Travel Tips to save time and money when you fly the friendly skies!

1)  Book you flight early to save money.  Up to two months in advance can save you a couple hundred bucks.

2)  You can often get earlier flights if you put yourself on standby for the flight.  Sometimes people will miss their flight and if you ask the ticket counter agents at the gate you can often get seated on an earlier flight.

3)  Set up an online account.  Start saving air miles, save money on flights (some airlines charge you up to 20% more if you book flights over the phone), and view up to date information on arrival and departure times.    

4)  Use web check in.  If the airline has a web check in service use it.  Some airlines offer bonus miles to customers who check them selves in via the web.  If you have luggage to check in no problem.  Airlines will have a different line to check in bags that speeds up the process of you standing in line.  Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Southwest Airlines have these features once you create an account.

5)  Sign up for a air mile credit card.  Rewards can vary on credit cards but take for instance the Alaska Airlines Visa Card.  You can benefit from a buddy pass ($50 friend ticket), bonus miles for purchases, double warranty on items purchased, and a concierge service that will take care of your issues that arise.  

6)  Use your miles wisely.  If 20,000 miles gets you a free ticket but you only have 15,000 miles which will get you a half price ticket, then purchase the other miles.  Most airlines will allow you to purchase miles if you are short.  

7)  Is purchasing miles cheaper than actually purchasing the fair?  Sometimes it can be so if you fair is over $500.00 check the cost of miles in order to get a free ticket.  

8)  Most of the time is less money purchasing directly from the airlines than Orbitz, Priceline, Expedia, Travelocity, and other discounted fair sites.  I check them all anyway just in case I can find a lower fair.  

9)  Travel agents are nice to use but they also charge fees.  You can often save a few bucks by booking your own flight online.  

10)  Make sure you add your mileage account number to you ticket purchase.

11)  Do not over pack.  If you over pack you will be stuck with baggage fees and standing in lines you might not have to.  Try to fit everything you can in a carry on.  If you are wanting to purchase some new clothes do it at your destination, then ship them to your self before you go back.  You can save time and money by doing this and the embarrassment of holding up the line while you are shifting the weight around in your luggage.  

12)  Always check to see what you can bring on the plane.  You do not want to be throwing away cologne or shampoo because it is not allowed.  

13)  Bring your own pillow and blanket.  Airlines are now charging for pillows and blankets so if you have some that you can carry on the plane with you - you should be alright.

14)  Forget purchasing the expensive neck cushions, you can make your own with a towel or blanket.  

15)  Get to the airport at least an hour and half ahead of time.  Not only do you have to stand in line to check in or check bags - you have to go through the security line. 

16)  Bring your own snacks.  If you get caught between flights or delays you can spend more money that you need too.  Bring snacks and prepare for delays.  

17)  Bring cash for the plane.  If you have a long flight you can pass the time by watching movies, but keep in mind you will have to pay cash for them.  

18)  Meals are hardly ever offered on the plane.  If they are you will have to purchase the meal for cash (usually $5).

19)  Arriving a day earlier or leaving later can save you some money but if you are staying at a hotel be aware of check in and out times - you stay to late you might have to pay for that extra day.  

20)  Hertz rent a car just waived the fill up fee on their gas so you do not have to search around for a gas station before you turn in your rental car.  You can simply pay the regular pump prices with them instead of what the other companies charge you by not filling up the tank.

21)  If you have a child that goes between locations you can have the airline escort them.  There is a fee involved- usually $75.  It is safe just make sure you fill out the guardian contact form properly.  This can save you the cost of a ticket especially when the child is older.  

22)  If your flight is delayed until the next day, ask the airline to put you up at a hotel and provide some meals.  They will usually do that - they wont like it but they usually will.

23)  If your flight is delayed check to see if you can reroute your flight through another city.  Often times they will tell you cant if have checked baggage but ask before you check your baggage.  Sometimes they will even pull your luggage for you and put it on the next flight with you.  You have to fly with your bags unless they lose them.  

24)  Have them deliver your lost luggage.  Nothing like being without luggage.  Take a carry on that will get you by for a day or say just in case the airline loses your bags.  Also explain the pain and suffering it caused by not having your bag and usually they will deliver them for you.  

25)  If you have a bad experience send a letter to the airline documenting your flight.  Often you can get ticket vouchers or cash vouchers.  Talk to customer service and make sure you right down names of every you were in contact with.

26)  Ask to talk to a manager.  90% of the time the counter agent is great, but once in a while you will come across someone that knows nothing about customer service.  Sometimes explaining your case to a manager that can make a decision will get you to where you need to go.  

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