Three tips on how to simplify your holiday travels

Many of us will be traveling this weekend (myself included). And most of us will be flying somewhere. Being a frequenter of Southwest Airlines (great customer service and flight attendants with actual personalities) I’ve compiled three tips to help you simplify your experience. While these are Southwest-specific, I’d imagine some of these would apply to other airlines as well.

1. Skip the security line. Southwest’s Rapid Rewards Cards are not only free, but at some airports (Portland International in particular), flashing said card allows you to bypass the long lines at security and skip straight to that fun machine that blasts you with little puffs of air.

2. Get an “A” boarding pass. You know those boarding passes you receive when you check in your luggage? Instead of having to decide between showing up early to get an “A” pass, having a nice seat on the plane but having to wait for hours in the terminal, and showing up on time, getting a “C” pass but getting squished in a middle seat for your entire flight, you can check in online.

By checking in online you can print out your boarding pass from home 24 hours before your flight leaves – an “A” pass without having to sit in the terminal for hours. All you need is your name and confirmation number.

3. Miss your flight? Relax. Can’t make your flight? Need to cancel last minute? Southwest allows you to apply the full cash value to apply to a future flight, up to a year away (see Southwest.com for full details). My family has actually used this a number of times and never run into a hitch.

Of course, this doesn’t help you get to your destination (especially during the holidays) but at least you’ll know your money hasn’t gone down the tubes.

Despite what you think, I’m not endorsed by Southwest (although I wouldn’t be opposed to the idea – Southwest People, you have my number). It’s just the airline I have the most experience with. Does anybody have tips for simplifying your holiday travels on other airlines? If so, either leave word in the comments or e-mail me at LivSimpl at gmail.

LivSimpl

P.S. Feeling lucky? A couple of years ago while we were back in Oregon for Christmas, my sister lost her driver’s license. Fearful about whether they’d let her board with the increased security measures and no government-issued ID, we called the airline. They said it was fine, but she’d have to go through a more stringent version of security and to arrive early to allow time, which we did.

While we stood in line waiting for our turn to walk through the metal detectors (I’d forgotten my Rapid Rewards card) my sister was escorted to the left where she was asked a couple of questions, had her bag x-rayed and walked on through. That’s right. With no ID, my sister made it through the “stringent security” much faster than those of us armed with IDs.

Southwest logo courtesy of here.