Jet-setting across the globe regularly and racking up hundreds of points on almost every rewards card in existence may strike an air of glitz and glamour to an average observer, but the weary travellers in question sing a different tune. Behind the flashy façade lies endless airport security, flight delays, long transits, and of course, jet lag. Flying routinely clearly isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.
Clocking up those miles can definitely take its toll, often leaving you exhausted and wanting nothing more than a well-deserved sleep in your own bed. Take a look at these tips to make your trips a little less draining.
Online Ticketing
When looking for a ticket online, make sure to delete your browser cookies after every search. The cache uses your browser history to calculate the demand for the ticket and subsequently hikes up the price.
Round trip tickets from the same airline sometimes cost more than two one-way tickets from different airlines. Sites like Kayak are very helpful in presenting you with all possible options.
When booking your ticket, don’t choose your seat right away. Usually, the more comfortable and thus more desirable seats are more expensive than the others, so travellers don’t tend to choose them anyway. This means those better seats are freed up for you to get assigned to at the airport counter.
Take Advantage of the Lounge
It goes without saying: get to the terminal as soon as you can. Not only will you have extra time in case of traffic or if you need to turn back to retrieve a forgotten document, but you can also maximize your time in the Business Lounge.
If you’re travelling Economy and do not hold access to the Business Lounge, get someone to sign you in. Most lounges allow a pass holder to invite a guest, so standing nearby and requesting a fellow traveller to sign you in can be the smartest thing you can do.
Up In The Air
Ordering a special meal (Kosher or Vegetarian) means you’ll be served ahead of the usual meal service which leave you more time to get some sleep or catch up on your work. The special meal is also almost always more appetizing than the standard entrée.
If travelling on a domestic or budget carrier, BYOB. That’s right, airlines only restrict the size of liquids you can carry, not what they actually are so you are allowed to bring your choice of mini liquor bottle on board. You can mix it with the free soft drink the airline serves you and save on the ridiculously inflated rates.
Touchdown
As soon as you clear airport security, don’t head to Arrivals like everyone else. Instead, make a beeline for Departures where you can snag a cab without the queues and the crowds.
Manage your paper trail with apps like Lemon which allow you to upload all your receipts and tickets to one place, ready to present to the office upon your return. It will keep everything sorted, leaving you one less thing to worry about.
Flying regularly can easily turn into a nightmare, with one too many red eyes or unexplainable delays so let’s do what we can to make it easier. Hopefully your next trip 35,000 feet in the air is time well spent, and remember to book your very own furnished apartment!
