10 Travel Secrets of Frequent Fliers

Jane Levere February 2, 2007

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Travel Tips From Legendary Frequent Fliers

It’s been just over 25 years since frequent-flier programs were introduced by American Airlines, revolutionizing marketing efforts not only by carriers, but also by hotel and car rental companies, as well as businesses outside the travel industry, like banks.

According to Randy Petersen, editor of Inside Flyer magazine and founder of FlyerTalk.com, the online travel community, some 120 million of the world’s 180 million-plus frequent-flyer program participants are U.S. residents, and close to 30 percent of these are active.

There are certainly enough programs to choose from: Petersen estimates there are approximately 170 airline and hotel loyalty programs offered globally. And flying or sleeping in a hotel isn’t even required to accrue miles or points. According to Petersen, over half the miles are not accrued by flying, and credit card purchases are the most popular way to earn miles without getting on a plane.

Savvy fliers today are no doubt familiar with the ins and outs of airline and hotel loyalty programs. To get real insider’s advice -- tips from executives who fly hundreds of thousands of miles annually, and who know how to make flying work for them anywhere in the world -- we’ve interviewed 10 men and women who spend a significant fraction of their lives aloft.

See our slideshow of 10 can't-miss travel tips.

Their suggestions vary widely, covering everything from the fastest ways to transit an airport and what to take on a flight, to equipment that makes staying connected easy, and how to find the best restaurants anywhere. Some advice is simple, but extremely practical. For instance, Frank A. Argenbright, Jr., chairman of Air Serv Corp., an Atlanta-based company that provides aviation and transportation services, recommends opting for the left-side aiport security line if there are two.

“The left is always easiest to go through, because Americans always go right, while Europeans go left, particularly the British. If I’m at Dulles Airport, and there are 100 people on the right line waiting, if I go to the left side, there are usually only three or four,” said Argenbright, who is on the road at least two days a week and travels abroad every other month.

Other travelers recommend certain products to take on the plane to make them more pleasurable: Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer of San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, brings a travel candle, often lavender scented. “There are always unanticipated odors in hotel guest rooms, and I can pretend I’m in Provence in a minute,” she said.

She also carries a tin of herbal tea bags, preferably by Mighty Leaf. “I frequently get cold on planes, and if I make my own tea, it’s nicer than what they give you. It enhances the overall airplane experience, with the aroma and relaxation,” she said.

See our slideshow of 10 travel tips.

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