of them, it would be
nice to have a little extra time to rebook another flight.

Tip:
Always have in your list of "Favorite Phone Numbers" your customer
service numbers for your carrier or carriers. And keep in mind that
rebooking numbers are NOT ALWAYS THE SAME as the regular customer
service numbers.

So, I hope I've imparted a little knowledge here.
I fly about once a month, maybe every two months, depending on who
needs me where. I will tell you that I upgrade about 40% of the time,
most of that for no extra cash. And, even after all these years of
travel, I STILL look better than the 30 year old couple with two
screaming kids, a twin baby carriage and diaper bags.

...courtesy of #JillBerni