In the summer of 2022, we saw the worst case of flight cancellations, flight delays, and lost baggage. This caused a lot of headaches and completely ruined travel plans. Flying is better now but in case it ever happens again, here are the best hacks for the travel apocalypse.
Knowing these airplane travel hacks will help you be fully prepared when your flight gets affected.
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Best Hacks For The Travel Apocalypse
Follow these tips for maximum peace of mind.
1. Download The Airline App
One of the best hacks for the travel apocalypse is to simply download the airline app.
All the updates about your flight including cancellations, delays, and gate changes are surfaced first thing on the airline’s app. You can also get your boarding pass and track your bags. It’s so much faster than talking to an agent online or waiting in lines at the airport.
2. Use The Right Credit Card
When your flight got delayed or canceled, you’ve probably thought about how to get airline compensation. But if you have a credit card with trip coverage, you don’t need to go through the hassle. Airlines are secretive about their compensation but the right credit card can guarantee you compensation.
The best all-around travel credit card with trip protection is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card. You can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses including hotels, tours, passenger fares, etc. That’s incredibly generous. The only downside is it has a $95 annual fee but you also get a $50 hotel credit and a whole lot of other travel benefits.
Sign up for Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card here.
3. Find Flights With Longer Layovers
When your first flight gets delayed and the second connecting flight does not get delayed, you’re in trouble if your layover time is very short. Your travel credit card may provide compensation but it’s frustrating how you can’t get to your final destination on time. That’s why a nice-to-know air travel hack is to find a flight with a layover of at least 3 hours or more just to be safe.
On Wayaway, you can easily filter by the layover time which is so convenient. They also show you the most competitive airline prices (even better than Google Flights).
Check airline ticket prices on Wayaway here.
4. Bring Carry On Only
With the rise in check-in luggage getting lost, one of the really useful flight hacks is to bring carry-on luggage. This will prevent any headaches that come with wondering where your checked-in luggage went. If you’re packing for a short trip, try to pack lightly with only a carry-on.
5. Book A Morning Flight
One of the little-known airline travel hacks is that morning flights are less likely to be canceled because there are fewer scheduled departures in the morning. Also, if the early morning flight gets canceled, you have more chances of taking another flight that same day. If your canceled flight is later in the day, there likely won’t be a flight available for you so you’ll need to stay a night at a nearby hotel or go back home.
6. Fly Much Earlier Than Needed
Adding on to the last airline hack, it’s best to fly much earlier than the time you need to be at your destination. For example, if you need to attend a wedding, make sure to fly in at least a day before to make sure you can attend the wedding on time.
7. Consider Cruises or Road Trip
The last travel hack for flying is for those who are really afraid of having their trip canceled or want to make sure all the planning does not go to waste. Try going on a cruise trip or road trip instead. These types of trips are much less likely to cancel unexpectedly.
If you’re planning a road trip, you can explore the best car rental options here.
Read more: Now that you know the best hacks for the travel apocalypse, check out other travel essentials you need to have before going on your next trip!
