14 tips and tricks to Airline Travel you may not know about!

Mix and Match it up!

Thought booking a roundtrip ticket is the cheapest way to go? It use to be but just like life, things change. This is one of my favorite games to play when I go looking to book. Search for one way flights on different airlines. Just because you arrived on one airline doesn’t mean you have to leave that way. To see if you can save some bucks, it’s worth checking into.

Social Media is your friend!

Make sure you sign up on the sites such as  Facebook, Twitter of the airlines you frequent and the airlines actual sites to receive emails, promo codes and many other discounts. I fly JetBlue often and very much feel like I’ve won something when I open their emails. They can have some crazy sales if you book that day and most the deals you see, you usually have a very short window to book.

Get that app!

Take the few moments and download the apps of the airlines you use. A lot of times you can check in prior to even being at the airport and have your boarding pass right on your smartphone, saving you some time and a few trees. In addition, up to the minute for any changes or delays. If you have that check-in, your boarding pass with a carry-on, you head straight to security line.

Check your email and save time!

Almost all airlines will send you an email about your upcoming flight. This allows you to check in and print your boarding pass. If all you have is a carry on, you can head straight to security.

Check vs Carry-on?!

That’s the question. We all know if you exceed the allowed 50lbs on a check bag there is a fee. But did you know as long as the carry-on actual bag size fits through the security screening, it doesn’t matter how much it weighs. Just remember nothing over 3oz when it comes to liquid products. I fill up the mini version in the travel size of the products ever since they took away my $14 bottle of hair spray and my $60 of my foundation! Don’t even risk it if you want to see $74 down the drain. Just saying, proceed at your own risk.

Stuck in airport traffic?

Nonsense, get out of the departure lane and hop in the arrivals lane! Trust me on this one. The same works for people picking you up at the airport only in reverse. Have them pick you up in departures, that way the person can you up and avoid paying the parking fee because you had to wait for your luggage and less traffic.

Do I really need to pack this?

I’m just as guilty as the best of them. I get back home and didn’t wear half of what I brought on the trip. Go old school and pick out the outfit’s you know you are going to wear for the occasions you will be attending. Do you really need a different pair of jeans each day? How long did you really wear your dinner attire pants or slacks? Is it that dirty, hang it up when you get back to the room.

Just how do I fit everything in here?

That’s always my question. Some say roll it up others say lay it flat. If you’re great at rolling and it’s not too bulky, rolling may work for you. Me, I’ve learned to lay it flat. I you have a sweat shirt, place 3 shirts on top each other on the same hanger, now put the sweatshirt over it, lay it flat. Jeans, forget rolling or folding them as you normally would. Set the waste side flat first, now each leg lay flat on top of the waste like a sandwich. Not so bulky now and I fit how much in?!

Let’s just wear it!

If you’re bringing a carry-on they have come of with some creative idea’s! I’ve seen some neat wearable jackets that convert to bags. They enable you to stuff the jacket with you’re belongings and then stuff it in the overhead ben once your on board. Bagket and Jaktogo are a few sites you may want to check out.

That’s my black bag!

Not, it’s Mine! Been there don’t that. Always, Always have something attached to your bag that makes it easy to identify. I know many other people do this. My tip, combine two different crazy colors so you and the other person has the same color ribbon won’t be confused. Crazy colored ribbons, crazy colored name tag. Go off the mark with a outrageous lime green and combine it with hot pink! Fill out your baggage tag using a florescent marking pen. I’ll give you an example. Coming home from a trip to my parent’s, arriving at Long Beach, I went to grab my bag and women asked me “are you sure that’s yours?” Yes, it was bright lite florescent colors that stated my name in bright green and pink but below it stating in the same colors “it’s 5’oclock Somewhere”

Please don’t be shy!

If you honestly have a hard time with an ailment of getting from the curb to the gate. Please put in the request with the airlines for a wheel chair. This will help you with having to struggle with carrying your luggage and unloading when going through security. Don’t get me wrong, you will be treated like everyone else going through security, expect to stand up for security. But if you need it, ask for it.

Forget the Voucher!

When you’re involuntarily bumped from a flight because it’s overbooked, do not settle for vouchers. They’re trying to buying you off. The airline must arrange new travel for you within two hours. If they don’t, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) requires they compensate you in cash, up to $1,350. But the airlines often offer passengers a travel voucher instead. Don’t take it. Did you know they are required to tell you that you can get that check right then and there. Re-book, you have already been bumped. If the voucher seems fair to you, then OK. It’s what works for you but know your rights if this does occur.

The delay is costing me money on my future plans!

What if you had a non-refundable hotel stay? If it looks like the delay is going to cost you more than the airline is offering, like your hotel reservation, car reservation? You have 30 days to try and get as much money out of them as you can. But once you put a check into your bank account, you have agreed to whatever deal they gave. The main key here, BE NICE. They’re probably having just a ruff day as you are. Please try and remember that, BE NICE. Not a push-over,, just someone that needs help.

Buying a block of tickets at once can be more expensive! Unless you’re at a Bulk store. It doesn’t count with airlines.

It might seem more efficient to book a big block of airline tickets for your  family trip but it’s not! Airlines sell tickets at different price levels, depending on the day and time. You may not get to sit together and not to say you’re not going too but look around on their site. Book individually, meaning one by one see if the seat next to yours is available and so on with the group you’re traveling with. It will save money more than time but it works!! Heck for ten more minutes of time to save $50 or $100, I’ll take the 10 minutes of time.