Thanks to technological advances from airlines and startups, breezing through the airport and finding your gate takes less effort than ever—you can zoom past the counter, through security, and to your gate, all without speaking to a soul. And with these tips and tricks, you'll be bypassing lines and sitting at your gate in no time.
Check in as soon as the 24-hour window opens.
Checking in online right at the 24-hour window can put you first in line for the best seats, and also prevent you from being bumped by the airline. (Often, the last person to check in gets that honor.) About 25 hours before check in, grab all the details you may need, like booking reference, passport details, and of course, your frequent flier number.
Download your airline's app to save time in line, money on bags, and even snag potential upgrades.
Most airlines, including JetBlue, United, Delta, American, and Southwest have powerful, responsive mobile apps for booking and check in. You'll be able to pay any checked baggage fees, and most importantly, grab a mobile boarding pass. If you're a savvy, carry-on only traveler, you can proceed directly past the lines of the check-in desks to security. Side tip: Some airlines, like Norwegian, will give you a discount on checked bag fees if you pay in advance via their app, and thanks to new bag drop kiosks, self-tagging should take only a few seconds if you're already paid up. Without even downloading its app, KLM will let you check in and chat with them via Facebook Messenger.
Look for upgrades.
Much to the dismay of the most frequent of fliers, airlines are tired of giving away free first-class upgrades; they'd rather sell that seat to you at a discount. To that end, airlines now use mobile apps to push upgrades on select bookings, especially in the days immediately leading up to a flight. The special rates on offer are designed to tempt you into the good life. For example, one-way upgrades to business class with Delta from New York to London can be found as low as $450. On a cheap economy ticket, that could represent a discount of hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
Use apps for navigating the airport and security.
If you haven't heard of GateGuru, TripItPro, or MiFlight, you need to get acquainted. The apps are dynamos of the check-in and pre-flight process, used by all the George-Clooney-in-Up-in-the-Air characters of the world.
Gate Guru: Once you've input your flight details, this app offers estimates of TSA security lane wait times, visual directories, and reviews of the best food and shopping airside, and stays on the look-out for your departure gate. The handy app will send a push alert if your gate changes, so you can snag a seat before the amateur, non-jet-setter travelers make their way. With terminal dining and shopping on the up and up, it's also helpful to have the "must eat" spots right at your fingertips.
MiFlights: Another great look for minimizing your dreaded security wait—the one part of the check-in process you can't avoid, yet. The app is based on crowd-sourced security wait time estimates at more than 75 airports worldwide, so you can help alert people as well.
TripIt Pro: If you find yourself jetting around with any frequency, TripIt is arguably the best app for organizing all your travel plans. The handy pocket assistant tracks for delays, updated gate info, alternative routings in case of a cancellation, and organizes all your segments in one easy dashboard, just by forwarding your email confirmations to a dedicated address. It'll even show you where the plush airport lounges can be found. With all the time saved at check in, why not treat yourself to an airport lounge experience? After all, you can download an app for that, too.