Question:
"What are the best travel hacks?"
Answer:
"When Reserving your Ticket
There's a whole dark art to timing your ticket purchase, which is beyond the scope of this question. See When is the best time during the week to buy an airline ticket online? [ http://www.quora.com/When-is-the-best-time-during-the-week-to-buy-an-airline-ticket-online ]
On flights from abroad into Newark Airport, I like to reserve seats on the port side of the cabin, so that I can see Manhattan as I land.
Packing
I've been using this packing method to save space to great effect:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/business/06PACK.html?_r=1
In the Airport
Observe the flight crews. They know which monorail car to get on for fastest exit. They know which of the places in an airport is worth eating at.
When going through airport security, avoid lines that contain people who look like they don't travel often. E.g. children, senior citizens, holiday makers, large organized groups. Or to borrow a line from Up In the Air (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/quotes)
> Ryan Bingham: [on getting through airport security] Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love 'em.
> Natalie Keener: That's racist.
> Ryan Bingham: I'm like my mother, I stereotype. It's faster.
Don't always feel the need to use the "elite" line just because you have access. Sometimes the regular line is faster. Observe the two security lines, then make a decision. Some airports, like Newark, post more passport checkers at the regular line, thus increasing its effective throughput. Also, people with elite access feel the need to use all elite services, even if it works against them. Don't fall into that trap.
When going through security, I stuff my wallet, keys and phone into my backpack before placing it on the conveyor belt. This obviates the need for a separate dish to put it all in.
At Boston Logan security, no one cares what class you're flying. I always walk down the "elite" security line.
In general, if you dress the part, airport security will not challenge you if you walk in the First Class/Elite Traveler line. TSA's job is not to ensure adherence to an airline's passenger privileges rules.
Ever since I got an Android, I've just tethered off it to get wifi in the airport. If you ever see the hotspot named "onlysuckerspayforwifi" look for me. I'll give you access.
BUT you can often siphon free wifi by parking yourself near the first class lounges. Those networks are often unprotected.
Update: the password for British Airways' JFK lounge wifi is "London" (thanks reddit)
As You're Boarding
If you're flying a low-cost carrier like Easyjet, and you're alone, buddy up with another solo traveler - you take the A seat and he takes the C seat. Noone will want the middle B seat. More seat space for you two!
During boarding, Continental really doesn't care what your seat number is, so you can board before your row is called. KLM does, however. I should compile a definitive list of which airlines let you get away with this.
A major source of anxiety is lack of space for your carryon, so its good to be one of the first on the plane within your seating section (e.g., rows 30-35). Anticipate when your seating section will be called, and get in line before that happens. Barring any jamming up on the jetway, gate attendants will usually call the next section once the line at the gate dies down. Watch for that line to shorten and then strike.
In The Air
Chat up the flight attendants. Being a flight attendant is often a thankless job punctuated with occasional assholes, so if you make the effort to get to know them they will reward you with things like free booze.
On a flight, time your trips to the bathroom to reduce waiting time. Most people tend to hit the head immediately after their meal tray is cleared. This is the worst time to go. The best is immediately after the aircraft has leveled off from take off but before initial beverage service, about 10-15 minutes after wheels-up.
When You Land
At Newark Airport Terminal C passport control, if you are a US citizen, go to the line forming behind booth #41. Why? Because booth #42 is for Global Entry, which noone uses, but is staffed by an immigration officer. Often, when Global Entry officer is not processing anyone, he will take people from the #41. This means line #41 can move twice as fast as the other booth lines.
At Laguardia Airport's main terminal, there are two taxi lines outside baggage claim. Everyone goes to the one immediately outside; however, there is another one all the way at the end of the hall that receives just as many taxis and has fewer people in it. Use that one.
At Gatwick, there is a really long spiral ramp as you walk to baggage claim. If you walk a little further, you'll see a staircase that runs in the middle of the ramp spiral. It's about a 1/4 of the length of the ramp. You can beat others to the passport control if you take the stairs.
At Fiuimicino in Rome, every vendor in the train terminal sells tickets for the Leonardo Express train into Termini. No reason to wait in line at the official ticket office.
At Victoria Station in London, you can buy tickets for the Gatwick Express on the train for no extra charge.
At New York Penn Station, never wait in the taxi line. Just go around the corner and flag down taxis dropping passengers off.
Also at NY Penn Station (but applicable to other train stations): not sure which track they are going to call for your train? Go to the lower level waiting area and watch people disembarking from trains. You can make an educated guess which track your train will be on.
In some hotels, you need to put your card-key into a slot to power electrical appliances like the AC in the room. If you're visiting a hot country, you want that AC running when you're out of the room so it's cool when you return. I use a spare card-key or a defunct credit card to keep in the power slot while I'm out.
Specific City One-Offs
If you're ever in Madrid to visit the Prado Museum, you'll see a very long line for individuals to buy tickets, and a very short line for group tours. Guess what? They lead to the same ticket booth. Use the group line.
Also, if you go to the Reina Sofia Galeria in Madrid, there is a ticket office in the rear of the building that no-one uses. Saves you having to wait in line to get in."
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