Live and Learn
 

I have learned how to travel in style while saving money. For instance years ago my father decided to drive to the airport and leave the car there for a week. The parking lot was outside and one had to take a shuttle back and forth to and from the terminal. I told my father that we could take a car service and it would cost less if not the same for a family of 4.

Taking Supershuttle costs more for 4 people than a town car service. I can't get it why people would book a shuttle for a family when they can get a town car for less or for the same price. I can see a shuttle is good for 1 but for 2 and up a car service is better.


I think I have OCD when it comes time to checking the airline website for better seats. I have gotten better seats as a result of my persistence. One one occasion the international flight had no seats to reserve and it was under airport control. I would take no for an answer as only middle seats were available. I was able to find an exit row window on the 777 and it was pure bliss since the next seats were far away.

I am the type of person who likes to get to the airport 2 hours or more even for a domestic flight. I hate rushing and I know how it feels to be rushed from one flight to the next. Some people that I know are the opposite like my brother who does most everything at the last minute. Can you imagine arriving to the ticket counter only to be told "Sorry sir we closed 3 minutes ago".

My theory is you don't have to wait in a long line if you arrive 4 hours before the flight which is what I did on a couple of occassions. This was before having PriorityPass. Call me crazy but no I spent the time at SFO Cafe Del Mond enjoying a coffee and plane spotting. There were no lines to wait in as I was the second one in line. Hint to families traveling with children arrive 3-4 hours before. The long lines start forming 2 hours before the flight.

Yet another way I learned from Flyertalk is to try to get more for less. I remember browsing the internet one evening trying to see how to get lounge access without paying an additional fee. I went to our Banks Website and found the Accolades Credit Card so my father helped me to sign up for my own and he did the same. Having both PriorityPass and the Credit Card fee waived was amazing I now enjoy spending my time in the lounge.

Upgrades It pays to ask nicely . On many occassions I have gotten our family upgraded to a room that would have costs us more than we would have to pay. On one occasion we were staying at the Four Seasons Troon North and I was able to get us a Casita with 2 rooms for the price of a Standard Room. At the Luxor Las Vegas I was able to get us into the new tower without paying extra etc.

With rental cars I was able to get us a full size car for the price of a Midsize without using any special codes. On one occasion in Houston we were booked in a Full Size Car using Hotwire and we were waiting for awhile and at first they wanted to give us a Honda Accord and I was told they were going to give us a Premium Car(Grand Marquis). I told the agent in a nice way that the backseat was a bit small and she immediately got us the Grand Marquis with leather seating and complimentary navigation.

It pays to ask for more and if you get less than you expected at least you tried. My rule of thumb is speak up when you see something wrong or if you want a larger room. Ask for an upgrade in a casual way. I was in line and saw this guy at a luxury hotel demanding an upgrade. The agent turned him away and gave him his small room and he was upset. When I approached the lady I apologized to her and said that it seems like she was having a bad day. I sad in a nice way do you have any larger rooms available. She said let me check and gave me a luxury suite(:.

These strategies are all great when they work, and I have successfully used many of them myself in the past. My biggest problem now that we have school-age children is that, unlike single people or those with no children/grown children, most of our travel must now occur at the most "peak" periods: President's Week, Spring Recess, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Getting flights/a hotel room at all during those times is challenging, much less a comp upgrade.

Your strategies are fine for your personal situation. Some people simply do not have the time to get to the airport 4 hours before their flight or do not enjoy sitting around the airport for that length of time. I am not sure what lines you are referring to, but at most airports, there are not specific lines for specific flights except at the gate itself. Check-in areas and security lines are not flight-specific. So you could get to the airport 4 hours ahead of time and find a long line for other flights. Or if you are on an RJ with only 50 seats, the lines may be much shorter.

Also, I do not like driving very large cars like a Grand Marquis, as elegant as they may be. I have actually refused upgrades for that reason.

Your point about shuttles vs a private car or taxi is well taken. In most cases even with just 2 people, the cost will be no more for a taxi than Super Shuttle. On the other hand, as far as driving, it depends where you live and how far the airport is. For us, a private car costs $75 to $125 to each way, depending on which airport we use. Airport parking is usually a lot less than $150-250, even for a week.

And as far as hotel rooms, when I am on a business trip alone or even with my wife, I/we do not need a suite. Asking for one just out of principle and thereby denying one to someone who may really need it is not my way of doing things.

I used to get to the airport last minute, mainly because I noticed that I was spending too much time just waiting. That has changed over the years. I don't get there 4 hours ahead of the flight, but it's no longer 45 minutes either. I agree with you on that one.

Also good point about the shuttle to the airport. I surprised me how many people dismiss things simply because they're supposed to be more expensive. I've stayed at the Rennaisance in Vienna for less than the cost of a 3 star hotel in that period, for no other reason than just because I checked. It helps to be open minded and check what you think might be more expensive; it may turn out to be quite the opposite.

I don't really ask for UGs when it comes to cars or hotel rooms. I've gotten plenty, but never because I asked. As a rule of thumb, it always helps to be nice to people who provide a service, be it a hotel check-in person or wait staff in a restaurant. You catch more flies with honey and you can see it all too often how demanding people get the short end of the stick.

I'd have taken the Accord over the Grand Marquis. If I wanted a couch with wheels and a fancy name, I'd put wheels on my couch and name it Lord Burrington.

I never take supershuttle anymore for that reason. Either taxi or park at convenient off-airport lot (the latter is often cheapest at home.) However at destination I usually get a rental - I am amazed by the number of people who take taxis in places like LA where the distances will kill you ratewise.


I thought that was just me! :D Alas CO's new policy to sell exit row upgrades will take a toll on this strategy.

This is actually poor advice. If you have very young children you would know that they don't do well waiting for any length of time, it is a challenge just to find enough programming to keep them quiet for a long flight or worse 2 flights. So we try to arrive at the terminal approx 1-1.5 hours before departure, which leave enough time to check luggage (unfortunately a necessity with the entourage), deal with security, change diapers, buy water, etc. but not too much waiting time assuming no delays.

+1 What's worse is that our children aren't old enough to require this schedule but we have it "forced" on us by grandparents who want everyone to vacation at the same time. We can't really complain about the free trips but the peak periods are a real hassle due to the crowds and the exhorbitant fares are really annoying when I know I can find the same flight for 1/2 price a week later.