4 Tips for Buying Flights Online in 2024 | (FREE seat selection hack!)
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- FREE UPGRADES and other things you didn't know you could do even after booking your flight ticket online.
This video includes a FREE SEAT SELECTION HACK, free flight upgrades and other add ons you should never pay for when booking a flight online in 2024. Stay tuned for 4 little-known travel hacks that will save you money.
Booking a flight is becoming increasingly complex with many different options and add-ons available. It can be difficult to know what you really need to pay for and what you can just skip over and decide later.
In today’s video I will cover 4 things that you will be able to do after purchasing your ticket. Knowing what options you have after buying the ticket will be helpful to anyone thinking about booking a flight as well as anyone that has already bought a ticket and is curious about what options they have to make changes.
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0:00 4 Things to know about your flight ticket
0:38 Tip 1: Never pay for seat selection
1:05 Selecting a seat for free during online check-in
1:17 How to change an assigned seat
1:40 Ask the gate agent to change a flight
2:01 When you can't change your seat
2:35 When to pick. anew seat
2:55 Tip 2: Add a checked bag later
3:05 Add a checked bag before going to the airport
3:18 Luggage weight limits
3:36 Don't arrive at the airport with an unpaid checked bag
4:16 Order a special meal for FREE
5:15: How to request a special meal
5:35: Cancel your flight for a REFUND
6:13 Beware of third-party booking sites
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// ABOUT
Hey there, I'm Megan and I’ve spent 5+ years living and working from over 50 countries around the world. I’m on a mission to prove that anyone (even you!) can do it too.
Portable Professional is a youtube channel full of actionable tips and guides to travel, live and work from anywhere in the world. Serving seasoned digital nomads and first-time travelers alike, it’s the ultimate resource to hack the travel lifestyle.
www.megangougeon.com/
/ megan.gougeon
/ portableprofessional
I kind of disagree with some of your recommendations. The length of the flight is important to note. I travel to Asia often and when you are flying 14-16 hours the seat selection will make/break many things during the flight. Plus the new algorithms for seats are revenue-driven and give priority to their frequent flyer members, their status, and partners as well. If you have more than 2 people traveling it becomes difficult to sit together.
American basic economy didn't allow me to select a seat at boarding. Other airlines have allowed it for that fare class (United, KLM, Delta). After reading up online, I gambled on waiting until closer to flight time to check in. The logic is that you're competing with regular fare customers for the seats without an additional fee. You're assigned first come first serve, but at some point only middle seats are left and the preferred seats that cost extra. If your flight is full, at some point they run out of non-fee seats and the system will start assigning you to the preferred or extra leg room seats still left. I waited to try out the theory but also turned out I wasn't able to check in anyway (the verify app wasn't working for me so I had to show vaccination info in person). I forgot to ask for a non-middle seat at check-in. Once at the gate I asked and they offered me an aisle for $60 - since I was basic economy not because it was a preferred seat. I said no thanks, but made a mental note of the seat and row number. Sure enough. Once the doors closed the seat was empty and I was able to switch.
Hi there. There is one thing you are missing about the free seat selection: most air carriers do not open up the "convenient" seats 24 hours before the flight for check-in. I've experienced this myself many times (as a frequent flyer) and they only open up seats either at the back of the plane or those that are not selected by the passengers i.e. the seats around the toilets etc. so if you are not paying for a seat, you are more than likely to be seated at the back of the plane or in a seat which is not very convenient...
Might want to pay to select a seat these days rather than hoping to change for free pre-boarding. I have flights booked in mid-July that are already ~90% full.
EDIT: flew ABQ-DFW-BOS Tuesday, May 3rd. All flights completely full. On 4th, BOS to SJC (yes - cross-country). Also completely full. 5th, SJC to LAX. Also full. Only LAX back to ABQ had seats available.
Delta wanted to charge me $65 to check in a baggage, but I took it myself instead. Then when I got to the gate, the flight was full and they checked it in free at the gate. That was handy because it was a flight with a couple connections and I was glad to have it taken care of.
There's a couple caveats regarding seat changes after booking your flight.
