Flight hacks: 8 travel tips for a comfortable flight

Air travel can be a real ordeal. It's doubly frustrating if a negative flight experience becomes routine or overshadows your trip. If you fly often, whether it's for business trips or vacations, it's time to learn some little tricks. These flying hacks will make your stay at the airport and on the plane as comfortable as possible. They relate to flight reservations, landings, and amenities along the way.

Start with these 8 travel hacks for flying, written by experienced travelers with a considerable amount of air travel experience. You probably use some of them already, but we're sure you haven't heard of some of the best flight hacks.

1. Speed up the wait

Flying travel hacks should be applied at the airport. Queues at security checkpoints often consume a lot of your time. Waiting is the most tedious part of the flight. Surely you may have noticed that the lines for first class passengers move much faster. Don't pass up the opportunity to take advantage of these lines no matter what your ticket is. You will usually be allowed through, as will first-class ticket holders. This option is convenient if you are going to upgrade in the terminal. But keep in mind that there may be quite a few passengers traveling first or business class at major transportation hubs airports, and the line on priority lines may take even longer, so such flight hacks won't work.

In that case, there is another useful observation. There are usually fewer people at the leftmost checkpoint. Most people are right-handed and subconsciously choose to line up on the right.

2. Improve the class

These airplane travel hacks offer the prospect of getting first-class seats for a budget price. The best opportunities to get an upgrade are right at the terminal. By the time you get here, the staff already knows almost certainly how many seats will be taken, so the cost of the upgrade is much lower. Of course, there is a risk that the flight will be full by that time. But be sure to ask at check-in about the possibility of an upgrade. Even if there aren't any better seats available, you may be offered more comfortable seats in your class.

Also you can get similar airline flight hacks on their website. After buying a seat in "economy," check the website for upgrade offers. In most cases, you can turn an economy ticket into first class for several times less than the original cost of the first-class ticket.

3. Take care of your luggage

The best travel hacks for flying also apply to luggage, because cases of damage are not uncommon. If you have a bag that is broken, it is unpleasant and costly to find it on arrival. So that you can recover your expenses if this happens, take some pictures before you check your bags into the luggage. If your suitcase has a retractable handle, take pictures with the handle in the extended position and in the folded position. If it gets damaged in transit, you'll have proof for the airline that it was their fault. That way you can file a complaint for compensation.

Valuable items, including your documents and wallet, are always taken in your carry-on baggage. But even these can be lost while waiting. It makes sense to put a photo of a child or a pet in your wallet. Statistics confirm that such lost wallets are more likely to be returned. And even if you don't have a baby or a dog, for example, help yourself to a random photo from the Internet.

4. Charge your phone faster

There is a way to speed up charging your phone in airplane conditions. These flight hacks are also useful for other life situations. Don't forget to put your phone in airplane mode. That way it will charge up to 20% faster. And before that, take care of your flying leisure.

Just in case you can't or don't want to watch movies on the plane's screens, didn't bring a book with you, or the things you need are online, load a few browser tabs into your phone while you wait for everyone to board the plane. Check out these travel hack flights at home before you travel to see if they work.

5. Avoid dehydration

During a flight, our bodies lose a lot of moisture, and the stuffy air and limited space make them less resistant to disease. That's why it's important to maintain a water balance. This is one of the best plane travel hacks for feeling good after the flight. Don't miss the moments when flight attendants offer drinks to passengers. Once you can treat yourself to juice or soda, but otherwise give preference to plain water without gas. For the human body is the most useful liquid.

It would be better if you have with you an empty bottle, which you can fill with water from coolers or drinking fountains at the terminal after the check-in. In addition, it is cheaper than buying a bottle of water at the airport store.

6. Find an empty seat

Some airplane tips and hacks seem rather dubious. For example, there are travelers who practice changing seats during the flight. For example, they start in their seat and then go to business class and sit in a vacant seat until the plane is about to land. It's worth noting that this is not a very decent way to go, but if you don't care that much about other people's opinions, you can try your luck. In addition the flight attendant can ask you to return to your seat, and wandering around the cabin does not remind us of a comfortable trip.

If you don't want to break the rules, there are some air travel hacks in case there are more tickets sold than there are seats on board. It happens more often than you think, and if you're offered a later flight, make more comfortable accommodations.

7. Respect the work of the staff

At first glance, it may seem that this recommendation is too general and carries no real benefit. In any case, the staff will do their job and you will use their services. But these are actually hidden airplane hacks to make flying easier. The seats situated near the emergency exits have more leg room than the others. A polite customer will always be helped at check-in to choose the best seats and may even be offered an upgrade. The flight attendant will certainly try to serve a good passenger with more efficiency: he will bring food and drinks on time, settle any misunderstandings with another passenger, offer extra snacks and, if there are free seats, help to change it for a better one if the flight makes you uncomfortable.

Remember that they are not obliged to do anything beyond their direct job duties, and perhaps the most you'll get in return for a good attitude is a sincere smile. But even such a small thing will make the day brighter for both you and them.

8. Waiting at the airport

So, is your flight delayed? There are great flight hacks and tips for that too. If a flight is delayed for an extended period of time, passengers get a hotel room and meal tickets. Don't hesitate to ask for a better hotel or more coupons. And don't forget to be polite - we've already discussed that a pleasant passenger gets more. If you have a long layover at the airport between flights, ask the flight attendant or someone from the airport staff, if of course they have enough time, to recommend a good place to eat or rest.