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1. If you use a mobile boarding pass, screenshot the pass w/ QR code in advance so it is a photo when you get up to the TSA agent. You never know when internet access may be limited and you can’t load your boarding pass!

2. Always bring a power strip with you! Splurge on a fancy strip that has a few USB ports too.

3. Best thing I’ve learned on this blog was probably the ins and outs of using United Miles to book w/ partners for high value award travel across the Atlantic.

4. Research transit of your destination before you go: this will help you on arrival, your stay, and departure from your location.

   Exchange money before getting to the airport because most of the time you can find better deals elsewhere. And always have cash on you because even if you think Visa is accepted everywhere or you have a Chip and don’t need to worry, a lot of countries work on just cash.

   Always pack lighter. Try not to pack your bag to the brim when you go somewhere because you may need to put something in there like a souvenir on the way back.

   And have all your frequent flyer numbers on you. My girlfriend has forgotten to put in frequent flyer number a few times and if you throw away your tickets like everyone does, the airline sometimes won’t believe you actually flew them. It’s stupid,

   So basically, I’m saying be prepared.

5. Great blog, first thing I read every morning!

6. On AA awards starting in a gateway city (I live in DFW), you can add an extra free domestic leg (up to 50% of the distance). Just pick a random city within the next year, and tack it on. You can use it or change it later. http://viewfromthewing.com/2012/01/04/dont-forget-to-add-a-segment-to-the-end-of-american-aadvantage-award-bookings/

7. My best travel tip is take (or get) small bills! If I am heading to places like Vegas or Mexico, I save all my dollar bills for months before. Tips are then never a problem. The tip also works in places where you use foreign currency. After I get money from an ATM, I’ll head into the bank to get small bills instead. Ever try to pay for a coke on the street in Paris with a 100E bill? you get the idea!

8. The First Class Hack:
   – NRT – HKG in ANA F (23 hour stopover in Hong Kong)
   – HKG – BKK in Thai F (Thai Royal Orchid Massage Layover)
   – BKK – SYD in Thai F
   – SYD – RAR = throwaway flight

   Total cost = 32,500 United Miles*
   (One-way Japan to Oceania First Award)

   *Will be 40,000 United Miles after February 1, 2014.

9. The best thing that I learned from this blog is that perhaps the biggest benefit of lounges is easy access to agents who can make travel changes in a pinch.

10. One of my best travel tips is to carry Tea Tree Oil (in my little plastic, zip-lock bag). I always put a couple of drops under my nose when I fly, at it seems to beat off many of the airborne / plane bugs. It is also an antiseptic, and it can be used on minor cuts and scrapes to prevent infection. And finally, Tea Tree Oil can be used (diluted in water) to gargle with, if you are suffering from a sore throat.

11. Aegean Airlines offers star gold after 19000 miles and never expires as long as you credit a flight every 3 years.

12. Contrary to popular wisdom, I’m going to recommend carrying at least a few travelers checks when going to more remote locations. You should always use your ATM card to withdraw foreign currency if possible. But what would you do if the card doesn’t work?

    I had this happen to me a number of years ago arriving in PPT. I was sure glad I could change a $100 travelers check to local currency in order to pay for a cab ride from the airport to the hotel late at night.

13. When flying United, make sure you repeatedly check the “Flight Status/Seat Map” feature on the website/app starting 3 days before the flight. Seat movements are extremely frequent during this period as elites are upgraded, and if you check frequently you can almost always move your way in to a roomy bulkhead/exit row or otherwise desirable seat, to ensure your travel is a little less painful.

14. Gift cards in staples with INK card

15. We take the “fancy” laundry bags from hotels and use them to pack shoes, sandals, etc to help prevent dirt from passing…we have them from all over the world…luckily we havent been charged to date (including last weekend at the Grant)

16. Hang up call again, wow does that work!

17. Always call the reconsideration line if you get denied for a credit card as I’ve found 95% of the time that will get you approved. Spread the word about miles and point collecting to friends but don’t be surprised when almost all of them don’t take you up in joining in the fun. But don’t be afraid to share your stash with friends and family as that can be very rewarding and satisfying as well.

18. My best piece of advice I’ve learned here is to always check this blog for what promotions are running. Thanks to this blog, I remembered to sign up for a Hilton promotion that earned me 4x points on a stay I did in October. It padded my balance very nicely…helping me book an award trip next year. Thanks Gary!

19. The basic rule of airline customer service – if you don’t get the answer you want from an agent, hang up and call back again.

20. Stopovers stopovers stopovers. Turn a simple roundtrip into multiple vacation destinations without additional mileage cost. It’s such a basic tenet of the miles world, but something I completely missed out on years ago.

21. I think one of Gary’s best tips is to be polite. I can’t begin to list the many free drinks, hotel upgrades, etc. that are a result of a smile and a thank you.

22. The AAdvantage Explorer Award allows you to have stopovers on AAdvantage award trips. It allowed me to take a trip, stopover at my home airport for 9 months and then take another trip all on a single award with multiple destinations during both trips.

23. For those who love to travel internationally with only a carry on: Always be prepared to check a bag on your return flight, in case you would like to bring home some delicious “liquids”, such as wine and soft cheese. You do not want to be restricted to the costly and limited selection available at the duty free! To get the flexibility of check luggage, either use an expandable carry-on that expands dramatically (and have a personal item that can take all you actually need on board), or better yet have a light but large folding duffel bag (Walmart has a nice wheeled one for 15$). If you are a wine lover, make sure you also pack an empty shoebox or two that you can pad well enough for the bottles to survive the rough handling checked luggage is often subjected to.