1) Some of the seat selections you can buy give you extra legroom. If that's what you are after, get them at time of booking because they tend to go fast. For regular economy seats, it doesn't matter.
2) Anything from Covid restrictions to a country you are visiting, odd luggage rules on connecting flights at certain airports, technical glitches at the airline, etc. can lead to a possible occurrence where you aren't allowed to check in online 24 hours ahead and have to wait until you're at the airport, when there may be slim pickings for seat options.
Sometimes airlines don’t like passengers switching seats due to weight/load design with cargo and such. It depends.
Thanks for the tips! I'm looking forward to getting the most out of my next trip. I like the aisle seat during a long haul flight too!
Just a reminder that not all special meals are created equal. In the past I traveled frequently with someone who needed a gluten free meal. She never had trouble getting the gluten free meal, which was a real godsend and made her so much more comfortable traveling. The meal was universally distributed first, just as you mention too. However, her gluten free meals were often much smaller (less actual food) than my regular service meal. I've seen this with vegetarian meals too. So, while having special meals available for people who need them is a wonderful and useful thing, ordering one just to jump the service queue isn't necessarily always a good trade. Cheers.
Really good point, Mike. I have Celiac and need to order a Gluten-free meal and have definitely had it work both ways.
Sometimes less is served in comparison to the regular meal service, but sometimes it's a lot more, or even more premium food (like a fancy cheese board from first-class). I guess it depends on the airline!
@@PortableProfessional The worst example of an airline Gluten-free meal was an apple and a few grapes only on a transatlantic flight. It nearly brought tears to her eyes. Fortunately, experience also taught her to have a good supply of back-up snacks on hand, so she didn't suffer too much. Along those lines, I'm happy to see how the availability of Gluten-free foods continues to increase so people with Celiac can travel freely! Regards.
As for selecting a seat. I live in Orlando, flights are always full. As for checking bags, I live in Orlando, flights are always full.
Excellent video as always. Full of great tips.
Excellent video as always. Thank you for the great information. Looking forward to flying international this summer.
Thank you for letting me know, Mehrdad! Comments like this mean so much. Safe travels this summer, exciting stuff!
Ordering a special meal means little chance of being upgraded. Airlines can’t be bothered with the logistics of transferring your food from one trolley to another.
Way too stressful to not buy my seat at the time of booking. Don’t want to be stuck in a terrible seat, especially on a long haul. It’s worth paying for.
Makes sense! It's so important to identify what you value and then be ok to pay for it. If it eases stress, it's worth the payment. Thanks for sharing!
I agree.
I did use your tips to find a round trip ticket to Thailand for September for $672.00 (BKK) on Singapore. What I didn’t realize is that, for basic economy, they charge for seat assignments for the 4 segments. It came to $62 total, with the 14=hour trip two and from Singapore to Seattle costing $27 On a 14 hour flight, I’d prefer to know in advance the seat assignments, so I paid the $62. Because not many had bought tickets yet, I got good seat assignments. Now, if I can figure out how to get a lounge pass for $30 or less, without joining Priority Pass or paying $550 to get a Chase Sapphire card
Certain airlines have status with partners. For example elite plus with skyteam(Delta, Air France, KLM...etc) have access with international lounges. I flew main cabin to Mexico and had lounge access there without having to pay for it. You also get free checked bags, free upgrades and other things that I used to pay for.
Find affordable ways to get status. For Delta you have to spend 3k for silver, 6k for gold etc. I fly with their partners and spent $800 on a flight but instead of being acknowledged for $800 towards status I received $4,100 for that mileage run.
So it isn't free but I'm happy to pay a little more on my first flight of the year with them and reap the free rewards for the remainder of that year and the next.
4 great tips just reassures me when booking on line. I’ve past this info off to many others but had some doubts at times on why they did this. Of course more money. Thanks
Great to hear, good luck with the next booking!
Used your tip for ordering a special meal! Thank you for that and the other tips. I'm sure I'll use them all going forward.
Nice! I love that one. I always feel like I got a free upgrade when I use it. Glad to hear it worked for you!!
Thanks for another helpful video!
You are so welcome, Stephanie!! Hopefully you can put the tips to use soon
I'm new to your videos---- and I like them ! I know I'll be asking you questions down the road.
