19 Ways to Dramatically Improve Your Air Travel Experience

The middle seat view on an airplane. (photo courtesy sharrocks/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

by Holly Johnson
Last updated: 7:00 PM ET, Sat July 15, 2023

Avoid Basic Economy Like the Plague

1/19

While all economy tickets on airplanes were once the same, airlines have integrated a new type of fare called Basic Economy over time. While these basic fares from airlines like American and Delta are definitely cheaper, you miss out on some benefits that can make flying more comfortable. This includes the chance to pick your own seat or even take a carry-on bag on your plane.

Basic Economy passengers also board the plane dead last, which means you may not have any overhead bin space anyway. Our advice? Avoid Basic Economy tickets regardless of the fare cost and fly in Main Cabin economy instead.

Read the Fine Print with Discount Airlines

2/19

If you're trying to save money and looking at discount airlines like Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit, make sure you know what you're getting — and what you're not getting! The fact is, discount airlines do offer cheaper fares, but they typically make up for it in other (mostly unpleasant) ways.

As an example, discount airlines may not let you pick your seat at all, and carry-on bags usually require an extra charge. Some (including Spirit Airlines) even make you pay a fee to have your boarding pass printed by a check-in agent at the airport.

Choose Your Aircraft Carefully

3/19

Not all planes are created equal, and looking over itineraries and flights can help you figure out which ones have the best seating options. For example, you can fly on planes that have a 2-3 seat configuration or a 3-3 configuration, and you can have seating configurations on long haul international flights that are 2-4-2 or 3-3-3.

Either way, think about your party size and pick an itinerary with seating options that work for you. If you're on your honeymoon and you want to sit separately from others in economy, being picky about flights can help.

Pick Up a Nice Travel Pillow

4/19

A nice travel pillow can help you get more comfortable whether you typically sleep on planes or not. After all, a pillow can be used to comfortably rest your arms or hands on your lap, or to lean against the side of an aircraft so you can get lost in a good book.

If someone is sitting next to you and crowding your space, you can even use a travel pillow to clearly define where your seat ends and where the next one begins.

Dress Comfortably for the Flight

5/19

Wear comfortable clothing on your flight, including layers that let you tailor your outfit to the temperature on board. This doesn't mean you need to wear sweats or pajamas, however. Instead, you can pick up stylish pieces that are made for comfort with long travel days in mind.

As an example, you can consider wearing a sweatshirt or travel scarf you can use to bundle up when you need to. Also pick up some comfortable travel pants or jeans, including stretchy travel jeans from Mott & Bow.

Have Something to Do

6/19

Flying can be downright boring, and you never know when your flight's wifi could be down. To make your flying experience go off without a hitch, it's smart to bring something along that can keep you entertained.

For example, bring a good book with you or a Kindle that's loaded with some of your favorite titles. You can also download music or movies on your phone ahead of time so you can watch them regardless of whether you have internet on board.

Pack Your Own Snacks

7/19

Airport food is notoriously overpriced, and there are situations where you may not have time to grab something anyway. With that in mind, you should make sure you have some easy travel snacks in your backpack with you at all times.

What foods travel well? Consider dried fruit snacks from RIND, beef jerky (or meatless Beyond Jerky) or KIND nut bars for a nutrition boost on the go.

Get Airport Lounge Access

8/19

If you tend to have a lot of layovers, having access to an airport lounge can dramatically improve your experience. These lounges are dotted all throughout airports around the world, and they tend to offer snacks or full meals, drinks, free internet access and a cozy place to relax away from the loud (and often crowded) airport terminal.

You can pay for a Priority Pass membership that grants you entry to 1,300+ airport lounges if you prefer, but you can also sign up for a travel credit card that includes this access as a cardholder perk.

Sign up for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR

9/19

Airport security lines can be the worst, but you can skip ahead in line and go through fewer hassles if you have TSA PreCheck, CLEAR membership or both. Each of these programs lets you enter a separate line when you first get to airport security for departures, although CLEAR uses biometrics to confirm your identity while TSA PreCheck uses your government-issued identification.

At that point, TSA PreCheck lets you speed through most security lines without removing your shoes, your jacket, your small liquids or your laptop from your bag.

Don't Forget about Global Entry

10/19

While TSA PreCheck and CLEAR expedite the airport security process in the United States, Global Entry improves the travel experience when you arrive back in the U.S. after an international trip. Essentially, this membership lets you pass the typical customs and immigration lines in favor of a separate, much shorter line for Global Entry members. You also get to use your fingerprints and facial recognition to confirm your identity, and the process can take a few minutes instead of an hour or longer waiting in line.

