Whether it's an airport lounge, flight seat upgrade or a smoother travel experience, Wise Traveller brings you some of the most useful travel hacks today.
Airport lounge access is one of the highlights of travel. Away from the masses, you can find a small haven of peace in an airport lounge while taking advantage of the many freebies.
Getting into an airport lounge is something that we all desire if it means getting away from screaming kids, duty-free offers, and just the fact that you can find a chair to sit in.
So check out the cost of a one-off airport lounge access if the temptation takes you. Other savvy travellers will have already weighed the potential discounts and benefits of getting into the hallowed carpets behind those welcoming doors.
Look up sites such as Lounge Pass for availability or if you are flying with a well-known airline, check out whether they have any lounges at the airport hubs you are flying from and the costs involved.
The likes of Travelzoo offer a global Loungekey pass for £29 per person. It's valid for a single use, and you can choose from 1,200 airport lounges worldwide. The voucher must be redeemed by 30 June 2025 and used within 12 months.
Look at the airports themselves where you consider flying from. You may be able to get discounts by simply signing up for their newsletters.
Don't forget there may be opportunities for lounge access if you have a credit card. Check out their websites to ensure you are not missing out. Even selective bank accounts will offer benefits for discounted lounge access.
For upgrades on airlines, you can always nicely ask at check-in for one, particularly if you are on a special occasion such as a birthday or wedding. Failing that, become a loyal customer with customer loyalty memberships or frequent flyer programmes.
If you book directly with an airline or hotel group, rather than through a third-party, then there may well upgrade opportunities available to spot. Being flexible on travel time and dates, such as having a break in the off-peak season, can also help score an upgrade.
If you're set on a long-term plan of travelling, it may do to book your airline tickets well ahead of schedule. Experts also suggest travelling on cheaper travel days. Most expensive travel days are typically Fridays and Sundays, but heading away on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday may work out cheaper.
Packing more efficiently, going light, or just going with a carry-on case will all help you achieve a quicker, less messier trip. You can also download apps and movies to help your journey go that bit quicker.
Other useful suggestions include not exchanging money at the airport as the rate may not be competitive, using a debit card that has no foreign transaction fees or ATM fees. Also warn your bank about authorizing your card for foreign travel so that they will not put a block on it.
If you like to get a bargain, you may want to compare the hotel price to accommodation provided by the likes of Airbnb. You may not only get a cheaper alternative but you can gain more by being centrally located in your ideal location.
There are a ton of other suggestions which Wise Traveller will bring you at a later date. Safe travels!
Andy Probert is an independent journalist who writes about global travel news, airlines, airports, and business. His work has appeared globally on the BBC, and in many national newspapers and magazines.
