Travel hacks and advice

[DJSapp]

An add on to the 'board early' mantra: once you have status and are getting bumped to first class, always be the last person to board. The flight attendants don't let the steerage folks poach your overhead bag space and there's still no reason to board early and sit in the sky bus for any longer than you have to.

The drinks you're drinking in the lounge or bar on the expense account are just as free as the tiny cocktails on the plane.

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[huckbucket]

My comment was geared toward those that don't have a big carry on. I still see people with purses or a small backpack herding to the front.


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The other exception is if you're boarding your red eye and you just want to settle in and go to sleep. That was my move last night. I was out before the plane even left the gate.

[Ted Striker]

This thread has made me substantially more paranoid about bedbugs. I ask all you guys who put your luggage in cyberspace while you have a robot inspect the room: Have you ever found a bedbug in your checks?

Only once in thirteen years of constant travel.

IME low-rent apartment buildings have way more bed bugs than mid-priced-and-up hotels.

[plugboots]

The disappointment in the eyes of the middle seat is pretty funny if you walk up to your aisle seat right as they close the doors.

Yup. Rookie move to board early. The refurbed planes have expanded overheads to take the carry-ons on their side. Lots o' space now. Know your seat location, know the type of plane, know the overhead space, know if there's space to bypass the back-of-the-bus losers waiting in line to board, etc. All this becomes part of your brain when you travel a lot, and you then know if you actually need to board w/ the early boarders.

[muted]

Fly into Burbank instead of LAX. You can deboard and be in a cab in 5 minutes or less. And dealing with better traffic, depending where you are going.

A lotta people here aren’t fans of hotels.com, my $3500 in free rooms for vacations, just from this year, makes me a fan. Watch out for code discounts on the site though, that discount negates the nights going to your free room.

Any bed in the hotels.com or any hotel pics that have white bedspreads means they clean it after every guest.

Packing cubes are worth it, otherwise my clothes look like they went through a blender after I try to pull out on thing.

[iceman]

I never even heard of packing cubes until this thread but I am somewhat packing-challenged so I'm gonna give them a go. Any tips on brands, sizes, etc welcomed.

[Supermoon]

Amazon basics has a bunch of sizes and are pretty cheap.

Seems like two theories. Some people put like clothes together: shirts in one, socks in another. Other put whole outfits together so you grabs cube and are good to go for the day. That works if you need one pair of pants per day.

[JimmyCarter]

One i just learned this week that I will share:

Dont push the blue button unless you're ready for it. I was not.

[iceman]

ha, it was terrifying to take a dump in Japan, there's a ton of different toilet brands/models, they're all different, and they all have a bunch of buttons labeled in Japanese only most places. You never knew what was gonna happen when you finally decided what button to push.

[iceman]

Amazon basics has a bunch of sizes and are pretty cheap.

Seems like two theories. Some people put like clothes together: shirts in one, socks in another. Other put whole outfits together so you grabs cube and are good to go for the day. That works if you need one pair of pants per day.

cool thanks.

[JimmyCarter]

ha, it was terrifying to take a dump in Japan, there's a ton of different toilet brands/models, they're all different, and they all have a bunch of buttons labeled in Japanese only most places. You never knew what was gonna happen when you finally decided what button to push.

Hope they had logos at least...

This one had a heated seat too, which just made me think someone had used it right before i sat down.

[Captain Awesome]

Had some more thoughts...

Waiting for passport control sucks. Global Entry and PreCheck are great, but since most of my travel (in terms of number of flights) is between cities in Europe, it's only helpful at the beginning and end of my trip. There are some opportunities I've found that can improve the situation though:

If you're going to travel through/to Germany a lot, you should take the time to get set up with EasyPASS, which is free, and allows you to go through the EU citizens passport line at participating airports in Germany (info here: https://www.easypass.de/EasyPass/EN/...home_node.html). You just have to find the bundespolizei office in the airport, and signup takes about 10 minutes. It's valid until the expiration of the passport you register with, and is good at Hamburg, Berlin-Schönefeld, Berlin-Tegel, Dusseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Frankfurt and Munich. When I asked at the airport where to sign up, the ladies at the information desk had ZERO idea what I was talking about. Just find the bundespolizei, and you'll be good to go.