Also be aware that Global Entry membership automatically comes with TSA PreCheck.

Invest in the Right Luggage

11/19

The right luggage for a trip can vary depending on how much stuff you need to bring along. You can also pick from different types of luggage, including hard shell suitcases, soft shell luggage and even duffel bags that can fit almost anywhere.

Regardless, you will want to think long and hard about how much luggage space you actually need before you settle on a bag to buy or use one you already have. Our advice? Only bring what you need on your trip and nothing more, and try to avoid checking a bag unless you absolutely have to.

Pack with a Plan

12/19

Investing in the right luggage is always smart, but you'll also want to make sure you pack strategically. There are a range of packing options out there, but it can help you stay organized if you use packing cubes and/or roll your clothing before putting it in your luggage.

There are also travel toiletry bags you can buy to get even more organized, as well as shoe bags and travel jewelry organizers to boot. Whatever you do, don't just throw all your stuff haphazardly in your bag and hope for the best.

Bring Your Own Headphones

13/19

There are numerous reasons to have your own noise-canceling headphones when you travel, and this includes all those times when someone near you is listening to their device on full blast. You may also want to watch a movie or listen to music on your phone to pass the time, and having your own headphones can help.

There are definitely airplanes with seatback entertainment, and your airline may offer plug-in headphones you can use in those times. However, it's fairly common for airlines to run out of the "free headphones," necessitating the need for your own pair. If you have wireless headphones, you can even bring along an AirFly device that lets you use your wireless headphones with a seatback entertainment device.

Download Your Airline's App

14/19

Your airline's app can make travel easier and better in more ways than one. Not only do airline apps give you constant updates on your flight's status, but they can let you know the next gate you're going to and even update you when your checked bags are on your plane.

In the event your flight is canceled or delayed, your airline's mobile app might even let you move your flight yourself without getting in line for help.

Apply for an Airline Credit Card

15/19

The right travel credit card can help you earn airline miles you can redeem for free flights, but that's not all. Some airline credit cards also come with extra features and perks and that can make actually flying less costly and better overall.

As an example, some airline credit cards offer priority boarding on the plane or free checked baggage for you and your companions. Premium airline credit cards even offer airport lounge access and fee credits toward Global Entry or TSAPreCheck membership.

Fly Direct When You Can

16/19

If you have the option to avoid a layover without paying a lot more for your flight, you should do it. After all, so much more can go wrong on flights that include stops, including twice the chance of encountering a flight cancellation or delay, your bags getting lost in transit and more.

By booking a direct flight, you also have just one airplane seat assignment and a single flight to endure. You'll also get to your destination considerably faster, and who doesn't want that?

Pay for an Upgrade

17/19

If you have the option to pay for an upgrade on your flight, you might want to consider it. Even upgrading to premium economy can give you more legroom and space overall, and an upgrade to First or Business class can be even better.

While some airlines offer upgrade potential intermittently or not at all, many others let you upgrade with cash or miles based on availability.

Buy Travel Insurance

18/19

While having travel insurance won't make your flight more fun, it can provide you with peace of mind. After all, travel insurance typically comes with benefits like lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance and more.

When you have travel insurance with all these perks built in, you'll get reimbursed for eligible out-of-pocket expenses you would otherwise have to pay. You can buy travel insurance through a travel agent, but you can also purchase a policy online.

Work Your Way Toward Elite Airline Status

19/19

Finally, consider whether you fly enough to earn elite status with an airline. If you fly at least once a month or even less than that and you pool all your travel with a single carrier, it may be possible to earn elite status and get all the perks that come with it.

Not only can elite status with an airline get you early boarding, but you can qualify for seat upgrades based on availability, free checked bags and other perks. Also note that some airline credit cards let you work toward elite status without flying, although not all of them do.

While flying has never been a fun or exciting experience, the realities of travel have gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Ongoing labor shortages at airports have led to long lines and extensive waits for checked baggage all over the country, and planes always seem to be packed with impatient, unruly passengers who left their manners at home.

That said, you still have power when it comes to the type of day you have each time you fly. By taking some steps like booking the right fare, packing smartly and bringing along some creature comforts for your time in the airport and in the sky, you can make sure you're comfortable, fed and blissfully unaware of what is going on around you for most of the day.

How can you dramatically improve your flying experience? We suggest 19 different strategies including parking smartly, avoiding your airline's cheapest fares and bringing snacks and your own set of headphones in your carry-on bag. Read to learn all the other steps you can take to have a better flight experience this summer and beyond.