Ahhhhh summer, that magical time of year marked by vacations to sun drenched destinations. Not so magical is the fact that summer also happens to be when most Americans do their traveling and when unpredictable weather is a regular occurrence, making air travel even more stressful. Fortunately, there are a few things I’ve learned over the years as an airline employee and frequent flyer that you can do to improve your experience and get to the important things like enjoying some much needed fun in the sun. Below are my insider tips to help ease summer travel.

1. DON’T CHECK A BAG

This rule applies year round, but especially in the summer. You’ll want to travel as light as possible so that all your essentials will be with you on board and you won’t have to worry about your bag ending up in Timbuktu, especially if you need to make last minute changes to your flight. Think about it, if your flight gets delayed 3 hours and there is another one leaving in 20 minutes to the same destination you won’t have enough time to transfer your checked bag to the earlier flight. You’ll be stuck waiting at the airport instead of sipping a cocktail in your bathing suit. Annoying right?!

2. APPLY FOR GLOBAL ENTRY (NOT TSA-PRE CHECK)

Although the predictions of 3-hour long airport security lines have proved to be a bit overblown, I still recommend applying to a Trusted Traveler Program. You could opt for the TSA Pre-Check clearance alone, but for $15 more dollars you can get both TSA Pre-Check and Global Entry access. That means for $100 you can avoid long airport security lines (and having to take off your shoes) on domestic and international trips for five years! I finally applied this year and it changed my life. Do it!

3. DOWNLOAD YOUR AIRLINE’S APP

These days, most airlines have mobile apps that let you do just about everything without ever having to speak to an agent. Book your flight, select your seats, purchase upgrades, check in, receive notifications about flight changes and even rebook in the event of a delay or cancellation. Give yourself a leg up on other summer travelers and be sure to download your airline’s app before you fly.

4. TAKE THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY

Summer is notorious for bad weather across the country, which means delays and cancellations are a common occurrence. By taking the first flight of the day you’ll not only reach your destination sooner, you’ll also avoid spending hours stuck at the airport waiting for the weather to improve.

Even if you’re booked on a flight later in the day, most major airlines waive any change fees to switch to an earlier flight when inclement weather is in the forecast. Simply show up early and ask to switch to an earlier flight on days when bad weather is predicted.

5. BE NICE TO THE AGENTS ASSISTING YOU

It should go without saying, but whether you’re asking about seat changes, upgrades or alternate routes, kindness goes a long way when dealing with airline employees. They are overworked and under pressure to meet metrics and deadlines to ensure on time departures. The last thing they need to deal with is another passenger with an attitude.

 

6. APPLY FOR AN AIRLINE CREDIT CARD

Getting an airline credit card has several perks, one of which is avoiding checked bag fees, which will be helpful if you choose to ignore tip #1! Each airline offers different perks, but if you’re a frequent flyer it’s a great way to earn miles quickly. Take your time to read the fine print first to determine if it fits your needs as most cards come with annual fees.

7. GET CREATIVE WITH FLIGHT BOOKINGS

Some savvy travelers have discovered a way to reach popular destinations for much cheaper fares by booking their flight to a smaller city with a connection in a larger one.

For example, if you live in say, Charlotte and you want to visit New York, book your flight from Charlotte to Pittsburgh with a connection in New York. Once you arrive in the Big Apple, simply don’t board your flight to Pittsburgh. Easy as that! I know of someone who booked this exact route for just $80 and saved hundreds on what they would have spent on a direct flight to NYC.

The catch is you cannot check bags, which again, if you follow tip #1 shouldn’t be a problem! Airlines obviously frown upon this practice and will refuse to let you retrieve your checked bags in your connection city for security reasons.

This strategy may not appeal to everyone, but it may be something to consider if you’re looking to save $$$ on your summer airfare.

8. FLY ON SATURDAYS

Traveling in the summer can be a nightmare. Weather is unpredictable, inexperienced travelers descend on airports and flights operate at full capacity. To avoid some of this headache, don’t fly on popular travel days like Fridays and Sundays. Instead, book your travel for mid-week and Saturdays when the loads are slightly less.

9. DRIVE TO YOUR DESTINATION

Who doesn’t love a road trip? Probably a lot of people, but if you want to avoid inevitable airport chaos, driving to your destination is the way to go. There is a beauty in loading up your car and just hitting the road. Aside from not being dependent on an airline to get you to where you’re going, you’ll also get to see the country in new and different ways. Take your time and explore small towns and attractions along the way to your final destination. It could be fun and you won’t have to worry about cramming all your essentials into 1 small carry-on bag!

10. PLAN A STAYCATION

An easier way to ease the stress of summer travel is to not travel at all! But that doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck in the house. Get out and explore the attractions your own city has to offer and be a tourist in your own town. Click here for some ideas on how to enjoy a staycation.

Do you have summer travel plans? What are your tips for easing summertime travel? Share your comments below!