Those glorious days of aviation are probably long behind us, but this still doesn’t mean the process has to be miserable these days. Even if there’s nothing so appealing about flying in a middle seat in economy, there are still some airline perks that can improve your flight experience.
Naturally, some are reserved for business-class passengers, but there are still many available to everyone. Here are eight airline perks you might not be aware of. Also, don’t hesitate to let us know which ones you find the most interesting and alluring! I personally know that the fourth and fifth are on the top of my list.
Some airlines have designated check-in areas for business-class passengers
If you fly business class, you will constantly have access to a priority check-in desk, as well as numerous fliers holding elite status, who can clog up the line. However, some airlines have dedicated check-in areas that are fully exclusive to business-class passengers.
For example, Delta has a Delta One check-in area, which comes with a complimentary refreshment bar. Fancy some champagne?
Some airlines have arrivals lounges that are designated for post-red-eye flight
Even when it comes to business class, red-eye flights aren’t all that fun. However, you can make your arrival a bit brighter by visiting an airline’s arrivals lounge for a post-flight refresh. Well, not every airline has an arrivals lounge at every airport, and not every passenger has access, that’s why you should check with your airline before departing.
One huge standout is the Virgin Atlantic arrivals lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport, where travelers can take a shower, eat a full English breakfast, and catch up on the morning views.
You can easily join the standby queue for an earlier flight for free
In a hurry to get to your ideal destination, you can try your hand at flying standby on an earlier flight. If you didn’t know this, flying standby implies being added to a waitlist for extra seats on an earlier flight. The wide majority of airlines will let you join the queue for free.
The usual stipulations are that standby flights have the same destination as your earlier journey, whether it’s the same day as your original flight, and be earlier than your initial trip, not later. You can easily check your airline’s specific policies about flying standby to find out more details.
You can still tour the cockpit at the captain’s discretion
Even if you can’t visit the cockpit mid-flight, you could still tour it before or after the flight, as long as the captain approves it. Both kids and adults are more than welcome. You can speak with a flight attendant about a possible tour, and bear in mind that there are zero guarantees.
You can request a second meal onboard
Portions are generally small, especially when it comes to airplane meals. If you are still hungry after you receive the service, you can ask a flight attendant if there are ay leftover meals. If there are, you could get seconds. Make sure you ask after everyone on the plane has been served.
You can ask for freebies such as eye masks and slippers
Full amenity kits with facial moisturizers, lip balm, and, in some cases, even fragrance sprays are generally limited to business-class passengers. However, you can still ask a flight attendant for extra amenities like eye masks, slippers, and toothbrushes to make your journey more comfortable. They might not always be out there, but it’s still worth asking.
If your checked bag doesn’t come on time, you can get compensation
Delta and Alaska Airlines both have bags-on-time guarantees. If your checked luggage doesn’t make it to the baggage claim within 20 minutes after you arrive, you can file for compensation in the form of 2,500 miles to your respective loyalty program.
Alaska also has a series of alternatives: a $25 credit toward your next flight. There’s still some fine print to read, so you should check out your airline’s specific policies and find out if you even qualify and how to request your well-deserved compensation.
The major U.S. airlines offer connections to some destinations by bus or train
Well, through the Landline bus service, both the United and America offer plenty of connections to smaller cities outside their main hubs. You can easily book it all on a single ticket, and your bags will get checked the whole way through. United Services Fort Collins and Breckenridge from Denver, while American Services have Allentown/Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
There’s also Lancaster and Pennsylvania, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, from Philadelphia. Delta, however, managed to one-up its competition. You can simply book train tickets all over Europe, along with your air tickets through Delta’s Air and Rail program.
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