Airports are the gatekeepers of our journeys, once we pass through their checkpoints and hurdles, we can focus on our destination. Getting through the maze of screens, check-ins and drop-offs can either be a stressful sweat fest or a smooth – dare I say - enjoyable part of the journey. I have found these simple ways to avoid common airport obstacles and save money, time, and stress.
Months before your flight
I invest in a service like TSA pre-check, Clear, or Global Entry - it is so worth it. If I am running late, they get me through security fast. If the lines are long and my patience is thin, they save my family from angry mommy. They deserve chill mommy.
I also love my travel credit card which gives me preferential services while traveling and as many rewards points and discounts as possible (for both spending and earning). I spend on my card for everything that they allow me to collect points for, and I pay it off every month. So not only do I not pay interest, I get a little something back in the form of reward points. I can get things like airport lounge visits, upgrades, discounts on reservations, bonus points programs, companion fares, and discounts on regular flights. Decent, legit discounts. The airport perks alone have allowed me to have a much airport experience, especially when I have had flight delays, or my trip has hit a snag. Which happens. As airport lounges get more crowded with the post-pandemic travel surge, airlines are having to get more selective about who they let in. Some reports have suggested that airlines are favoring customer spending on tickets and brand-loyal credit cards over duration of flying loyalty when dolling out perks.
I also do research on my rental car company, and beyond price, I look for a company that has their pickup at the actual airport. No off-site journey, no transfer shuttle, and no awkward driver interaction when I realize I gave my last bit of tipping cash to the curbside Skycap…If I can’t take advantage of an option like this it adds 30 minutes to an hour to my check-in and check-out time, and a whole lot of annoyance. There are some airports where you can’t get a car in the terminal and others where only the more expensive companies reside near the gates. I find ways to get the premium car companies at better rates, and sometimes I will pay extra to not wait behind Mr. Questions at the rental center. Those places are either freezing cold, or stinky, and after a long flight I prefer a better, faster trip-launching experience.
Get AAA. I have been pleasantly surprised at how good the discounts are when I ask for AAA rates on many travel websites. Worth it!
I also like to double-check all of my reservations for rewards points programs and membership numbers. So many hotels, car rental agencies, and even Airbnb participate in rewards points programs, I sign up for all of them and accrue wherever I can. Sometimes I even earn points in more than one sphere – like when purchasing flights on Delta, I get Amex points and Delta points and special fares, effectively giving me a discount on all of my travel or credit towards future travel. I like programs that allow you to earn from multiple sources but the points accrue in one place.
The Week Before the Trip
If the airline I am traveling with has a well-reviewed app, I get it. I found that the Delta app has been super helpful. I can make changes to my flight, see updated gates, get delay info, see my frequent flier points accumulate, etc. It also enables easy check-in well in advance of my flight, so I don’t have to wait in long check-in lines. I get notified of sales and available upgrades, both of which I love.
I check baggage requirements and limits. If I am changing planes and airlines, I make sure to know each flight’s specific requirements. They can change from plane to plane – and especially from one airline company to the next. It only takes one flight to Nantucket to know that on some small planes, if you and your luggage weigh too much together, one of you won’t get on the flight. Or that one time I was switching from a first-class international flight (swoon) to a budget airline hopper flight (wah wah wah) and learned how brutal the same-day luggage fee can be.
Before I get on the airplane, I download movies, music, or whatever my current digital jam is. I put some on my phone, some on my laptop…all my digi-crutches. I double-check that it's really working and that I have truly downloaded it. Sometimes the internet gods will make me think my content is on my device when I am actually still streaming it. So now I double-check that I have entertainment BEFORE the flight’s going to be delayed for 3 hours while I sit on the hot hot tarmac.
When I am traveling with my younger kids or those who don't love lots of walking around, I highly recommend scooter luggage, or even just bringing a fold-up Razr-type scooter. Airports don’t always allow scooters so double check with yours. Worst case scenario I fold it up in the airport after a stern warning from security…. but then at least I still have it at my destination. The scooter luggage is cool because the kids got really excited to use it, it looks adorable, it folds up relatively easily, and goes in the overhead bin. The one we got doesn't really carry much – just the airplane kid essentials, blankie, activities, and a Peppa plush.
I once had an airline gate agent tell me that the sooner I get my boarding pass before the flight, the more likely I am to get a TSA pre-check. The airline’s app notifies me as soon as my boarding pass is available. Sometimes I can upgrade at the last minute, or at least see your place in the upgrade line, for a lower cost. I check in and get my boarding pass as soon as it’s available.
Day Of Your Trip:
When it comes to pick up and drop off my husband and I have found that sometimes it's less crowded and much simpler to be picked up in the departures area, and vice versa. At my home airport, it's not very far to go from departures to arrivals and arrival departures. It depends on what the traffic is like at the airport.
I pack to get through TSA fast. We all know about the liquids thing and taking our shoes off, but I like to reduce plastic and prefer my own water bottle, so I just make sure to bring it empty. Slip-on shoes and my good socks are key to getting through security without grossing myself out or being embarrassed. I also make sure my laptop and phones are within easy reach to pull out and place in the bins fast.
I love to always avoid all lines, so sometimes I check in at the skycap at the airport curb. I don't wait in the baggage line, or the check-in line, especially with my boarding pass. So. Much. Easier. Just remember to have cash on hand for a tip.
When I have a long delay or layover, sometimes I can get a lot of steps in for the day. This is especially helpful after sitting in an airplane for a long time. Exercise can mitigate the effects of jetlag, and help you sleep. In some airports, there are places to store luggage so that my walk is unincumbered. I like to explore the other terminals in the airport – it’s not just good for exercise, you can shop, find new places to eat, or even discover money.
Okay, maybe I haven’t ever literally FOUND money walking around the airport. But, one time when I was on a wander at the Barcelona airport, I discovered the Global Blue Tax Refund and ended up with bonus money. (As of this writing I am not getting paid for this) It's a VAT tax refund processor, that gives you cash back – actual dollars -- on anything that you buy when you're abroad, whatever VAT tax you pay, you can get back when you leave the country for the USA. There are rules like you can’t be an importer, but for the average person, it’s a good thing. When I noticed that same logo while shopping in the city, it triggered me to remember to ask for the VAT receipt. When you make a purchase, and prior to check-out, you have to ask the cashier for a VAT tax receipt and they will give you one. They usually need your passport or ID. Then, I have the Global Blue App, and when I go to the airport to go home, I scan receipts and paperwork at their kiosk, where it gets validated. I set up the app which made it much faster – I did not have to wait more than a few minutes at the kiosk. Those without the app had to wait in a very long line and some couldn’t wait long enough to get their cash back. After it’s validated, the money you paid in VAT gets deposited back into your bank account. Sometimes when we're abroad we might spend on a found treasure that's special and evokes the joy of the trip. This way we can get a little of that back. There are other companies that will process VAT refunds as well – keep an eye out for them when you are shopping.
Lastly, when I get home I double-check that all of my frequent traveler programs counted all of my stays and tabulated all of my points. Because as soon as I get home, I am planning my next trip. I hope my insights will help you on your next journey also!
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