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Travel hacks don’t really exist, but there are ways to fly better | Cruising Altitude

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Travel hacks don’t really exist, but there are ways to fly better | Cruising Altitude

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  • Travel “hacks” promising cheaper flights or free upgrades are largely ineffective.
  • Airlines have become more sophisticated in their pricing and revenue management strategies.
  • Finding comfort on a flight often comes down to personal preference and flexibility.

Social media is full of “travel hacks” to help you find a cheaper flight, or get an upgrade without having to pay, or even just tips and tools for making your economy seat more comfortable – foot hammock anyone? 

But here’s the thing: the internet is also full of lies. 

There isn’t really any such thing as a travel hack anymore. Sure, there are some limited ways to find cheap flights, or to maybe pay a little less for a better seat, but nothing is guaranteed. And everything else, especially when it comes to how to make your flight more comfortable, just boils down to traveler preference. What works for me might not work for you. Here’s what I mean. 

Goodbye pricing hacks 

If you’ve booked any plane tickets at all recently, you’re aware of how granular airline revenue management has gotten.  

Fare bundles? Charges for extras like checked bags and seat selection? Airfare that seems to be different every time you search for the same flights? Those are all examples of ways that airlines have gotten better at generating profits. 

“Airlines have become a lot more sophisticated and a lot smarter about how they price both their base fares and the other products they sell.” Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research, a travel industry analytics firm, told me.  

Decades ago, airlines also priced flights and handled reservations manually. Now, unsurprisingly, computers play a much bigger role, and that makes the system harder to game. 

“Revenue management is run by computers and formulas and algorithms at this point that are working 24/7/365, so you’re not going to find a weak spot to exploit,” Kyle Potter, Executive editor of travel and flight deal website Thrifty Traveler, told me.  

But, Potter said, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get a good fare. 

“Airline revenue management is so sophisticated and so powerful, being flexible with when you travel and where you travel is the single most important thing you can do,” he said.  

Potter said he recommends people be as flexible as possible on their departure dates and times and use tools like Explore on Google Flights to see what options might be available. But that’s not a hack, as much as some influencers would have you believe otherwise, that’s just using an available tool. Travelers who are too set on a single day, time or even destination are less likely to find deals. 

“Airlines are dead set on squeezing every penny they can out of their flyers,” Potter said.  

Harteveldt added it’s harder and harder to compare airlines on price these days, too. 

“Airlines are trying to find ways to let you assemble the airline journey that you want and can afford with the features and amenities that matter to you,” he said. “Shopping for airfares is going to become like opening a box of Legos and assembling the building you want.” 

So, he said, go with what works for you. 

“If you find a schedule and a fare that meets your needs, whether it’s a business trip or a vacation, book it. Airlines are like casinos in Las Vegas: the house always wins.” 

Farewell free upgrades 

I’m tired of reading about how if you bat your eyes, or smile, or dress up, or ask nicely or give a gift to your flight attendant, that you’re going to get a free upgrade.  

Does it ever happen? I’m sure someone, somewhere, wins the jackpot on this every year, but is it reliable enough to call a “hack”? Absolutely not. 

You can all but forget a free upgrade to any kind of nicer seat if you don’t have frequent flyer status with the airline you’re flying – or if you haven’t paid for that seat in the first place. 

“The airline industry has, for 16 years, been transforming itself into one where at least in economy and increasingly in premium cabins, into a business the motto is: you get what you pay for. The less you pay for, the less you get, the more you pay, the more pleasant your journey will be,” Harteveldt said. “American, Delta and United all promise that they offer complimentary domestic upgrades to the next class of service, and each intentionally takes steps to make it as difficult as possible to earn that benefit.” 

That’s because there’s money for the airlines in not giving away the nicer seats for free. I can’t tell you how many flights I’ve been on where I’ve been eligible for an upgrade as a frequent flyer and seen dozens of people on the list ahead of me with zero seats remaining up front.  

Delta Air Lines’ president told investors in November, for example, that the airline now sells more than 70% of its premium seating, with only 12% going to frequent flyer upgrades on average. 

So, if you think you’re going to beat out all those elites because you’re wearing a suit at the airport, you’re going to be disappointed. 

Last week’s Cruising Altitude: Bring on the waterworks! Are we really more likely to cry on planes?

What counts for comfort? 

All the other travel hacks about ways to make yourself more comfortable on a flight really come down to how you, personally, like to travel.  

I use a memory foam neck pillow, but other people prefer inflatable ones. I like the window seat, but some people feel like they can stretch their legs better from the aisle seat. And again, airlines have gotten really good at charging extra for even slightly better seats. Free exit row seating is more or less a thing of the past, for example. 

However, Potter said getting a little more savvy can help you seek out some comforts where possible. 

“Certain planes have much better seating arrangements than others,” he said.  

I wrote a whole separate column about how to differentiate seats on your upcoming flights, but even then, it comes down to personal preference and keeping your eye on the seat map after you’ve booked to see if your preferred seat opens up. 

Maybe you’re flying with a friend or partner and would find seats in a section of two across more comfortable than three, or maybe you’re traveling with your whole family and prefer seats in a section of four across. I can’t tell you what makes the most sense, but I can say to follow your heart when you fly.  

In the end, even if you’re not thrilled with where you wind up on the plane or how much you’ve paid, you’ll still get where you’re trying to go before long. 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

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