ExpertFlyer Taps Into Seasoned Road Warriors, Business Travel Pub to Uncover Tips and Best Practices for Flying Better
New York, NY (PRWEB) September 21, 2017 -- When it comes to the frequent business traveler clique, two things are for certain: Road warriors love to compete for bragging rights as the best at securing premium amenities for the least cost; and lauding their unshakable “method” for securing those great perks and maximizing their time on the road. While ExpertFlyer elected to forego the bragging rights debate, they sat down with a few seasoned road warriors and a leading business travel magazine to uncover some of their best tips for staying happy, even at 40,000 feet. While many may think the tips and advice can only be accessed and used by ultra-elite-status business travelers, the fact is that most travelers will find these tips and insights beneficial, and personally useful.
Ross Atkinson, Chief Marketing and Product Officer at Business Traveler magazine, is a big fan of the stopover. “There are about a dozen airlines that now do it covering Asia, parts of Europe, and the Middle East,” he said during a recent One-on-One video interview with ExpertFlyer.com. “So, if you're traveling the globe, what a great way to actually add a couple of days on your trip and see a part of the world you might not have seen before.”
Gregg Ellman is co-owner of Ellman Photography and travels about 35-40 times a year on behalf of some of his clients including NASCAR and Canon USA. As a Platinum Pro member of American’s Advantage program with over two million miles on the books, Ellman has developed his share of tips, which most travelers can take advantage of. Ellman says his American Airlines Citi Executive card is worth every penny. "Along with the monthly miles, you get 10,000 yearly qualifying miles and your yearly membership to the Admirals Club is included with the card’s annual fee. Another strategy Ellman employs to make life easier in the sky is to book the earliest flight possible, which avoids young kids and makes boarding much quicker. "Since I travel with a lot of camera gear, hassle-free boarding is a big deal."
Dave Poplin is a sales executive for an international technology company and enjoys Platinum-level status on Delta Airlines. While he admits that Platinum (or higher) flyers will almost always get an automatic upgrade to a Delta Comfort Seat, he was quick to remind folks that aside from the meal, there is no real difference between First Class and Comfort Class. “Remember, Comfort Class gets free movies and drinks and plenty of legroom so aside from meals, it’s a really economical way to enjoy most of the benefits of First Class, without the cost.” While non-status travelers on Delta will have to pay for “Comfort,” it’s a great option for any traveler, especially on those long hauls.
Jennifer Flowers is the CEO of Accreditation Guru, Inc., a consultancy firm that works with non-profits around the country. As a Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion member who flies about twice-a-month, her secret to mileage success resides with her Delta American Express cards (personal and professional cards). “Because of the amount of travel and other business expenses that are charged against my Delta AmEx, I am able to earn a Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) Waiver. Her credit card also gives her discounted access to the Delta Sky Club.
Flowers joined the Delta Sky Club as a way to enjoy the amenities offered (wifi, food and drink selections, comfortable waiting areas, etc.) and ease the stress of frequent travel. "In the past year, I visited Delta Sky Clubs around the country at least 35 times. With the discounted rate of $29 for an access pass that is available through my Platinum Delta AmEx card (as opposed to $59 regular price of a single visit pass), my annual pass has allowed me to save more than 50% off of what the reduced rate access passes would have cost.”
To read about additional travel tips from these road warriors or watch the video interview with Ross Atkinson at Business Traveler magazine, visit ExpertFlyer’s blog.
About ExpertFlyer.com
Each month, ExpertFlyer's One-on-One blog goes face-to-face with the travel industry's leading decision makers to discuss and address topics relevant to many of today's business and frequent travelers.
ExpertFlyer.com was conceived and created by an eclectic team consisting of a veteran elite tier frequent flyer, an airline captain and corporate travel manager, and information technology professionals to deliver a 24/7 real time powerful air travel information service. The company provides its subscribers and corporate travel managers alike with a complete, concise and efficient way to access the ever-changing details of worldwide air travel information. For more information, please visit expertflyer.com.
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Lou Desiderio, pr-synergy.com, http://www.expertflyer.com, +1 (917) 627-0912, [email protected]
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