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Traveling by itself can be kind of expensive but little do people know they’ll end up spending a good portion of their traveling money just by standing around the airport while they wait for their flights. Luckily, there are a few tips to keep in mind to help you from dropping and arm and a leg just in the airport alone.
If you travel a lot or are planning on making frequent travels by plane, it’s high time to look into a credit card that offers a lot of rewards for people like you. If at all possible, see if you can find no interest credit card offers as well as those that offer airline miles as rewards for purchasing items with your cards. The chances are quite high that you’ll end up using your credit card to fund at least a small portion of your trip so having no interest will be a huge advantage. Likewise, airline miles will come in handy once you’ve racked up enough to go on one of your trips.
Most people spend money at the airport simply because they’re bored. When you’re thinking of hitting up the airlines to travel, you should plan on parking your car in the LAX long term parking early in the morning and heading right for the earliest departure available. You’ll save a ton of money because earlier flights usually don’t get delayed as often and the better news is that parking at LAX is often subject to discounts and promotions.
As of right now, the TSA mandates that water and liquid substances aren’t allowed, which means you could end up spending about five dollars on just a bottle of water. Bringing your own empty bottle will alleviate this because you’re still allowed to fill it up at the drinking fountain. Keep this same strategy in mind when it comes to food because food at airports is usually quite overpriced. Bring snacks with you and your family before you head to the airport to keep these costs down.
There are quite a few credit cards nowadays that also offer special bonuses and rewards for those who travel frequently. Sometimes there are costs involved with this but if you’re going to be at the airport for a good portion of the year, it might be worth it. These offers usually include access into the lounging areas of airports, which usually serve complimentary food and drinks, which means you won’t need to buy them elsewhere.
Don’t pay for the WIFI. Unless you’re on business and you need to access the Internet immediately, stick to using the 3G on your phone or just simply use the time to relax and get away from the responsibilities of email and stock reports. Or better yet, if you’re truly bored and want to get on the Internet, download an app on your phone that allows you find free hotspots available to the general public. WIFI usage at an airport can get quite pricey rather quickly and it’s one of those things that can easily be avoided.
Airports are expensive and they’re probably one of the biggest money sinks of the entire traveling experience, but with a little perseverance and some helpful tips, you’ll find that you don’t need to drop all of your traveling funds waiting for your flight. Try to sway temptation when you’re bored and remember that the more money you spend on that overpriced magazine, the less of your travel savings will be spent on actually traveling.
I hate the inconsistencies between different airport wifi polices. No London airports offer free WiFi: whereas most Middle Eastern airports offer unlimited WiFi! And the London airports charge a freaking fortune!
no wifi is really annoying, and the lack of plugs as well. A way I found around it is on boingo hotspots you can use your skype credit to connect, it is like 10p a minute, still very expensive but at least you can connect briefly, check if something important comes in, log off while you reply and back just to send.
How well I know about the costs at Airports, Pauline :). What I dislike most (apart from paying a king’s ransom for a bottle of still water) is paying a small fortune for a soggy, barely edible sandwich. Have to say though that my quality of life (if spending a lot of time at Airports can be calle that) has imporved much since our bank account allows me to visit a particualr launge – so worth it!
nice perk from the bank! UK airports aren’t too bad since M&S apply their usual price on drinks and sandwiches, the worst rip off at Stansted is 1 pound for a plastic bag to put liquids, while Gatwick gives them away for free!
Paris is the pits for WIFI – they advertise it, but it costs. So slack, cause I’m pretty sure it’s only ‘easy’ or ‘affordable’ if you already have a subscription/account with the listed providers. I love Asia and the Middle East for free wifi, and even Sydney airport, which is otherwise insanely overpriced, has some free computer terminals in the international airport!
I like the parking early and flying early idea. Although I’d likely never pay for parking in Sydney airport – it’s $17 for 15-30mins!! Imagine a weekend away!?!?!
in Paris I use my mother’s wifi code that is included in her monthly home broadband package. Works at hotspots all around France. You can Google free wifi SFR or FREE and there are people putting temporary codes every couple of day. rl-tech is one such site, and @CodeWifiGratuit on twitter also shares them.
Gosh you are a good person to know!!! I will need to remember this!! Thanks a bunch
no pb, most cheap hotel charge for wifi as well so if you don’t want to spend your time at starbucks or McD, that is worth checking out!
I’ve not flown much but every airport that I’ve been at has free wifi? I sure as heck wouldn’t pay for it! Food is generally outrageous, so I avoid the eateries like a bad plague. Last time I flew I brought my own snacks in my backpack….
thankfully food is still allowed, the markup on bottled water is outrageous when the confiscate it and people have to buy them back to take pills or simply because we are required to get there 2 hours before the flight..
I usually carry an extension crowd with me that has a couple extra outlets on it. I have made some quick friends at the charging station that way!
We almost travel enough to get an Amex platinum just so we can spend time in the lounges… If they offer p a good sign up bonus this year we will probably jump on it.
I have just been reviewing cards with free lounge access after the first comment and the Mastercard black cards also offer free access to 500+ lounge. In the UK a few have no yearly charge, haven’t checked the US. Wish I’d known that when I was flying twice a week all around Europe!
Airports are ridiculously expensive. I try to bring food with me whenever I can so I don’t have to pay $20 for a tiny sandwich or $5 for a granola bar. I never pay for Wifi either.
they are a real rip-off, so far only the UK ones I have seen with chain supermarkets at usual price inside the airport.
I love the tip about the empty water bottle, it always annoys me having to finish my bottle of water to get through then buy another. I also take food with me whenever I can.