Whether you enjoy flying or the thought of stepping on a plane sends you into a panic attack, flying presents its own set of challenges that are often out of your control as a consumer. That being said, there are also many steps you can take to ensure a smooth and safe flying experience!
As someone who travels often(#DeltaSnob), I have had my share of both good and bad experiences… From landing after your next flight starts boarding, sprinting between concourses, missed runways, severe turbulence, and cancelled flights; to free upgrades, fantastic meals, and most recently flying in my own DeltaOne suite after a long trip to the west coast to meet with a key customer. The good has certainly outweighed the bad when it comes to my experience, however I also follow the tips below to ensure I have a positive experience!
- Book flights departing early in the morning!
- Booking flights that depart as early in the morning as possible is my #1 rule when it comes to ensuring a positive flying experience. It is scientifically proven that flights either early in the morning or late at night are less likely to be impacted by turbulence. It isn’t always a ideal however, especially in the spring and summer booking a 5AM flight will be a smoother flight than the noon flight.
- Sign up for TSA PreCheck and/or CLEAR!
- Arguably the most frustrating part of any flight is getting through TSA… Take off your shoes, remove your belt, remove your laptop, take out your liquids, and the dreaded “You have been randomly chosen for an additional screening”! TSA PreCheck allows you to streamline your security screening and combine that with CLEAR(for select airports) and you can save a lot of time! Keep in mind that TSA PreCheck and CLEAR are often reimbursed on credit cards like the AMEX Platinum, AMEX Delta Reserve, and Chase Sapphire Reserve… Providing you a free and expedited way to travel!
- Save money by avoiding flying on Monday or Fridays!
- The majority of business travel occurs on mondays and fridays which allows companies to increasing pricing, especially for premium cabins. Using things like google flights or “flexible dates” when booking can often save you hundreds or thousands of dollars!
- Sign up for an airline credit card!
- If you are someone who doesn’t travel enough to gain status with an airline consider signing up for a co-branded Airline credit card. Airline credit cards like the AMEX Delta Platinum or AMEX Delta Gold can earn you things such as a free checked bag and 15% off award fare. If you are someone who travels on Southwest, United, or American Airlines, their cards also come with a certain set of benefits!
- Either stay loyal to an airline or book the cheapest flights!
- Flying today is certainly not a low cost way to travel, however when booking flights consumers really fall into two categories: loyal to an airline or deal hunting. Having semi loyalty to a brand like Delta or Southwest isn’t really going to unlock either status or the ability to save money, as without hitting their bottom tier of status does not earn you any benefits. If you are going to be deal hunting and flying the cheapest airline, open a generic points earning card like the American Express Gold or the Chase Freedom/Sapphire platform to earn points on everyday spend.
- Check for “flight change” upgrades as opposed to the “targeted upgrades”!
- I am sure we have all logged into our flights and seen the option to upgrade to premium economy or first class for additional dollars or miles. What the airlines don’t tell you is that if you click the “change my flight” option you are often able to change your category class and either pay a reduced rate than your targeted offer or even receive credits back. A few weeks ago I was able to upgrade from economy to first class and actually received a Delta eCredit back on my account! Airlines use dynamic pricing and therefore check early and often for price changes!
- Check codeshare flights when traveling internationally!
- Most airlines are a part of an “alliance” that includes partner airlines around the globe. For example, Delta is a SkyTeam member which includes airlines like Virgin Atlantic, Air France and KLM. American Airlines is a part of OneWorld which includes airlines such as British Airways, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific. United Airlines is a Star Alliance member which includes airlines such as Air Canada, ANA, and Lufthansa. These airlines often have lower award travel for premium cabins compared to domestic airlines, allowing you dollar to stretch further when traveling internationally.
- Join social media pages for airlines you fly often!
- Delta runs a SkyMiles life page on Facebook that often posts giveaways but more importantly deals and free items are posted by fellow passengers! On average someone is giving away drink vouchers or fly companion flight tickets on a weekly basis with a first come first serve process. Travelers will also often post reviews on things like inflight meals, hotels, and experiences that they have had… Who doesn’t love an honest review from someone who has traveled to the same location!
- Check your credit card company travel portals before booking with the airlines!
- Booking directly with an airline is often the safest and most cost effective way to book flights however, using the Chase or Amex travel portals has personally saved me money. These portals will often be given discounted rates from airlines who are having a hard time selling specific flights, which in turn can save you money or miles. I recently booked flights that were almost 40K miles cheaper on Amex travel than directly through Delta. You can also use sites like Delta’s Flight Deals.
- BE KIND!
- This shouldn’t even need to be on a list however, the amount of interactions I have seen on planes between rude passengers and crew is appalling. The saying “You catch more flies with Honey than Vinegar” is extremely true when it comes to travel… Being nicest is arguably the easiest way to get an extra pour of alcohol, an upgraded rooms, and even seat upgrades!
What are you flying “hacks”? Do you have a favorite airline? Leave a comment below with which airlines you try to avoid.
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