Air Travel Series (#3)
In the previous article, Air Travel Series (#2), I created my own classification of annoying travelers. These are the people, because of Murphy’s Law, that will be sitting right next to you on the longest flight of your life. I’ll tell you exactly how to avoid some of them in this article and how you can avoid all of them in the next article! In order to figure out how to improve your overall travel experience, let’s look at just a few of the key Touch Points of Travel. The quality of the experience at each of these customer touch points can be improved via some kind of premium or third-party service. What part of overall air travel process frustrates you the most? Pick an area and upgrade on your next trip:
Dealing with Bags
- Bravo to United Air Lines for offering a convenient way to ship your bags directly and avoid the whole baggage check-in hassle! This is a model for other airlines to follow. Here is how it works: You go on-line here, set up your shipment, print your shipping label, provide your bags to FedEx and then receive your bags at your destination.
- BAGS (Baggage Airlines Guest Services) picks up your luggage from your home or office. They take your luggage to the airport. Your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel or destination of your choice.
- If you happen to be flying out of Las Vegas, Nevada or Fort Lauderdale, Florida you should consider Bags To Go . This service allows customers to check their baggage and receive their boarding pass at hotels, convention centers, cruise ports, rental car centers, and other locations. It is like checking in for your flight at the airport, but without the airport.
Getting through Security
Do you ever get that sinking feeling when you see 300 people in the security line ahead of you? Did you ever notice anyone going straight to the head of the line? That could be you. Sign up for a biometric ID card and service known as Clear. I have been using Clear for over a year and I highly recommend it.
Getting a Good Seat
Have you ever booked a seat only to find that there was something about it that you didn’t like? Seatguru can help you find a better seat. For each airline and aircraft type they will tell you details you might want to know about each seat including dimensions, arm rest details, power, proximity to lavatories, etc.
Finding Privacy at the Airport
Would you like to get the airport early to avoid the rush but dread being stuck at the gate? Have you ever had your flight delayed 4 hours? Most airports have clubs or lounges that you can escape to even if you are not a member. For example, the Admirals Club at American Airlines and the Red Carpet Club at United Air Lines offer day passes for $50.
Flying First Class
Finally, just flying first class eliminates much of the pain. If you have already used up your miles on upgrades but still want to fly in front, there are several great tips inside First Class Flyer for cost effective upgrade strategies.
In the next article we will explore a level of air travel even better than First Class!
