Elevating your airport experience

Being at the airport is no one’s ideal – other than the guy who lived in the Paris airport for nearly two decades, but I digress.

That said, here are a few ideas to elevate your overall airport experience. Bear in mind that, for the most part, things are out of your control and, if you travel enough, bound to go wrong sometimes.

TSA Pre Check

If you don’t already have it, WHY NOT? Do yourself a favor and enroll. A lot of companies will pay for this if you travel for work, and a lot of credit card companies are starting to reimburse you for these fees (Hey, Chase and AmEx). Even out of pocket, this is only $78. Like we’ve said before, your time and peace of mind are worth dollars. It also lasts you for 5 years – You are worth $15.60/year at least! With TSA Pre Check, you don’t have to remove shoes or a jacket, you don’t have to take out any laptops/tablets/liquids – nothing. You put your bags onto the belt and you stroll through.

Elevated tip: If you do any international travel, enroll in Global Entry instead of TSA Pre Check. It is the same process, but costs $100 (and still covers you for five years). If you already have TSA Pre Check, you can always upgrade to Global Entry when it comes time to renew.

In the terminal

So, you’ve made it through security in a breeze. Next, you’re in the terminal and waiting for your flight.

Instead of sitting at the gate, I like strolling around the concourse. It’s a good way to get steps in before your flight, it’s great people watching, and movement is a helpful counter for any pre-flight anxiety you may have. If you’re not one to stroll, check your credit card benefits. A lot of credit cards now offer Priority Pass memberships with lounges in airports around the world. Some lounges are better than others, but it is nice to have a place to relax where there are complimentary food and drinks, and you’re out of the hubbub of the main concourse. AmEx and Chase offer this as part of their rewards, and it’s a huge benefit of the credit cards that include it for free, so check yours.

Elevated Tip: In your handbag, always keep a granola bar and an empty water bottle (key here is empty through security). When you get into the terminal, fill up your water bottle so you don’t have to wait for service on your flight. If they are short flights or turbulent flights, you may not get water, so I always bring mine. Plus, bringing your own bottle is better for the environment and saves you $5.