7 Ways To Survive Holiday Travel Like An Expert

Well-seasoned travelers typically say you should avoid air travel altogether during the holidays. Headaches are bound to happen when dealing with crowds and potentially unexpected flight delays and cancellations. All that said, you can certainly have a nice travel experience during the holidays as long as you’re prepared. Recently, I met with three female travel experts who have gained over a million miles each in air travel. Collectively, these women have flown over 7 million miles domestically and internationally. They have seen quite a few things and are now sharing their tips on how to best prepare for flying this holiday season, when you absolutely need to. From departure to arrival, these are tips you’ll want to keep in mind for an all-around positive flying experience this holiday season.

1. Enroll In The Airline’s Frequent Flier Program

For starters, all recommended that you enroll in the airline’s frequent flier program. Kathleen Murphy, the President of Turtle Bay Institute, has accumulated over 2 million miles and says “the more points that you have with a specific airline or hotel chain, the more perks you get and the better you are treated overall in interactions with personnel.” This will hold true during the holidays, so you should definitely ensure you have your frequent flier number connected to your flight in the system and in advance of departure. In fact, even if you don’t have status, just being registered with the airline’s loyalty program can bump you up in priority.

2. Be Patient And Help Others

Traveling around the holidays can be very hectic with the amount of people at the airports. Helping others is the number one tip according to Rebecca Dilnik, a Global Market Research Senior Manager who has collected over 1.5 million miles. Dilnik advises that if you see first time travelers that are lost or flustered in security lines, reach out and help them – especially older people or those traveling alone with small children. She explains, “A kind word, holding the baby while mom uses the restroom, a smile to the little terror kicking your seat, or a bit of advice can go a long way.” She added that if you have a ton of free drink vouchers, spread the holiday spirit and share them with your seatmate.

3. Get To The Airport Early

Diane Iseman, a 3.6-million-mile flier and Marketing Consultant recommends Americans get a global entry card to help speed up the process in the US and globally. Though, on holidays, she said there will still be lines even if you are TSA precheck or global entry. Travelers leaving on Christmas day and returning on New Year’s Eve or after January 4th won’t have to deal with as many crowds, and will have better flight deals.

4. Take Advantage Of Oversold Flights

Flying on popular dates could mean flights are oversold. If you get to the airport early, offer to be bumped if the flight is overbooked. You could get hundreds of dollars to use on another vacation, as long as you’re flexible with your timing. Dilnik explains that sometimes you only have to wait a few hours and you’ll get food vouchers or airline credit. She said, “My best one was a 3-hour delay giving up our seats from ORD to ATW and I got $1,200 credit ($300 each seat). Got lunch, let the kids run around, got back a few hours late and had an awesome credit.”

5. Adopt An Attitude Of Respect

For those who are traveling on a holiday, say thank you to flight attendants or those working at the airport. You should also consider tipping well on Christmas Day. The waitresses and taxi drivers who are all working on the holiday are getting fewer customers, so a double tip goes a long way to say thank you and encourage them to work the next year. Murphy recommends that you “develop a travel attitude that accepts that you are one of many clients/guests that airline and hotel personnel are dealing with.” Murphy goes on to say that if you get into a sticky situation, observe the gate agents before approaching and see who seems the most friendly and helpful to other travelers. She said if you can work at having a friendly and appreciative attitude, while being firm at the same time, the outcome will be worth it. 

6. Reserve Your Seat Preference In Advance

Plan for your seating arrangement in advance to avoid sitting in the worst seats. You can check seat preferences on SeatGuru or within the seating diagram when booking. Dilnik especially recommends checking seat preferences for international and long-haul flights. If you are in business or first-class, check the plane type and make sure they have lay flat seats. She also said, “If you are lucky enough to get upgraded to first class, celebrities always sit in the way front to disguise their identity so you might have a sighting!”

7. Prepare For Worst Case Scenarios

Traveling around the holidays in the winter can coincide with weather delays and cancellations. Dilnik recommends that you always carry a pair of underwear and a shirt with leggings (or something small that can be rolled) just in case your luggage is lost. This way, you’ll at least have something clean to wear should the worst-case scenario happen. You should also bring snacks with you in case any of the restaurants close while you’re waiting. Bring plenty of activities, books, games to avoid boredom and help pass the time should there be any delays.