Thank you!
Thanks, interesting
I fly Delta, Spirit and Alaska. Way to go!
If you want only the choice of a center seat follow these directions ….
Ok this was my first flight experience, I traveled with someone & purchased a seat “we were supposed to sit together” but unfortunately that changed. When we arrived to the airport to get our tickets one of us had a reserved seat and the other ticket stated “See Flight Attendance.” Glad I caught this video before boarding for my return. I’ll be asking if we can kindly have a seat change. Thanks for the info.
edit: it worked lol
Plz speak with medium mode video is good..
My best hint--be nice to the gate agent. On a flight US to London, I had gotten a message that they were unable to assign seat in advance and to check in with the gate agent. My initial flight ran late, and boarding was already in process when I arrived at the gate. There was a man in front of me who was being quite ugly and demanding. I walked up with a smile when it was my turn and said something like, "Well, at least I'll be easy for you." She asked how many were in my party (I was alone) and gave me a lovely upgrade which I didn't realize until I was on the plane.
(also depends on the airline. Everyone at JetBlue is disgusted. Expect nothing.)
At 24 hours before
All the best seats are gone?
I usually fly with one or two family members so I need to set seats as soon as possible to get seats together.
They will usually seat you together automatically, but sometimes the peace of mind to know you will be together is worth the additional fees. Thanks for sharing!
On Delta, you can skip checking in your bag and then get it checked for free at the gate. I do this all the time.
What’s a check-in attendant? Haven’t dealt with one of those for a long while. At LGW you check in online or via a machine, tag your own bag, scan your own boarding pass to get into the security area, even scan your own boarding pass at the gate. The only people around are those who dive in to help if one of the machines flips out! (Or the Ryanair bag-police whose sole purpose seems to be to catch you out and levy an excess baggage charge). Good points in the vid though. Will cause me to think twice before automatically choosing all the options when booking. The costs soon mount up!
Iìì
Thanks
Greetings from Rudi. Can you make any suggestions for travel for one from Poland to Seattle. Also a pet toy sized dog will travel. Thanks.
Can you please do a video about how to find cheap hotels in different countries?
Any tips on booking / purchase a flight trip for uncompany minor travel time shared between parent visit
Hi thanks for your video ❤️ really helpful. Help please, I’ve booked a saver ticket but now realised I should have booked a flexi ticket for extra baggages allowance on my return journey. According to the ticket type it’s a non refundable ticket. What would you recommend that I should do? I’ve already contacted customer service and so far they’ve just suggested I should pay the additional excess baggage fees at £360 for 10kg ! 🤨 £360!
I pay for the seat I want to avoid the middle seat.
What great tips! This video started my Sunday nicely! I often use a backpack as a carry on and when they weigh my luggage, if it's over the limit, I will transfer the heaviest items to backpack. As you said, having a 24 hour window to cancel is terrific, just make the most of it and keep checking other flight prices or even vacation packages. Last summer I saved 10 usd a night on my hotel, and I stayed 10 days. Finally, asking the boarding attendants if any 1st class seats are available may get you better seats- does not hurt to aak.
Whoa, $100off in total?? That's epic! I need to learn your ways!
@@PortableProfessional aha
Would you usually have to pay the difference for a first class seat?
@@blueberrypie844 no, it is a free upgrade, when available
@@letterbox203 thank you, I'll be trying this next time I fly
Booked a Delta flight recently and seat selection was free during the initial flight booking. I'm not a frequent flyer by any means, but I've typically found this to be the case.
Doesnt work like that i am afraid !
You seem to really know your stuff. Glad I found you. Do you happen to know if it is alright to bring tea bags with you overseas? We are going on a cruise in November which starts in Athens. I only drink tea and have to go with Decaffeinated anytime after the morning. I don't want to appear that I am sneaking something on with me. They are tea bags not loose. Any thoughts? Most places do coffee but many don't ever offer you tea - especially decaffeinate. Good tip about ordering a special meal - I have no idea other than bringing my own things to eat if anything they offer will be okay for me. I have IBS and have problems with spices and sauces.
