The Best Airport Hacks: How to Elevate Your Airport Experience

Would you like to elevate your airport experience with just a few simple airport hacks? Look no further – these are going to change your life!

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There is nothing I love more than an airport. I know. That’s probably a little weird – but it’s so true!

Airports don’t have to be that uncomfortable stressful experience that so many make it out to be.

All you need are a few simple tools and you’ll breeze through the airport with no problem and have the most relaxing time waiting for your flight.

Heck after this post you might even become like me and get to the airport extra early just to be able to spend more time inside.

This post is all about the best airport hacks and how to elevate your airport experience!

Best Airport Hacks!

1.) Arrive Early

The rule is to arrive 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before taking an international flight.

Now – in my experience that is usually PLENTY of time. There’s a good chance you’ll have time to spare – but I think that’s a great thing.

First of all, there’s nothing worse than having to be one of those people sprinting through the airport to catch their flight.

For one, you never know how long security will be. Some days you may be able to practically walk right on through, and the next it could take what seems like an eternity.

Also, if it’s an airport you are unfamiliar with there may be other obstacles like trying to find your gate or having to take a shuttle or train to get to the concourse you will be leaving from.

Starting your vacation off by being rushed and stressed out because you didn’t allow yourself enough time is the worst. By being early you know you’ll have time to find where you need to go, use the bathroom so you don’t have to go on the plane, get snacks and/or water, or really do whatever you could possibly think of that will make your actual flight so much easier.

2.) Check Your Bag For Free! (If you’re into checking bags!)

So I personally LOVE to check a bag. My boyfriend on the other hand does not like to check a bag lol.

I mean I totally get it – you don’t want your luggage to get lost. He also doesn’t like having to wait at baggage claim to collect his items.

So if I travel with him if it is at all possible I do try to stick with just carry-ons, but you best believe if I’m traveling with friends or going on a family vacation I’m checking my bag! (and don’t get me wrong – he and I will check a bag every now and then if we are on a longer trip – he just prefers to avoid it if possible!)

There are two reasons I love to check a bag. One is the obvious reason: You can pack so much more!

The second reason is there is nothing like being able to roam without luggage to worry about. I’ll usually keep the things I would want to occupy me in the airport in a small backpack. That way my hands are free and I don’t have much to worry about when walking to my gate.

Of course with Southwest, you get two free checked bags no matter what. However, there are plenty of other ways to get free checked bags from other airlines as well.

If you fly first class, your airline will more than likely give you at least one, if not more, free checked bag.

[SIDE NOTE: Spirit’s new upgraded seats include a free checked bag. I used to be such a Spirit hater, but the “Go Big” seat upgrade was so inexpensive and it really made the flight a million times better. Maybe I’ll do a blog post on that soon because seriously I only flew it because it was the only option open…but I shockingly think I would do it again.]

I know flying first class is often out of most people’s price range, but there are other ways to get free bags! Check out certain credit card perks. If you have a specific credit card from the airline you are flying, they often offer free checked bags as one of their perks! For example, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve credit card that I have allows me to take a free checked bag on Delta flights.

I also have the Amex Platinum card. With this card, you get a $200 airline credit that can be used for various things – one of which is checked bags. You’ll have to designate which airline you want it to go to and then you’ll receive a refund for the cost of your bags, up to the $200 credit.

All that to say – there are so many credit cards with travel perks, so you should be able to find several that will assist you in getting a free checked bag – along with some other perks as well! So if you’re looking for good airport hacks, definitely think of getting certain travel credit cards.

3.) AirTag Your Luggage

This is one of my all-time favorite travel hacks! If I check a bag I always throw one of my airtags in. It gives me so much peace of mind knowing I can see exactly where my luggage is at all times.

I don’t have to stress waiting to see if my luggage made it to my destination, and if I have a layover I can easily check to make sure the luggage is on the layover with me.

For extra peace of mind, you can even throw an air tag in anything you are carrying through the airport – your purse, backpack, etc. This way if you stop by a restaurant and leave something behind – not only will you have a way to track it down, but you’ll also get notified that you left it behind before you make it too far.

4.) Pre-Check and Global Entry

The absolute worst part of the airport is by far security. But, with a few simple tools getting through security becomes such a breeze – making this another one of my favorite airport hacks!

As you may already know, there are quite a few things you have to do if you go through normal security. You’ll have to take off your shoes, take off jackets, take off belts, remove large electronics, and more.

This is where having TSA PreCheck comes in handy!

You’ll have to apply and then you’ll have to do a quick in-person meeting, but once you’re approved you are good for 5 years! It’s $85 for the whole 5 years, and trust me it is well worth it.

