22 Travel Tips for Airline Employees By Airline Employees

It’s always great to get tips from your peers. So in my weekly newsletter, I asked you to give me some travel tips that I can share with everyone. Well, you did anonymously, and here they are unedited, except for clarification and correcting spelling and/or grammatical errors for readability where appropriate.

You can watch them via a video here or read them below:

1. Never leave the gate until aircraft is pushed from gate

I received this one multiple times. I’ve gotten on flights many times using this technique. Sometimes there are delays or someone just don’t want to go anymore. Or the gate crew miscounted. So unless you have another flight to try, stick around.

2. Have patience and be respectful to other co-workers

If you get nothing from this post, get this one please. There is absolutely no need for you to be rude to anyone, even if they are rude to you. Walk away, go wash your face, shake it off. If you have an issue, your airline have ways to deal with it, use those measures.

 

3. For non-rev travelers, ask the gate agents if you can get them something, like a cup of coffee, tea, water or soda. They’re stuck behind the counter and will appreciate the offer.

I’ve done this one time as a revenue customer, when my flight was cancelled and the agent could not leave the area; they really appreciated it. You have to judge the mood of the situation and make the best decision. Some people actually bring candy or some type of sweet consumable to hand to the agents. Don’t feel badly if they do not accept your offer. It’s all good.

4. Surprisingly, one of the best things that people forget is that employees remember who is nice to them. Not like “huggy super” saccharin nice or demanding, but if you’re pleasant and optimistic, while still treating them like a professional, It will help you out more often than not.

Absolutely! And this goes both ways.

5. Always have a backup plan

Indeed. Always have a place A, B, C and maybe D. If you don’t get on the first flight you wanted.

6. I’m sure it’s harder when traveling with family or others but I always say, if you can’t get to where you planned go someplace you haven’t been.

Very true and we have so many choices.

7. Whenever I fly Thai Airways International (TG), I check the aircraft.  They fly the A380 from CDG to BKK to NRT and I travel to BKK often.  I have never not made the flight with the A380.

They are saying to always check the aircraft type as the larger airplanes usually have a higher no show, so bear that in mind.

 

8. When non-revving on Southwest Airlines, Tuesday and Wednesday morning first flights are you best chance.

This is typically true for most airlines.

9. If you must reach your destination on the day you are flying, do not book yourself on the last flight of the day.

Seriously, why would you do this? You have no wiggle room here at all and you will need it.

10. If possible start with the first flight of the day no matter how ridiculously early.

Yeah, you will be better off and won’t have to possibly spend an extra day. Like me, most people hate waking up early. Who decided on a 5:50a flight though? Geez! Schedulers :-). The early bird flight is the most likely to have the passenger load fall off from planned, so as standby travelers, you stand a good chance of making it. But also note that the people who didn’t make the last flight of the night, would rollover or be on this flight.

11. Pick nonstop flights but if that is unsuccessful go to the Flight Information Displays and find non-hub obscure connection cites and don’t tell anyone.

Sneaky, but true. This page helps you decide on where to go and you can also use the Flight Schedules on Passrider.com.

 

2. Travel with a nightlight

Never thought of this one. But if you’re afraid of sleeping in the dark when you travel, it’s a good idea.

 

13. Take a clothespin with you to clip the drapes together in a hotel

A cool tip, I sleep with the drapes open though :-).
 
 

14. Bring Earplugs!

I love airplane noise, but not everyone does. Plus if you’re rooming with a snorer like me you’ll need them :).

 

15. I buy tickets inside Europe with points from AMEX. I use AMEX for my daily purchases and accrue points that I can use on these tickets and avoid the headache of having to stand by. AMEX Platinum is expensive but you get your money’s worth and more with all the perks they give you during the year.

I can definitely agree with this tip as I use the card and all its benefits to the maximum advantage. Yes, passively earning points is the key. The AMEX Platinum gives you lots of travel perks. Gold with Hilton and Marriott means early checking and late check out. Not to mention Priority Pass access and The Centurion Lounge access, travel credits, Uber credits and more.

16. I have downloaded the following apps to my iPhone and keep them there

• Sygic and Sygic Travel, these two apps give you information about the city you are visiting, restaurants, places to see and will download city maps in your smart phone.
• Rome2Rio, will let you know how to go from point A to B.
• Boingo will help you with free Wi-Fi. Note: It’s only free if you have the American Express Platinum card.
• Currency will help you to know how much is the US dollar against other currencies.
• World Map, you need to have geography knowledge when you travel.
• ID90 in case you need a discount at last minute.
• The Weather Channel, it is important to get information about the weather of the places you are in or headed to.
• TripAdvisor, I like to read reviews of restaurants and places I visit.
• Smart Traveler, in today’s world you need to register and leave the information of where you are going so that you can receive emails if there is danger where you are or will be visiting. This has help me a lot.

17. Don’t be discouraged by load factor at a major hub. There’s always miss-connection chances that open seat for us Space As.

This is very true. Chances of passengers missing their flights in the hubs are pretty good as the hubs are so large and if a a flight is late coming in, misconnections are very possible. Plus you have a lot more connecting opportunities. Note that connecting opportunities increase your changes of getting bumped, but if you find a connection that works, then you are good to go. You can see some additional connecting options here.

 

18. Dress nicely, be polite and adhere to your airline rules and regulations.

This is really important, don’t put the gate agents in a bad position, just ’cause you don’t want to follow the rules. The rules are there for a reason whether you agree with them or not.

 

19. The most useful thing you can keep in your on-board bag should be TIME. Always plan for failure – a 5 pm departure WILL strand you in Denver and a 30-minute connection in Atlanta is a suicide run. Leave early, know the “next flight” possibilities. It will keep you from sleeping in the airport. Also, have a hotel in each hub that you like (for cleanliness and $) in your cell-phone contacts ready to go just in case. Keep a sense of politeness and optimism. Leave room in your schedule for stuff to happen and for backup plans.

Really solid advice.
 
If you need a hotel here’s a handy hotel map for you.

 

20. Look at waiting in the airport etc… as part of the process of your adventure! Go with the flow.

Too often I see people freak out over this. It’s the name of the game; just be patient.

 

21. Be flexible

You have the world at your fingertips. Pick another place or another routing. I tell you about 89 Things To Do As An Airline Employee Before You QUIT here in my book.

22. Check in for your flights 24 hrs ahead and make sure that you sign up for flight notifications

All the airlines have this ability; well most of them. Use the Apps they provide. Some will also show you where you are on the standby list.

 

 

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