Recent cold, snow, and ice have tangled the travel plans of millions of Americans. It felt like a good time to brush off the travel hacks you can use to make those setbacks and surprises a little more bearable.
The advice from David Fishman, President of the Cadillac Travel Group, gives us something to think about, from before we purchase our tickets, to how we pack our carry-on, and methods that might help us get some money back.
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Fishman has been in the travel business for 35 years and has worked with Local 4 on travel stories for more than a decade.
Of course, a lot of these travel hacks are common sense, but you must remember to follow the plan every time you travel, especially when you know bad weather could be an issue or during peak travel times.
One of Fishman’s first pieces of advice has to do with planning your trip and the timing of your travel.
He suggests building buffer time into your schedule.
Think about avoiding tight connections, arriving early at the airport, and having a Plan B that might involve ground transportation during a big travel glitch.
Take control of your carry-on
Just about everyone travels with a carry-on these days.
Making sure you have a well-packed bag can make a huge difference in your comfort level if you do face a lengthy delay or cancellation.
Fishman suggests these items are the non-negotiable essentials:
- Medications
- Chargers
- Power bank
- Snacks
- An *empty* water bottle you can fill later
- Toiletries to freshen up
- Work and entertainment options to occupy your time
- A fresh outfit in case your bags are delayed and you need a change of clothes.
Most of you have probably downloaded the app for your airline.
If you haven’t, that move becomes critical during delays.
Fishman says the apps can help track flight updates, gate changes, and rebooking options.
Be sure your text and email alerts are switched on so you don’t miss any messages. And investigate using baggage trackers.
Before you buy
You can also buy yourself some protection before you purchase your tickets.
If timing matters, investigate booking refundable or changeable fares in case you need to adjust your travel plans to avoid bad weather or get somewhere in a hurry.
Always have travel insurance and know what’s covered.
Or look for a credit card that offers trip delay or cancellation coverage.
Choose hotels with flexible check-in and cancellation policies.
Finally, if you’re temporarily stranded, be sure to keep all receipts for any related expenditures if you plan to make a reimbursement claim.
You can learn more about Cadillac Travel Group here, or call 248-509-9231