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No, we're not going to insult your intelligence with so-called “travel light” or “travel with an empty water bottle” type travel “tips”.

In this article, we have compiled a list of best tips and tricks to help you avoid the inevitable: namely, all the problems and hassles associated with air travel.

Yes, even the most seasoned travelers don't know all of these tips!

Ready ? So let's go !

1. Buy 2 one-way tickets instead of one round trip

Sometimes buying 2 one-way tickets with 2 different airlines is cheaper than buying a return ticket, especially on low cost airlines.

In addition, you will have even more choices to find the arrival and departure times that suit you best.

FYI, some flight comparators (these famous sites for cheap travel) already include this criterion in their searches.

But your best bet is to do your own research directly on the airline's website, in order to take advantage of current offers and promotions.

2. Learn about "code shares"

Before buying your ticket, take the time to find out about the terms and conditions of the partnerships of the airline you have selected: the famous code shares.

More specifically, inquire about the number of miles offered for your trip (the "mile"is the unit of account for airline loyalty program points).

Indeed, some partnerships allow you to earn the same number of miles, and others not.

Similarly, some partnerships calculate the number of miles offered based on the price of the ticket, not the distance traveled.

3. Pretend you are booking from another location to get a cheaper ticket

The place you buy your ticket from is called the point of sale. However, the airlines change ticket prices according to their point of sale, a practice known as “regional pricing”.

Basically, the price of a ticket will be lower if you buy it from a country with lower standard of living. This is also the case if the country in question is a market that the airline is trying to enter.

Concrete example, you will not find the same prices on the French version of the online flight comparison site kayak.fr as on its American version, kayak.com - although they are the same flights.

Likewise, domestic flights abroad may be cheaper if you book them from the website of the airline's country of origin.

However, prices will be displayed in the currency of the country in question. Therefore, do not forget to do the necessary calculations to convert the prices into euros.

4. Clear cookies from your web browser

Airlines practice a policy of “dynamic pricing”, which means that the more you learn about the price of a ticket, the more it will increase.

A quick tip to prevent tickets from increasing overnight is to use private browsing to book your tickets.

But the safest method is to erase cookies and browsing data from your web browser before booking your ticket.

Don't know how to clear your cache? Check out our tip here. And in addition, at the same time, you will speed up your computer ;-)

5. Know that you have 24 hours to cancel and be fully refunded after purchase.

Typically, you are given a 24 hour period to cancel and get a full refund of your money - even for non-refundable tickets.

In other words, the next time you find a good price, don't hesitate to book your ticket.

Then, for the next 24 hours, keep looking for cheaper prices for the same flight. If it turns out that you find a better price, all you have to do is cancel the first ticket and book the ticket at the best price.

In addition, some airlines also allow you to opt for a free "cooling off period", which guarantees your reservation and its price over a period of a few days.

Other companies offer this same service, but it is chargeable and the guarantee is longer: this is particularly the case with the cooling-off period offered by Air France.

6. Prefer to travel in a Boeing 767

If you have a choice of multiple flights, choose the flight that is on a Boeing 767.

Why ? It's very simple: the Boeing 767 is the plane with the least of those seats that everyone hates, the ugly “middle seats”.

If you can't travel in a Boeing 767, I invite you to check out our article below to choose the best seat (which seats are closest to the toilet, which seats have the most legroom, etc.).

To discover : 6 Tips For Choosing The Best Seat On The Plane.

7. Download the mobile application of the airline you are traveling with

Airlines nowadays invest a lot of resources in the development of mobile applications.

The real benefit of these apps is that they can save you from having to run around an airport for nothing.

Indeed, thanks to these applications, you are informed in real time on a possible change of boarding gate, delay of your flight, etc.

Last advantage, in most airports, applications allow you to travel without a paper plane ticket.

8. Prepare a “hygiene and comfort” kit for the flight

Remember to prepare a small kit with everything you need for your toilet and comfort in the cabin.

Indeed, since the new restrictions on the transport of liquids by plane, traveling with toiletries in the cabin has become a real headache.

This tip will prevent you from wasting your time pouring your favorite shampoo into 100ml bottles before each trip.

Likewise, you will no longer need to store and take out of your suitcase the toiletries you need in the cabin.

