THE OPTION Online check-in
WHY IT'S GOOD Gone are the days when this option was simply about reserving a seat and ordering your preferred meal – you can now do most of what you used to do at the airport at home, or even when you are on the go with your mobile gadgets.
WHO OFFERS IT? Some carriers such as United and Qantas Airways even allow you to print your own boarding passes, so that you can proceed straight to the airside if you do not have any baggage to check
THE OPTION Smart immigration
WHY IT'S GOOD The service is available at most major airports nowadays, allowing arriving travellers to self-process passport check. This option is restricted by eligibility criteria so the queue tends to be shorter and moving faster. Some ports offer it to not just the locals but passport holders of other countries.
WHO OFFERS IT? Australia for instance announced earlier this year that it had extended the use of its Smartgate facilities to Singapore e-passport holders on a trial basis. New Zealand and UK citizens can also take advantage of the service.
THE OPTION Make use of your high-tier membership with any of the three airline alliance frequent flyer programmes
WHY IT'S GOOD This provides you with an ever-growing number of lounge options to choose from. Garuda (see here) and Sri Lankan Airlines (see here) are two of the airlines having joined alliances this year, and coming up, Air India will join Star (see story). That way you have a better chance to find a facility that is closer to your departure gate and spare more time to enjoy the perks.
WHO OFFERS IT? Star Alliance Gold members for example have access to over 1,000 lounges worldwide.
THE OPTION Buy a checkpoint friendly laptop bag
WHY IT'S GOOD These are bags that are specifically designed to produce a clear and unobstructed image of your laptop during security screening. While they do not always guarantee that you won't be asked to take your laptop out, it does increase the chance that you’d be left alone.
WHO OFFERS IT? One of the them is Mobile Edge – an online retailer offers a large selection of checkpoint friendly laptop bags available for purchase at prices starting from US$39.99. Shipping costs may apply outside of the US.
Picture courtesy of Mobile Edge
THE OPTION Weigh your checked baggage before departing for the airport
WHY IT'S GOOD This will save you time at the airport, as you won't be faced with the choice of either scrambling to rearrange your luggage or pay for overweight checked baggage.
WHO OFFERS IT? High-tier cardholders of airline frequent flyer programmes are afforded extra baggage allowance. Gold members of Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo programme for instance are given either 15kg additional checked baggage allowance, or an extra piece of checked baggage.
Picture courtesy of sun dazed on Flickr
For more top tips, check out the “Smart Traveller” section in the upcoming July/August 2014 issue of Business Traveller Asia-Pacific.
Clement Huang