Hi, teabag is definitely okay to be in your carry-on luggage, as it's not liquid nor powder. Just ask flight attendant for good hot water (sometimes onboard hot water is just lukewarm, so make sure you ask for it hot). Enjoy!
Tea bags are totally fine! I bring my own with me all the time, both in my carryon to have on the plane and a box of my favorite in my checked luggage to have at my destination. Hope you have a fabulous time on your cruise 😊
1. seats - i will not pay for my preferred seat and subject myself to stress and begging for my preference.
2. baggage - i will not immediately pay for checked baggage because i am unsure of what to bring.
3. food - do not order special meal and just hope there is a special meal for me.
Geez woman, have you ever travelled? like really travelled? on a plane? on a flight with at least more that 1 hour?
I checked my bag with Spirit bc it was cheaper than having a carry on. Very strange ik
Thanks 😊
Will i be able to check in a month before my flight?
I travel with my husband and 2 kids , i always pay to select the seats, so that we all are seated together.
When travelling as a family that makes a lot of sense! Happy travels!
with the special meal is not always working as expected ... on Turkish Airline the cabin crew only realized when I asked them if this is the special menu which I had booked and only then they checked their list and swapped the tray
bro. how’s everything going?.Thanks~ really superb picture~talk you ltaer. =)
Excelent video and geat channel but you speak a little bit fast in all of them, let us enjoy the information that you give speaking slowly than you do. Great job and great channel.
Great reminders of long haul tips for meals! I have ordered special meals in advance and mostly its been a good experience. Coming from Europe, the meals haven't been consistently available, which is difficult sometimes. Another good reason to bring snacks for yourself! Great video ❤️
Big YES to bringing snacks!
Another good reason to take snacks. Did a nearly seven hour cross-country jaunt on JetBlue May 4th. They did one snack/beverage service 15 minutes after takeoff - and nothing else for six hours.
the only time I've seen carry-on being weighed is with Condor. I. heard that Ryan and another Euroliner will weigh in before. With Spirit, your checked bag is limited to 40 lbs if you don't get the bundle at time of purchase.
I experienced it with Condor, Lufthansa, Air Berlin ( no longer in existence) and Eurowings. I also had it once in Aruba and Amsterdam with Delta.
Non of it true. You can’t select your seat during check in. On Delta for example
Hi there Do Emirates let you select your seat for free within 24 hours departure ?
Anybody know how to remove those pop-ups at the end of the video? They are a pain-in-the-arse on many videos.
A pretty girl like you,most likely will have no problem..I like to pick my seats way in advanced when i fly economy...most flights are fully booked these days..They can also get fully booked last minute when other airlines has a delay and they get sent to your flight,it has happened to me many times on European and Asian flights..
i disagree with what you said about getting your special meal served first. They will not serve you first, they serve your special meal when they have reached your aisle.
If you think your bag might be over the weight limit, bring a pillowcase and stuff some of your clothes it. All airlines allow passengers to bring a pillow onto the plane.
You can see why first time international flyers find this whole process kinda daunting cant you? Its so easy to make a single mistake going through the entire departure process and many first timers probably sit down on the plane hoping that theyre not gonna end up 3000 miles away from their planned destination lol .....
Just fly first class and have a concierge service and lounge service
No problem
Not possible to change seats at airport or at the gate, or scoop seats once inside the flight.
The flight attendents clearly express their disapproval if we change seats, sp now after carona.
Its better to book before , in adv, while booking ur tickets.
Weight limit: it's very rare in my experience that this rule is applied. If they did it would cause chaos amongst the high number of pax who do not check bags and roll on heavy cabin bags.
On flights with no seat assignment, being in a wheelchair will get you any seat you want. I’ve noticed many more in wheelchairs that don’t seem to have mobility issues. I guess they figured it out.
I m looking to visit baku ok free flight ticket
I've flown several low-cost airlines in Europe including Ryanair, Wizzair, Norvegian, Lauda and nobody has ever weighed or checked the dimensons of my hand luggage.
Spirit does it often asking to put it into the sizer.
I want to start my flight buisness. If iam trave agent charging service fess to my castumer 150$. For cancellation castumer book there ticket to own by website. is it scam??????
I looked with pleasure.
