Expenses of air travel can become sky high before you know it, often times making your dream vacation a stressful nightmare. With some advice from a savvy world traveler, you can save money and leave the worries at home.
Determine the type of flyer you are
Do you fly for business, for family vacations, for adventures or just quick weekend getaways? How often do you fly and how long do you like to stay at a particular destination? Once you answer these questions you can get more out of your flights by choosing the options that best fit your situation.
Get one around the world ticket
An all in one ticket for a multi-stop trip is a great way to travel and really see a lot of what the world has to offer. This requires a bigger time commitment as the trip takes anywhere from three to six months to complete. You must start planning at least four months in advance, and you can personalize each stop on your around the world ticket. Bundling all of the flights into one ticket really helps cut down the total cost, so start saving today.
Sign up for a frequent flyer credit card
If you take a lot of business trips, family vacations or weekend getaways you need to be taking advantage of some sort of frequent flying miles program. This can get tricky because you have to be careful not to get into debt with one of these cards. Use your credit card like you would your debit card for groceries, gas and other bills – but pay off the balance in full every month to avoid interest charges. You should rack up some serious airline discounts as well as discounts on hotels and rentals within a few months (depending on the terms of your card).
Download helpful apps
GateGuru is a lifesaver for people like wanting to make the most of the time spent inside an airport. Nobody wants to be there any longer than they have to be, and this app helps you limit waiting and make the whole experience more pleasant. If you open the app for on the day of your flight you will get a real-time status, the wait time expected for particular airport’s security, and a list of the airport’s amenities as well as reviews, tips and photos.
My TSA keeps track of the constantly changing guidelines and rules put in place by the Transportation Security Administration. This makes it easy to know whether the gift you’re buying for a friend back home will make it passed security, or any other questions you might have about ID requirements, liquids and the operating status of U.S. airports.
Pack light
Buy refillable small bottles and pour your own shampoo in them to avoid baggage fees and extra time in customs. If you are traveling around the world on a longer trip, do not think you have to be completely prepared for any situation. Most places in the world have convenience stores and shopping malls, so you can pick up any item you may need.
No matter what type of flyer you are, you deserve to get the most out of your time at the airport and in the air. Be prepared and have the time of your life!