Save money – and your sanity – while flying

Fed up with high prices, endless fees, cramped seats, long lines and crazy connections? Here are some strategies for flying saner, safer and cheaper from Consumer Reports.

Score the best seats. Start checking for available seats 72 hours before departure. That’s when airlines may start releasing those that were earlier reserved for people who have been upgraded or have canceled, which means you might be able to select a plum spot – without having to pay extra for it.

Board early and save on baggage fees. Checking just one bag could cost you $36 to $200 round-trip. Making do with a carry-on is an obvious way to avoid bag fees – unless you’re flying on Allegiant, Frontier or Spirit, which charge for carry-on bags. If traveling light isn’t an option, consider signing up for one of the airline credit cards that offer benefits including free checked bags.

Speed through security. Flyers who have registered with TSA PreCheck enjoy expedited screening at more than 180 U.S. airports, saving time and stress. The Transportation Security Administration says that 95 percent of the people going through the precheck line waited 5 minutes or less in June.

Avoid the crowds. If you’ll be in the airport for more than a few hours, consider splurging for access to a lounge. Most airlines sell day passes to their club lounges, even if you’re not traveling with them. The cost is usually between $30 and $59 per person, which, in addition to letting you dodge the airport throngs, gets you free food, beverages, WiFi, showers and assistance with your travel arrangements.

Minimize stress. Don’t join the mad rush to get on the plane. The less time you spend in line, the better, says Leon James, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii who studies air, road and pedestrian rage. Don’t get in line until your section is called.

Maximize comfort. Keeping warm and entertained are necessities for serene travel, James says. Bring along a sweater, a small pillow and blanket (for longer flights), reading materials and games.

Move it. Remaining in a sedentary position for more than four hours can increase the risk of developing a dangerous blood clot (known as deep vein thrombosis), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Consumer Reports’ medical experts suggest walking around the plane every hour, if possible, and periodically raising your heels with your toes on the floor, then raising your toes with your heels on the floor. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and avoid alcoholic beverages.

Keep it clean. Research shows that some of the germiest spots on a plane are the seatback tray table, the overhead air vent, the seatback pocket and the seat-belt buckle. Wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water, and use alcohol-based wipes on all of those germy surfaces before you touch them, says Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., Consumer Reports’ chief medical adviser.

To learn more, visit ConsumerReports.org.

2016 Consumers Union, Inc.

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