Frequent Flyers of Reddit: What are Your Airport "Life hacks?"

1. Pilot here, so that kinda counts. Here's some insider tips: 1) [This](https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Z1dI8hoBZSJNWFx2xr_MMxSxSxY&hl=en_US&ll=-3.81666561775622e-14%2C43.70741135000003&z=1) website lists the airport and airline lounge wifi passwords for most airports around the world. Enjoy the free wifi 2) There are 2 kinds of bags: those that get destroyed in cargo bins, and those that destroy other bags in cargo bins. Get the second kind of bag. Buy an aluminum-frame Luggage Works Stealth bag, or a Travel Pro. It's what all crewmembers use for a reason. 3) The flight attendants have heard every single attempt from passengers to lie and cajole their way into first class. If you want better treatment and maybe an upgrade, bring a box full of truffles or chocolates, treat them like people, and be very nice to them. If there is any opening in a nicer seat, they just might hook it up. Gotta run but I have a lot more that I'll post later if there's any interest...
   — PlaneShenaniganz


2. Always take a powerbank. Edit: Some countries don't like powerbanks, so don't take powerbanks to countries that don't like them.
   — Anythingleftyo


3. Buy a budget round trip to Chicago? New York? Be super certain you understand which airport you're departing from. It's not always the same one you landed at
   — qatest






4. If you've got a long layover -- especially if you're on your own -- book yourself into the lounge. The time absolutely flies by, there are drinks and food, and you can chill out on the WiFi in a comfortable seat. Most places will give you three hours, but I've never been anywhere that actually checks (unless you're really taking the piss) and it costs about £25, but it makes an arduous journey a lot less of a pain in the ass.
   — Portarossa


5. If it takes more than twenty minutes for you to get your bag when you fly with delta you can get 2500 Skymiles by putting in a request here: <www.delta.com/bagsontime>
   — MARKLUKEALEXANDER


6. If you fly a lot, get a rewards credit card with that airline. After flying frequently for work for a couple years, I now have platinum memberships with different airlines. Which means I get free checked bags, priority boarding, access to the lounge in airports that has free food and booze, and best of all free upgrades to first class if there are open seats. Not to mention all the free flights I've gotten from racking up points on the card. My company reimburses my flights, so I charge them to the card but get to keep all the points for personal use
   — BPSteve






7. There's a clip in the film Up In The Air where George Clooney basically profiles the respective people in the security line. Watch it; everything he touches on is correct. Then choose your line accordingly - tl;dr = line up with business travellers.
   — thekingoftherodeo


8. After traveling to the same cities multiple times, I make sure to know what each airport has to offer in case I have extra time there. For instance, Portland has a great little free theater with local short films. Many airports have massage places. Midway has a free use yoga studio. Sitting around being bored is for suckers.
   — abeVgoda