Travel Tips Tuesdays: Thrift Shopping..but for Flights

Hey there fellow travelers and the travel-curious!

We launched a new email referral program but some thought it replaced our TRAVELER referral program. It has not. (That’s still going strong—allowing lots of loyal NextTribers to get travel credit.) Our new reward program—dang, we love to give things away—is to thank you for forwarding our email newsletters to your friends.

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Sleeping on a Plane…If You Can Do It, I’m Jealous!

This Insta influencer has a simple 4-step method for falling asleep on a plane (or anywhere:

1. Close your eyes and count to 30

2. Open your eyes a tiny bit “to a sliver” and count to 5

3. Close your eyes and count to 30 again

4. Open your eyes a tiny bit again and count to 5

She says if you close your eyes again and just focus on your breathing, you’ll be able to fall asleep right away.

I’m skeptical, but always hopeful. I’ll try it on my next flight and let you know how it goes.

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Gaming the Ticket Pricing System

Let the algorithms work for you while you sleep! (On the plane, if you’re lucky enough, or in your own bed.)

Our friends at Afar Media offer tips of setting price alerts on multiple platforms. Why pay retail when you can “go thrifting” for your next flight. See? You’re using AI and didn’t even know it!

But watch out for those tricky low cost business class tickets you see offers for on social media. They’re usually consolidators reselling miles they’ve bought from frequent fliers. Sketchy.

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How a Super-Sonic Travel Expert Prevents Jet Lag

A friend of ours met an entrepreneur who is developing super-sonic travel. Here’s what he recommends for preventing jet lag. I guess he’d know!! Now you know too.

It’s called Fly Kitt, and contains a circadian reset beverage mix and a variety of supplements and more. Check it out here.

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Airline Layaway Plans: Have You Tried Them?

Travel + Leisure reports that more airlines are offering the Klarna experience you might have used to buy clothing or furniture, with the same interest-free payment plans.

We offer interest-free payment plans for our trips, too. Wink Wink.

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Why It’s Hard to Get Lost in an Airport (Though I Seem to Do a Good Job of It)

Have you ever listened to a podcast called 99% Invisible? It explores how design influences human behavior. In public spaces—especially places used mostly by “visitors”—good design is essential to helping people find their way.

Signage is only one part of the plan. There’s also the curvature of a walkway, or “herding” travelers towards important places like gates, baggage claim, immigration.

There’s even a strategy for the shops: the most important “real estate” on the shelves is to the right because most travelers pull their luggage with their left hand!

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What Happens to Your Loose Change at Security, and Your Lost Luggage?

Ever wonder what happens to that loose change that fell out of your purse when you tipped it over in the bin on the way through security? In 2019, TSA says they collected $926K in unclaimed cash, which they used to “make improvements” (please start by opening more lanes).

Should your luggage get lost and go unclaimed, you might find it here. Even if you don’t, it’s a great place to do some online shopping for the types of items people travel with. Like a wedding dress. (Poor bride!)

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7 Shows That Can be Your Travel Guide

I haven’t seen all 7 films or series mentioned here, but I can tell you that whenever I see an interesting location in a movie or TV series it makes me want to go there! Right now, I’m dreaming of Thailand, thanks to The White Lotus. Who’s with me?

We just published a story in NextTribe Magazine about “set-jetting."

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Do Your Travel Photos Suck?

We’re here to help. (I wasn’t married to a National Geographic photographer for 29 years for nothing!) Sign up for our free travel photo seminar on April 7th!

Jeannie Ralston
CEO and Co-Founder

Want a chance for a discount on one of our trips? Attend a Trip Preview. 

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