Another free program is at Schiphol (https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/regi...ler-programme/). I'll be registering for this on Tuesday, on my way home. I'll report back if there are any issues.

There's a similar thing available in the UK, also called the Registered Traveller. It's 70 GBP per 12 months, and you have to qualify (4 visits - not transits - in the last 24 months). It'll allow you to go through the UK/EU citizens line and use your biometric passport for the passport lanes. I haven't done this one yet, but will on my next trip to the UK in a few weeks.

[DJSapp]

ha, it was terrifying to take a dump in Japan, there's a ton of different toilet brands/models, they're all different, and they all have a bunch of buttons labeled in Japanese only most places. You never knew what was gonna happen when you finally decided what button to push.

Ha. I'm glad I wasn't the only one. Toilet roulette. Will it be music? Warmth? A nice breeze? A courtesy flush? Or a fire hose of water aimed point blank at your anus? Let's find out!

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[booner]

If you're like me, and need to check-in asap on a specific day and time to get on the upgrade list...set a reminder alarm so you can ensure you have the best chance at the upgrade

[wooley12]

I arrived 4 hours early for a SEA to LGA red eye and hung out in front of the ticket counter. Gal from the counter comes over and asks me if I'm going to LGA and did I want to go right now. A few clicks at the counter, and a fast ride in the courtesy wagon with the flashing yellow lights directly to the gate. I flew across the country in 1st class with the 4 stews and 7 other passengers. Not sure how often that hack works.

[RShea]

If we are bitching about airports then I feel compelled to add that Philadelphia's is a fucking bus depot.

And more people report issues with luggage making it through that airport also than any of the other hub airports that other airlines use for the 3 major airlines servicing our smaller regional airport.

[thommy21]

I think people are a little over paranoid about bedbugs.... I have never checked for them in my life, and have never been bitten. I have no idea how many hotel nights I have total, but I can tell you exactly how many I have at Marriott properties....

Attachment 252649

I know they do exist, but I can't believe I've just been extrordinarily lucky.... I would say they are not very common, or they just don't like me.

Same here. While nice on the status side a little sad in the time I’ve spent on the road. Has let me live in some cool places though.
Marriott
Your lifetime statistics

Nights: 896
Years as Silver, Gold or Platinum: 19
Years as Gold or Platinum: 10
Years as Platinum: 10

[papapoopski]

When traveling with family, dress children as luggage and put them in the over head - free airfare.

Dress up your sporttube to look like a llama and your boot bag to look like a turkey. Get them an emotional support vest. Walk on to your flight with your stuff. No checked bags.

Register yourself as an emotional support human for your carry on bag. All your traveling is now free.

[reckless toboggan]

Register yourself as an emotional support human for your carry on bag. All your traveling is now free.

Fucking brilliant.

[yooper]

Same here. While nice on the status side a little sad in the time I’ve spent on the road. Has let me live in some cool places though.
Marriott
Your lifetime statistics

Nights: 896
Years as Silver, Gold or Platinum: 19
Years as Gold or Platinum: 10
Years as Platinum: 10

Man.... I hear ya. It was never my goal to spend that much time in hotels. What is has done, is allowed me to live where I want to live (aka NOT a big city) and allow my family affordable travel. There are certainly plusses and minuses to work travel.

[ICantLogIn]

I like to grab a overhead bin as close to the front of the plane as possible. Even if I sit in the back, it beats struggling to get my stuff out of the overhead at the same time as everyone else around me and I don't have to walk as far with with my stuff.

Packing cubes and nips FKNA.

[Art Shirk]

I like to grab a overhead bin as close to the front of the plane as possible. Even if I sit in the back, it beats struggling to get my stuff out of the overhead at the same time as everyone else around me and I don't have to walk as far with with my stuff.

Packing cubes and nips FKNA.

I think this is a poor karmic move generally and gets more or less discourteous depending upon how the airline boards people.


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[Supermoon]

I think this is a poor karmic move generally and gets more or less discourteous depending upon how the airline boards people.


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Yeah. That’s kind of a dick move. Basically someone at the front will have to send their bags to the back cause you took their space.

[wyeaster]

thirded

[teleee]

4th'd Totally a douchebag move.