6 Things You Should Do Before Boarding a Plane
I visited Jane McGarry on the set of WFAA’s Good Morning Texas to share tips for a smoother travel experience and tips to maximize your dollars. Here are the topics discussed in this segment:
Download and Use Your Airline’s App - Unless you're checking a bag, there's no reason to use the check-in desk or deal with a fingerprint-smudged kiosk at the airport. Download your airline's app ahead of time, make sure your reservation details are in, and then use it to check-in. That way, you can head straight to security when you arrive at the airport. Many airlines now offer free onboard entertainment via passengers' personal devices through their apps, so you should have them on your phone anyway. The biggest reason to use the app is that you will receive instant alerts if your flight has been delayed or canceled which can save you valuable travel time.
Use Your Airlines Credit Card - Utilizing an airlines credit card can help you rack up miles which equate to free travel! These cards earn frequent flyer miles every time you use them — usually one mile per dollar, with extra miles for purchases from the airline itself or with partners. You redeem your miles for free or discounted flights, although award flights may be subject to blackout dates and restrictions on destinations. Airline cards also offer perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.
Sign up for TSA Precheck and Global Entry - Keep those shoes and belts on, leave the liquids and laptops in your bag, and forgo the full-body scans by getting TSA PreCheck. You could pay $85 for PreCheck itself, or spend $100 for Global Entry, which also confers PreCheck (usually) as well as expedited immigrations and customs access. Some credit cards will even refund you the application fee for either program.
Check Wait Times at Security Gates - Bypass the worst security checkpoints at over 200 airports around the globe by tapping into the MiFlight app's crowd-sourced, real-time checkpoint waiting times.
Grab Food/Coffee To Go - Hate airplane food, but afraid you'll miss boarding while waiting in a line at an airport restaurant? Use the Grab app to pre-order and pay for items at participating restaurants and vendors at over 30 airports in the U.S. and U.K. Place your order on your ride to the airport and pick it up on your way to the gate without breaking stride.
Always Carry Cash - I use credit cards for 99% of life’s purchases, but I always carry small bills when I travel ($40+) so that I can tip the bell hop and housekeeper at my hotel. Many airports have started providing live musicians to play the piano or perform acoustic sets to make terminal wait times more pleasant so I also like to be able to tip these performers to thank them for their talents.
Now that you’ve easily navigated the terminal, you can plop down in your seat and enjoy the trip! I hope these tips help make your next travel experience a breeze! For more travel tips or to follow my travel adventures, follow me on Instagram at @EmptyNesterTravel.