I’ve done more than my fair share of flying this month, which has allowed me to catch up on my magazine reading. And, as if to mock me for all my travel woes, Ski Magazine had a useful article on “The Smart Skier’s Guide to Flying.” I’ve taken it upon myself to modify their tips into “The Smart Traveler’s Guide to Flying.”
1. Take the First Flight of the Day: One of the last truisms left about the airlines is that the first flight of the day is the one least likely to be delayed. And if there are weather-related delays? You’ve got an entire day to sort out the flying options.
2. Make it a Nonstop – Or Avoid O’Hare: A single flight minimizes delays and eliminates the possiblity of missed connections. But, if you must make a connection, try to avoid airports where winter storm delays are common. Chicago’s O’Hare is at the top of that list and Minneapolis ranks just below it. Dallas, Houston and Salt Lake City are better bets.
3. Don’t Take the Airline’s Word on Connections. Online travel agencies, such as Expedia, and airline websites are programmed to sell tickets with layovers of as little as 30 inutes. But just because the computer thinks this is reasonable doesn’t mean that it actual is. Plan on an hour minimum, or even 90 minutes.
4. Ask for an Exit-Row Seat. When you check in at the e-ticket kiosk or even online the night before, select the option that allows you to change your seat and try to pick the common man’s first class. If that doesn’t work, ask at the gate for an exit row seat. Depending on the aircraft, these seats nearly always have more legroom than the other seats in coach. (I’ve noticed the smaller the plane, the less extra legroom you get.)
5. Use your Phone to Change Your Ticket. Use your cell phone to reschedule or get waitlisted if your flight is canceled or severely delayed. Program the airline’s toll-free number into your phone before you go and call while you’re waiting in line to reschedule. A two-pronged attach has better odds for success.
6. Carry on Essentials. With more people checking luggage than ever before, more of it is going missing. In just the first three months of 2007, more than one million lost or delayed baggage claims were filed with the airlines.
7. Take the Cash if you Volunteer to get Bumped. If you decide to volunteer, go for a dollar voucher, not a “free” ticket, which is usually heavily restricted. Dollar vouchers can be applied to any airfare.
8. Check Security Line Times: Before you go to the airport, check out the historical wait times that the TSA complies at security checkpoints at major airports hour by hour, concourse by concourse. It may not decrease your wait, but it could give you a better idea at how much time you’ll need.
(Cheers to Ski Magazine)
So as everyone’s favorite Chairman’s Preferred frequent flier, I have to say that almost all of these are dead-on.
In terms of exit rows, be prepared to be asked to pay extra on certain airlines to get those seats (Especially on United). Those seats are reserved for frequent fliers in the booking process, and often they’ll be held for frequent fliers at the gate, as well.
But the best piece of advice you gave: ALWAYS TAKE THE CASH. The free tickets are never any good, and unless you can book your seats 330 days in advance, they’re about as helpful as the paper they’re written on.
Last, but not least, never, ever underestimate the power of a call to customer service. If you have a long delay due to anything besides weather that inconveniences you, if someone is surly or mean, if your bags get lost, call customer service. You’ll be amazed how far they’ll go to make it right!
I encountered my first pay-for-exit-row seat option with Northwest during my trip to Colorado. When I was checking the available seating the night before my flight, they were charging like $20 a seat.
However.
I checked the seating again when I was checking in that morning and boom! they were free.
And agreed on the customer service line. They tend to be a hella lot more useful than the often-frazzled counter employee at the airport.