Airlines and Airports - Tips for travelers without Frequent Flyer miles

For those of you who do travel a fair bit, but are not on a miles treadmill or not enrolled in frequent flyers, here are some tips I have gathered from my sweetie (who has yet to achieve elite status):

- Find someone with Frequent Flyer miles, and attach yourself to them like a saprophyte fungus. Being in the gravitational pull of a frequent flyer is awesome, as you get the privileges without doing the miles treadmill thing... ask my sweetie.

But seriously...

- Prep: most airlines app will allow you to check in and get an electronic boarding pass without signing up to their program. Highly recommended for flights within the US. 

For international flights (that goes for all travelers) especially to African, Middle Eastern and South American destinations, always have a printed copy of your confirmed ticket: you probably will need it to get inside the airport. 

- At the airline counter: SMILE SMILE SMILE. And, no, not the creepy Wednesday Addams smile... But the smile that you would use to woo! Flutter your eyelashes, or whatever: be charming (yes, gentlemen, you too). It goes a long long way. Remember that airlines employees are human beings and that, the shortcomings of their company is really not their personal responsibility. So taking out your frustration on those poor people won't help you one bit. You will often find that most are actually very sympathetic to your plight as a passenger. If you keep smiling.

- Seat choosing: choose your seat wisely. Remember that the back seats, though close to the restrooms, are ... well close to the restrooms and cannot recline. Also, on international flights, you'll be the last to be served your meal, and they probably will have run out of that amazing salmon en croute <sarcasm>, leaving you with the overboiled pasta option.

Most aircraft are now using the 3 - 3 seat configuration (both Airbus and Boeing). What that means: sucks to be you on a long haul if you are by the window. It means you will have to jump over or displace two people to get up. The aisle seat is the preferred option of the savvy traveler. And you also get to deplane faster. 

Generally speaking, row 15-20 are the preferred seats in regular economy. I would refer you to the wonderful Oatmeal illustration of plane layouts. 

- Security: your line may be longer. use that extra time. Be prepared. That does not mean you should come to the airport in a bikini (though frankly I don't see why not). But you will save yourself a lot of grief by sorting yourself out in prep for the scanner. Keys and change should be in your carry-on bag. You really should have nothing in your pockets, even paper, because it will be picked up by the new scanner in airports, and will result in your being patted down and delay you (not to mention the tickling). If you have a belt with a heavy buckle, take it off while in the line and slip it in your jacket or your bag. Get your laptop out. Etc. You know all this. Just use your extra waiting time wisely. But, most importantly: SMILE SMILE SMILE. Because of the most abused personnel at airports, the TSA agents are at the top. Mind you, they have had a history of abusing passengers. But remember: they are not paid to think, they are paid to follow orders, and if they decide to check your 90 years old grandmother for incendiary devices, you can't prevent them to do so (speaking from personal experience, here). Being courteous will help. A LOT. And if you feel you are abused, report it directly to the always nearby supervisor. They are responsive.

Also, and this counts for all travelers, elite or not, check out items not allow on-board ahead of time depending on your airline and place of boarding. They do vary and you don't want bad surprise (ie at the Brussels Airport, security helpfully warns you that you should not put your runny cheeses in your carry-on... Oh yes, they go there... See pic)

- On Board: same advice goes with dealing with stewards and stewardesses. Imagine being in their shoes for 5 mins. 

A good carry-on bag, if you can avoid having to carry your suitcase with you, is a carry-on that will fit under the seat in front if you. This will prevent you having to vie for overhead bin space or facing having your bag forcefully checked-in.