24. My own advice would be to just enjoy you travel. It’s easy to get caught up in making status and earning points, but don’t forget the whole reason you do it!

25. A multi-tasker: bring an empty water bottle for filling up after security and wrap some duct tape around it a few times. The duct tape trick is something I picked up from my backpacking adventures – because it fixes everything when you’re out in the wilderness. However, I found it’s very handy for non-wilderness adventures as well. I was in Barbados a few weeks ago, and my room air conditioner had a ridiculous bright power light that lit up the entire room. A few layers of duct tape from my Nalgene darkened it out and made for a comfortable night’s sleep.

26. that’s its possible for regular travelers (not weekly flyers) to also get first class trips
    thank you

27. There is nothing more simple, elegant, or effective as “hang up, call back.”

28. Your post about double checking United awards for actual ticketing and with partner airlines was very timely. Looked up my award booking a week later and had to call in to push the ticketing through!

29. Certainly the “hang up and call back” tip is one of the best of Gary’s wisdom.

    It has worked for me!

30. Be kind to service workers, for their sake and yours.

31. My best tip is to keep yourself informed… stay up to date with the blogs and the forums, so you won’t miss the best travel opportunities.

32. I always make sure to check my phone roaming/data plan before traveling internationally – making sure changes are activated before I leave so I’m not trying to fix the problem from my destination point. When in doubt, take a phone that you can switch out to a local SIM card – make sure you have a compatible operating system – in some countries CDMA is not the standard…Thanks for all you advice Gary.

33. Honestly, the most important thing I’ve learned from this blog is that I need to check this blog regularly – you always announce interesting news and you provide a great analysis of what is going on.

34. Travel credit cards are NOT all created equal! Don’t find out AFTER you’re back in the country that your favorite daily-spend card charges you a foreign transaction fee. Follow Gary’s blog and learn the differences between all the card program’s benefits and gotchas!

    Thanks for all you do Gary!

35. Best thing I learned from this blog – email the hotel GM before a special occasion. My wife and I went to the Grand Hyatt Cannes for our anniversary with no status and they upgraded us to an ocean view deluxe room and gave us complimentary champagne and strawberries. Hat tip to you Gary.

36. Advice: Blogs/artilces are from one persons viewpoint/experiences. The program(s) that are best for them may not be the program that is best for you. Keep an open mind while tailoring for what program(s) best meet your preferences/travel style

37. Best travel advice I learned was to get cash from the airport ATM at your international destination for the best exchange rate.

38. The thing I’ve learned: Not all blogs are created equal.

    I read View From the Wing and the Wandering Aramean for insight into the business and operational side of airlines. Other blogs feature largely very similar content. I’m subscribed to a few, but I consistently visit View From the Wing for its insight, and that of its readers.

    Your blog is a service to the community, Gary. Thank you.

39. If you are checking bags, take a picture of your luggage with your Smartphone. So if it does get lost or delayed, you can show the photo to the lost luggage staff for easy identification.

40. Best tip is definitely hang up, call back. It’s saved me a few occasions.

41. The most useful thing I learned from this blog was so simple in retrospect, but never occurred to me beforehand. Online res systems don’t show full partner award space.

    Learning about various tools, using partner airline websites, and calling and asking have opened up much more availability, and better routing, than I thought existed previously!

42. If transit is easy from the airport of your final destination, consider renting a car downtown rather than the airport to avoid hefty airport rental car fees. PDX is great for this.

43. Your best tip was the reminder that Ink cards qualify for two free lounge visits per year!! I did not know that! Very useful!

44. I always travel with a powerstrip since I bring a lot of electronics.

45. When traveling abroad I always adopt the following tips to reduce the chance of having problems that can turn the trip into a nightmare:
    1) If possible, take money from ATM INSIDE the baggage claim area. That avoids people hanging out in the arrivals terminal to see you are getting money and probably try to follow you;
    2) get transportation from an official agency. If possible I book a hotel car. It can be more expensive but at least I know the price in advance and I am sure i will be taken to the hotel;
    3) When arriving at the hotel, make sure you get the hotel cards with their address written in the local language. It is a life saver if you need to get a taxi back to the hotel;
    4) Always carry a copy of your most important personal documents. I save a PDF copy online (Dropbox) so I can access any time I need from any computer;
    5) The less valuable stuff you show around, the better. Depending on the country I am going to visit, I carry a cheap watch and only the essential cards in my wallet. I also try to carry iD (passport, driver’s license, etc..) separate from my wallet. In case of stolen, I don’t want people to have my driver’s license with my full name, photo and home address;
    6) I always carry my smart phone as the only electronic I need. I can make calls, take pictures and access internet when wifi is available. Make sure you fully back up your phone at home prior to your trip so in case of lost or stolen you have all your data safe at home.

    It may seem too much but these are simple tips that you will regret not taking in case of something goes wrong. Enjoy your trip!!!!

46. Minimize connections. Any time you can go non-stop, go non-stop. Any time you connect, you waste an entire day and put your entire trip at risk.

47. Hang up and call again! In the words of Brian Fontana “60% of the time, it works every time”.

48. Always take an emergency t-shirt, socks & knickers in your carry-on. You never know when your checked bag might get lost or delayed.

49. Be polite, be nice and treat people with kindness. You’d be surprised how many people get caught up in this “elite” game and forget how to treat people. I remember seeing a gate agent getting berated to no extent several years ago. Even before I knew what status meant, I remember getting bumped to business class several times by simply asking and being nice about it.

50. Your advice on bringing a portable power strip has been invaluable. Thank you.