I travel frequently, so I’m often drawn to travel tips. However, most of the tips I read are for infrequent pleasure travelers rather than frequent travelers. I’m not sure that there’s enough helpful information out there for those of us who do hit the road a lot, so if you’re a road warrior who spends more time on a plane than in your own house, these tips were written especially for you.
1. Make Use of Frequent Flyer Plans
If you travel more than five times a year, pick an airline, and stick with it. Airline frequent flyer programs work if you work them. For example, let’s say you have a big business trip followed by a vacation and then another trip. You may be able to qualify for an elite program. How, you ask? Airlines sometimes let you bid to become an elite member … you can pick a certain time frame (usually three months) and if you fly a certain amount of segments or miles in that time frame you will receive elite status for a fraction of the miles those that other frequent flyers have to rack up.
2. Request a Good Seat
A great site of finding good and bad seats on planes in SeatGuru. It features all carriers and models. It is a wonderful site for tips, tricks, and good seats.
3. Get Access to Airline Clubs
Check to see which elite credit card programs give you free access to airline clubs. American Express Platinum gives you access to American Airlines clubs for free. The Annual membership fees for the American Airlines Admirals Club are the same as the American Express card—so get the credit card and you get a “two-fer.”
4. Arrange a Private Car Service
Time is money and so every time you skimp and take some Super Shuttle to the airport you are wasting valuable time. For a few dollars more ($50) you could use a private car service. With door to door private service, you save a ton of time and hassle, so consider it next time and you may discover the cost difference is not as much as you would think, especially if you are flying with friends or colleagues.
