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4 Ways To Travel Smarter During Your Spring Getaway

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That light at the end of the winter tunnel? It’s Spring Break. While Spring Break is undoubtedly a great getaway after the holidays, it can also become a logistics nightmare. Whether you like it or not, pretty much everyone else has the same idea during the 2019 calendar season. Spring breakers are either traveling home to spend time with friends, taking the family on their annual excursion or couples are flying off to vacation on a warm, romantic beach.

To help you overcome an unpleasant travel experience and eliminate as much of the hassle as possible, here are four tips for making your time at the airport more pleasant before your ultimate Spring getaway.

1.) Save Yourself Some Dough

Saving money is always a smart move. Comparison websites and mobile apps have been developed to keep the savvy traveler front-of-mind, putting all the best deals in one place for convenience.

Make the most of this technology. Sign up for push notifications, keep your options open, stay loyal for big savings and maybe most importantly—set yourself a rough-budget so you’re not sucked into waiting for price drops and the “what-ifs” that come with it.

2.) Quit Overpacking

Most of us are over-packers, but that’s a luxury we can no longer afford on airlines that charge steep “overweight bag” fees (up to $200 on some domestic flights). With the U.S Bureau of Transportation reporting $4.6 billion in baggage fees in 2017, it’s best to pack light and pack smart; ban all “maybe” outfits from your suitcase in favor of comfortable clothing you’ve worn before and know you like. Keep shoes to a minimum to save space and weight. Besides, if you are going on that beach getaway, all you’ll need are flip-flops and the sand between your toes.

3.) Take The Road Less Traveled…

…or days less traveled. On weekends, airline costs are higher, as well as traffic. Opt to travel midweek and plan to leave a day early. That way, you’ll have time to catch up on that precious sleep once you arrive at your destination and feel more present during your vacation. As an added bonus, head home a day or two before it’s time to go back to school or work to recoup and relax. You’ll thank us later.

4.) Arrive Early. For Real This Time

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Arrive early! The Government shutdown is something travelers are keeping a close eye on this month. With reports of record long lines at airports across the country, arriving early is no longer just a recommendation, but a necessity.

We suggest arriving at your airport a minimum of two hours early, just like the good ol’ days. The good news is if you find yourself pleasantly surprised by a short TSA line, you can kick your vacation early by relaxing at an airport lounge prior to takeoff. If you’re at either St. Louis’ Lambert International Airport or New York’s JFK International Airport you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the all-inclusive amenities offered at Wingtips Lounge. If you want to save some cash in the process, visit Wingtips St. Louis before noon for our $25 early bird discount or bring a companion any time throughout the day for our BOGO 50% special. Guests can enjoy unlimited food and drink at these discounted prices by referencing code EARLYBIRD or WINGMAN at the door (STL location only).

Whether you’re traveling with the family or traveling to a tropical party destination, these tips will save you time, money, and sanity. Whatever top spring break destination you’re flying to, we hope to see you start your vacation early inside our lounge. Safe travels!

The Holiday Travel Survival Guide

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The holidays make for one of the busiest travel seasons in the U.S. as Americans trek to destinations all over the country to be home for the holidays. But traveling during the holidays doesn’t have to turn you into a Grinch. With a little planning and the right attitude, you can survive any crowded airport or travel delay the season brings your way. And we have you covered with our holiday season travel survival guide to do just that. Follow these 5 tips and we guarantee you’ll survive the madness.

1.) Research, Research, Research

Just like you would for holiday gifts, shop around! There are plenty of tools available on the web to compare airline prices. However, before you take the deep dive into these convenient databases, be sure to clear your cookies. Many travel experts have reported that airlines and booking engines are using cookies to show potentially higher airfares on routes that you have searched often.

2.) Timing Is Everything!

Contrary to popular belief, buying at the last minute does not save you the most money. CheapAir.com combed through data on over 11,000 domestic flights to discover the optimum number of days in advance you should book airfare. According to the numbers, the sweet spot is around 49 days, or seven weeks, in advance. But the seven-week rule isn’t necessarily a surefire strategy for snagging the cheapest fare.

The concept of supply and demand applies to many things, including airfare. That’s why flying on popular flying days, such as Friday or Sunday, will set you back more. If you want to save, avoid these days and opt for the less popular travel days instead. The best days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

3.) Arrive Early

As conventional wisdom goes, it’s better to leave home and arrive at the airport early. This provides a cushion for unexpected situations that can range from being stuck in one of the long airport security lanes to waiting in the middle of heavy traffic on the freeway.

Try booking a flight early in the morning. It may feel dreadful forcing yourself out of bed, but wouldn’t you rather want to deal with significantly fewer people throughout your travel day? Plus, booking earlier flights sometimes lead to cheaper ticket costs. Now that’s a win-win!

4.) Purchase Access to an Airport Lounge

The airport terminal can be a crowded, noisy, and hectic place, making it less-than-ideal for relaxation. On average, 45.2 million travelers will traverse through the airport between Dec. 16 and Jan. 5. During these hectic times, the best thing you can do is purchase access to an airport lounge to get away from it all.

Instead of paying separately for snacks, drinks, food, fast wi-fi, or reading material, access your very own airport oasis instead for a reasonable one-time fee. Inside the lounge, you can enjoy all the previously named amenities and more: comfortable seating areas, plenty of power outlets to charge your phone, and unlimited food and beverages – all of this in a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere far removed from the hustle and bustle outside.

 

Trying one of these tips could lead to hundreds of dollars in savings, but applying them all can lead to a priceless benefit: peace of mind.