One more tip, try ordering free samples of your favorite toiletries online. They are perfect to complete your survival kit.

To discover : How To Drink Cheap On The Airplane.

9. Prepare your cables and chargers for your trips in advance.

Tired of running around your apartment to collect all your chargers and electric cables an hour before leaving for the airport?

You are not the only one ! To avoid this, there is a trick.

The trick is to prepare a dedicated travel pouch, in which you can keep all your electronic accessories, batteries and chargers.

I advise you to use a plastic pouch, like this waterproof pouch with a zipper.

10. Use soft cabin baggage

Here is an excellent tip so that we do not take your luggage to put it in the hold.

The trick is to use soft cabin baggage, like a backpack or even a duffel bag.

In fact, flexible bags are more malleable and fit more easily into the cabin luggage compartments. Therefore, they are less likely to be refused in the cabin.

Even better, equip yourself with cabin baggage that is perfectly suited to ALL airlines (even low cost!), Like this lightweight suitcase.

11. Roll up your clothes instead of folding them

Maybe you already know our 15 tips to make your luggage much easier.

One of the best tips for packing is to roll your clothes instead of folding them. It saves you space in your suitcase and prevents you from wrinkling your clothes. Check out the trick here.

And to save 75% more space, use vacuum storage bags.

One final tip for those who aren't fans of the idea of ​​rolling up their shirts: to minimize wrinkling on your clothes, use tissue paper or plastic laundry covers.

12. Choose dark colored clothes that go well together.

When packing, choose clothes in colors that combine easily and, preferably, dark colors.

This way, you won't waste time choosing your outfit and matching your clothes.

Another advantage is that stains are less visible on dark colors.

13. Use your shoes as storage space

Roll up your socks and store them inside your shoes. Thus, they will serve as a shoe tree to maintain your shoes in their original shape.

And in addition, using your shoes as storage space will help you optimize your suitcase and save a little more space.

14. Store your shoes intelligently

When packing, store heavy items (such as shoes) towards the bottom of the suitcase, near the wheels.

Thus, the weight will be distributed as it should. Because there is nothing worse than a suitcase that keeps tipping over when you're racing to the boarding gate.

And to save even more space, store the shoes so that the toes touch the heels, as in the image above.

To discover : How to Properly Store the Shoes in Your Suitcase.

15. Discover new cities - for free

Have you already bought your plane ticket?

So why not add a free stopover on your journey and take the opportunity to discover a new city?

Indeed, several airlines offer free stopovers. You just have to inquire.

Most of the time, these are “hub” cities (the cities that serve as the main base for the airline in question).

This means that you can visit additional destinations on your journey - but without having to pay extra !

This is all the more interesting when it comes to a business trip, since the ticket is already paid for by your employer.

Thus, you can discover Reykjavik when you travel with Icelandair, or Singapore with Singapore Air, or Helsinki with Finn Air, or even Bangkok with Thai Airways, etc.

16. In case of overbooking, volunteer yourself not to get on the plane!

All airlines practice overbooking, also known as overbooking. But did you know that compensation payments are planned for customers that this practice deprives of space?

Therefore, when your flight is overbooked and you don't have any urgent obligations, volunteer yourself not to get on the plane and so earn money easily.

The last time this happened to me at American Airlines, I received 500 € for my next plane ticket. Not bad, isn't it?

Having said that, don't forget to negotiate your care and compensation (yes yes, it's really a negotiation in this kind of case!)

Ask to be compensated in cash or in a plane ticket. If you are offered vouchers, make sure they don't contain tons of constraints and restrictions (like, for example, blackout dates to validate your vouchers).

Good to know: the more the airlines become desperate to reduce the number of passengers on the plane, the more the compensation becomes interesting!

Therefore, and especially when you are the first to volunteer, make sure that you received the same compensation as the last to volunteer.

Finally, also make sure of the conditions of your support. In particular, make sure you are not on stand-by for the next flight.

Similarly, avoid at all costs finding yourself stranded in an airport (for example, do not volunteer if it is the last flight of the day).

17. Learn about the benefits of your bank card

If it is, you already benefit from several advantages, without even knowing it.

Take the time to learn about the advantages offered by your bank card, as they can be very interesting.