I would say don’t pay for seat selection for those short 1-3 hr flights, for long haul, then it makes a difference in terms of comfort. But then for long haul, I usu fly full service airlines, so this is a moot point
Not a moot point with BA. They charge for seat selection on long haul, even in business class, unless you have status. Mind you, some would argue they are no longer a full service airline!
Try any of that with Turkish Airlines and you get one big NO!
With Asia airline
From Japan to Vietnam
Airline were charging me $US 520 (yes US) for one checked bag of 23 kg (50lbs)
I needed up removing weight to 19 kg and ended still paying $330 US for a regular check bag
My Wells Fargo credit card never helped me
Too bag airlines take advantage or people like this
they charged you $330 USD to check a bag at the airport? thats insane!!
Need to double check on the “24 hrs full refund” , I don’t think it works as it advertised.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏
Some of your advice is good and some less accurate. Boarding a flight and scoping out a seat to move to does not always work. There are people who paid for extra legroom and have protested because someone else got if for free. Also on some aircraft there are weight and balance issues. Good idea to consult with the flight crew before taking the Initiative to do it yourself. Otherwise interesting video. Tks
2:24 so no chance in germany 😂 they really don't know what the word service means
Useful video but your speech is too speed any way thank you 💐💐
Seat selection - if you have specific needs and/or a larger party waiting until free change at check in can get you in a bind so keep that in mind. For solo travelers with flexibility on seat then waiting to save money is fine. Also, do NOT change seats after you board without asking your flight attendant first as many seats, even day of, have charges to take them. Meals - Keep in mind that even if you preorder your meal that there is a small chance it can get taken away from you. If there are limited number of meals available and someone in a higher flying class requests that meal they can take yours and give it to them instead.
“Exspecially” - just a little jarring to hear, but nothing I can’t handle.
Talk way too fast!
What a horrible thing to have to pay for a seat when you buy a ticket. What the hell.
Typically you have to pay for “preferred” seats and seats with extra leg room. The back of the plane is usually free
@@mjsabie8517 if they are all taken then they force you to pay for a seat.
@@KC73 I have never once seen this and I fly quite a bit and lately on completely full planes
@@mjsabie8517 yeah I was in line to check in on a United flight and a woman and her little boy were checking in and the clerk kept telling the woman you have to pay for a seat. All the free seats were taken. She kept saying but I have a ticket, $400 for each ticket. I fly a lot too.
@@KC73 I misunderstood what you were talking about. I thought you meant they could force you to pay for a seat that would normally be free. I don't like your scenario either but I can see how they would do that.
Although I fly American and my flight got cancelled and the only seats on the new flight were main cabin extra and I got those for free.
I suggest Airlines should start boarding rear seat passengers
first, so the isle is not blocked for incoming passengers. Some
passengers have trouble deciding where to and how to store their carry on.
Ever so often, freebies occur, ---when certain passenger's flight events are too frequent---a differentiation between the skies and home---for them, --- becomes obscure.
However, even if one falls short of such status of being a frequent flyer, a requisite to be privileged with such benefaction is certitude one's flight occurs with a reputable airline whose continuity follows integrity.
I would not dwell on airline promises alone considering the great many suits in law consequential to disappointments by operators found wanting on promises of frequent flyer miles and points, no deserving passenger could ever redeem---hence the many litigation. Any reasonable passenger's policies should be... 'whatever goodies are available upon arrival at booking, ---bring it.'
By the way, window seats, ---apart from passengers intent on locomoting around on board during flight, are fun, ---just lay ones head in the aircrafts interior panelling and doze off to sleep, there'd be little or interference.
Oh---and, there's a recollection following your quiz, ---I once booked a flight online, l later found out everyone---including many I would rather they don't, knew my flight plans in advance from the internet. Would not consider online booking ever more.
She’s gives bad advice. Don’t wait to reserve your seat. Most flights are full. Don’t wait. She’s an amateur. I work in this industry. She’s not Airline. ✈️
I'm vegan.
Hi will you marry a guy from Switzerland 😊 I really like you
Wtf???
Why are you talking through gritted teeth ?
I have never seen so much dandruff on a YT vlogger