Do you remember the days where airport travel was an exciting adventure? The excitement of waiting for the plane to arrive, the luxurious feeling of being escorted to the terminal, and the joy of being able to leave the airport without a hitch? Unfortunately, airport travel is no longer the same. With more people travelling, airports have become overcrowded, queues have become longer, and the hassle of airport travel has become unbearable.

But we got you covered. We spend a lot of time at the airport. Like all our work days, and then some more. So here are our secret hacks for you.

#TravelHack1: Avoid Queues at airports

Queues at airports can be a nightmare. Whether you’re waiting for check-in, security, or boarding, it can take forever. To avoid these long queues, it’s best to plan ahead. Online check-in services and boarding passes are the norm post COVID-19, but that still does not cut the queue. Because once you get in, there is still a line to check in the baggage, and then the security and when you land, to collect your bags, and then for the cab. 

And every moment spent in one line adds a few more to the next line you have to wait in. 

So the hack? Send your luggage early to the airport. You beat the check-in line, and head faster to the security. 

When you land, you no longer have to wait at the baggage carousel either. Just book CarterX to pick your baggage up from the carousel and deliver it to wherever you want in the city. So you can head straight to your cab and be out of the airport in 20 minutes or less! 

#TravelHack2: Overweight Baggage

If you’re going on a long trip or bringing a lot of luggage, chances are you’ll have to deal with overweight baggage. This can get pretty expensive. Sure, you’ve weighed your baggage at home but on the way to the airport, the bag just seems to suck up a lot of air and it shows a few kgs more when it is weighed in. 

The hack? We got a secret – anyone who books through CarterX gets a discount on excess baggage rates. 

#TravelHack3: Plane Food

Plane food is notoriously bad. Nothing ever makes it good enough. 

If you’re travelling in business or first class, you’re usually given complimentary meals. If you’re not a fan of the food, you can ask the flight attendant for a special meal. This way, you can get the food you want and you won’t have to worry about going hungry.

But how many of us travel in business class? The secret – don’t eat on the plane. Eat at the airport. Or grab a sandwich or your meal of choice and dig into it when the rest of them are digging into plane food.

#TravelHack4: Baggage Carousel

The baggage carousel is one of the most frustrating parts of traveling. The bags never seem to come out on time, and you’re left waiting for what seems like hours. And it is worse when you are travelling in a group. 

Every group has that one person whose bag is the last one to come out. Well, just use our baggage carousel service. Start your trip when you land and we got your bags covered – right from the carousel. 

New Work 

Air travel can be an adventure. It is so much more than just booking, boarding, flying, and reaching a destination. There’s meticulous planning involved, from tearfully picking out and leaving behind what could be slightly less useful to save up on extra weight, to booking cabs a day prior to avoid delays. If you happen to not be one of the few millionaires out there, air travel can still be a rather expensive affair. Again, air travel can be an adventure, but not all of us are adventurous. So here are some uncommon hacks that can help you bulletproof your wallet. 

Search flights incognito, fly cheap 

This is one of the best-kept secrets for getting cheaper airfare. Most aggregators or travel websites use cookies and IP addresses to track your search habits. Therefore, if you look for a flight’s pricing on a certain website and come back later, the price is probably greater. You can utilize the incognito mode or remove all cookies after using them to prevent this. You probably already know how to access incognito mode, so we’re skipping that part. 

BYOB – Bring Your Own Blast 

Nope, not explosives, but entertainment. We are aware of how expensive airports can be, and how price to altitude ratio inflight is. Don’t forget to have your favorite series or movies downloaded to your device as some airlines do charge for inflight entertainment. 

And here’s another – check with your airlines beforehand and see what food you can pack. You could save a mini fortune if you could pack your own chow. 

Improved seat or an upgrade 

In case you are one of those people who book tickets waaaay too early because you have your life completely sorted, ask for an improved seat or an upgrade when you check-in at the gate. Who knows, you might even get pushed up to a business class! 

Also, if you’re booking tickets, look for flights that are relatively emptier if you have a flexible travel schedule. No guarantee, but there’s more chance of getting an upgrade here rather than a packed one. Ask nicely and you might be rewarded!  

Sign up for airport lounge access 

The lounge isn’t some inaccessible luxury anymore. Here are some ways in which you can treat yourself to some good food, relaxing seating, plenty of power outlets, and a lot more free amenities. 

Be an early bird – Reserve your lounge access in advance: Many airports let you reserve your lounge access in advance and pay a lower price.

Check if your cards provide lounge offers, or if you’re a frequent flyer, consider getting a credit card that gives you access to lounges. 

Look for discount coupons: A few travel companies or apps sell reduced vouchers for entrance to lounges that can be used at the airport.

Consult your hotel for details, since some provide free lounge access to visitors

All of this can be a little over the cost of an airport meal. S

o next time you book a flight, consider accessing the lounge. 

Look for discounts on vacation packages 

Research, people! This might seem a little too much work but believe us, you’ll thank yourself later if you land a good deal. To make the best of the trip, hunt for vacation packages that include accommodations, transportation, and flights. Many travel websites offer discounts and making the best use of them can keep your wallets fat and happy.