Plus, several travel credit cards will also reimburse you for PreCheck! So you can actually have it for free!

Once you have PreCheck you won’t have to take off your shoes, jackets, and belts. You also won’t have to remove your liquids or electronics – making going through security so much easier.

You’ll also have a special line – which is typically much shorter than the regular security lines.

Global Entry is pretty much the same as having PreCheck, but it also gives you perks if you are traveling internationally. If you have no plans to travel internationally, PreCheck is quicker and easier to get, but if you do plan to go overseas – think about getting global entry!

5.) Get Clear

I absolutely love Clear! You may have seen it when you were at the airport.

The first time I used Clear I was flying back to Nashville from the St. Louis Airport. When I arrived the line was INSANE to get through security.

Luckily I always arrive early, but even with how early I was I was a little nervous I wasn’t going to make it through in time. I probably would’ve made it, but I still don’t like spending all my time just waiting in line.

A representative from Clear came up to me in line and asked if I was in a rush. I told her honestly I’m pretty early so I’m probably okay. She said, well if you want I can get you to the front of this line and you don’t have to pay anything – so I agreed.

She literally walked me straight to the front, signed me up for a 3-month free trial for Clear, and walked me to the front of security. I was through the line within 10 minutes. It was such a game-changer for airport hacks!

At the time I was already planning to get a new travel credit card, and the one I got reimburses you for Clear. So I immediately signed up – free of charge!

A Clear membership is typically $199 a year, so it is much more expensive than PreCheck, but if you have a credit card that reimburses you for it, it is well worth it!

With Clear, the line is once again typically way shorter than the regular security line. You’ll just walk up and a Clear representative will bring you to a machine where you’ll get your eyes scanned to verify your identity, and then they’ll walk you straight to the front of the security line. (You don’t even need your ID!! – but bring it just in case cause sometimes they do random ID checks!)

The best part is that you can combine both Clear and PreCheck. Clear will allow you to breeze through the line and you’ll still have all the perks of PreCheck in security.

6.) Lounge Access!

There is nothing better than having airport lounge access – and lounge access makes me want to spend even more time just hanging in an airport.

There are several different types of lounges in airports, but the majority of them offer free food and free drinks.

Many also even have showers, massages, or facials. It’s amazing for layovers or delays or just wasting time while you wait on your flight.

They are also the perfect place to relax and even get work done. You can usually easily get your own table or couch or whatever you want. I always bring my laptop and work while I eat and drink.

You used to be able to get day passes for a lot of lounges, but it seems most have strayed away from that these days.

But once again – so many travel credit cards come with lounge access! Once again, if you fly first class you’ll usually get access to that airline’s lounge for the day, but if you’re not flying first class here are my lounge suggestions!

To start I would recommend getting the Amex Platinum card. With that card, you get access to the Centurion Lounge.

Click here to use my referral link and we can both get extra bonus points!

The Centurion Lounge is great because they are all very nice inside and have several amazing amenities including full bars and food buffets all free of charge! They are pretty common too, so most airports will have one.

With the Amex Platinum, you also get Priority Pass. You can buy this lounge access separately, but it’ll be free with certain credit cards.

The Priority Pass lounges are even more common, but there’s a wide range of types of lounges – where pretty much all Centurion Lounges are the same. There are some that have complimentary drinks, and there are some that have private rooms you can rent to relax or take a nap, I’ve been to one before that had some free food but you had to buy drinks. Check before you go to see which ones your airport offers!

Probably my favorite lounge I have been in is the Chase Sapphire Lounge. I think their lounges are some of the nicest and the food is the best. They also have fun specialty cocktails as well.

Click here to sign up for a Chase card and we’ll both get a bonus 🙂

They are relatively new, so there aren’t very many in the US yet – but there are more and more popping up! If you frequently travel out of an airport that offers a Chase Lounge I would suggest checking it out!

I also have access to the Delta SkyClub lounge. I love this lounge too but even if you have a card that gives you lounge access you HAVE to be flying Delta that day to get in the lounge. So I love it – but only get to use it if I’m flying Delta that day. The other lounges I mentioned you can enter no matter what airline you are flying as long as you have access through your credit cards or a pass.

7.) Perfectly Pack Your Carry On

Of course, your carry-on is for anything you may want on the flight, but make sure you pack anything you may also want easy access to in the airport to make your time more enjoyable! Being prepared for anything is one of the best airport hacks.

Check out my blog post How to Pack a Carry On Bag to Make Your Flight So Much Better! where I list out everything I take with me to elevate my airport experience!

I hope this blog post helped upgrade your airport experience! And I hope you’ll love airports just as much as I do after implementing these strategies!

These airport hacks are such a game-changer! Have fun traveling 🙂