For example, insurance in the event of travel cancellation or accident, upgrades at partner hotels, access to airport lounges (reception lounges managed by airlines), medical / legal assistance abroad, insurance on car rental, etc.

Call your bank now to find out and write it down in your travel diary so you don't forget.

18. Choose the best bank card for traveling

Now that you know that bank cards have their advantages, know that these advantages differ from card to card.

Therefore, do the necessary research to find the card with the best benefits for you.

For example, would you prefer to earn as many miles as possible or be exempt from foreign transaction fees?

Some cards can offer you miles for every euro you spend on airline tickets and restaurants. This is for example the case of American Express cards (free the 1st year). And, you can still cancel after 1 year.

Other cards will offer a sign-up bonus, in the order of several thousand miles. But to take advantage of it, your expenses must reach a threshold of € 3,500 in the first 3 months following the opening of the account.

Finally, some bank cards offer attractive discounts on plane tickets, hotel rooms or car rental.

Of course, you also have to take into account the annual membership fees.

In short, the advantages of bank cards can really help you make significant savings.

But it's true that you have to take the time to do your research. The best is to use an online comparator to choose the bank card that best suits your needs.

19. Get faster access to privileged status for loyalty programs

If you travel frequently, it is imperative that you subscribe to the loyalty programs of the airlines you use.

But did you know that there is a little trick to access privileged status faster?

The trick is to collect your miles by traveling with the lesser known airline of the airline alliance to which you have subscribed.

Indeed, some of these smaller airlines have more interesting thresholds to access Gold and Platinum status.

Result: by choosing to travel with another airline, you get a higher status faster than with another airline member of the same alliance.

20. Mitigate the effects of jet lag with this trick

Jet lag is a syndrome that affects our physical condition following rapid travel through multiple time zones.

Usually, after a trip west, our body requires a full day of adaptation by time zone. For trips to the east, it takes a little longer, ie 1 and a half days per time zone.

For easily reduce this adaptation time, get as much sleep as possible the days before your departure. Indeed, the more we are rested, the less our body is affected by jet lag.

Granted, this simple method requires upfront planning and a certain degree of determination. If you can, the secret is to change your sleep pattern a few days before you leave.

- For flights to the east: on the days before you leave, start going to bed 1 hour earlier each night and waking up 1 hour earlier each morning.

- For flights to the west: go to bed 1 hour later each night and wake up 1 hour later each morning.

21. Mitigate the effects of jet lag with this trick

Experts advise to refrain from drinking coffee and alcohol, as these two drinks dehydrate the body and increase the effects of jet lag.

When it comes to food, do your best to eat meals at the time they are served in the time zone of your destination. It will help your body to readjust your sleep rhythm.

In addition, the quality of the food you eat can also worsen the effects of jet lag. Indeed, the food products used in the meals offered in flight can also dehydrate your body.

Therefore, try to skip 1 or 2 meals or eat balanced snacks with a high protein content.

To discover : Need Energy? 15 Healthy Snacks to Take Anywhere.

22. Get served before everyone else by choosing a special meal

To order a special meal (gluten-free, salt-free, vegetarian, Hindu vegetarian, etc.) before you board your flight, you must indicate this when you book your flight.

With this trick, you have a good chance of being served before everyone. Nice no?

This is a significant advantage. Why ? Because you will be able to eat and fall asleep before all the other passengers, without having to wait for the hostesses to serve and dispose of drinks and meals throughout the plane.

And besides, it seems, the special meals are much better quality.

23. To avoid the queue for taxis, take one in the departure area of ​​the airport (not arrival)

Do you see an endless line in the arrivals area of ​​the airport?

So immediately turn around and head towards the departure area.

This is where taxis drop off travelers, and this is where you can easily pick up a cab - WITHOUT a queue.

Of course, this method is not without risk. Depending on the configuration of the airport, walking to the departure area may take longer than waiting in line. But hey, you can't always win!

Your turn...

And there you have it, now you know all the secrets of frequent travelers :-)

And you, have you already tried these tips? Did they work well for you? Or maybe you know others? Please leave a comment below and share what you think with our community :-)

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Also to discover:

The BEST Time to Buy Your Airline Ticket.

6 Tips For Choosing The Best Seat On The Plane.