Planning a trip to the Lower 48? Here are some best practices for a hassle-free trip

Sure, it’s still summer. But kids are getting ready to go back to school, so it’s time to go over some best practices for upcoming trips to the Lower 48—or beyond. Of course, these tips work for everyone.

Before departure

When is the best time to buy a ticket? Three months in advance? Three weeks in advance? Typically, the best prices are available three weeks in advance. If you buy your ticket two weeks or a few days in advance, you’ll probably pay more.

The best time to buy tickets is when you are sure that your plans will not change. If you are absolutely sure about your travel dates six months before the Christmas trip, you can buy them. If you are flexible with your travel dates, you can wait a little longer to see if a good deal comes along.

You can get a good overview of flight prices to your destination using the online tool Google Flights. You can see the history of ticket prices between two airports and there is a price chart where you can compare prices on specific days.

When planning your flight, allow plenty of time between flights, especially at busy airports like Seattle. Anything under two hours is problematic, especially if you’re changing airlines.

Remember: If you check luggage and travel on two different airlines, Alaska Airlines may not be able to automatically transfer your luggage. This is one reason to opt for a longer layover. You may have to pick up your luggage in Seattle and recheck it at the counter, pay the fee, and go through TSA again.

Checked baggage or carry-on? Alaska Airlines and Delta give you two bags free when traveling to or from Alaska. Alaska requires you to be part of the free Club 49 program. Delta requires you to be part of the SkyMiles loyalty program.

Even if you plan to take everything you own with you, there’s a chance you’ll still have to check it if you don’t board early enough. This is because there isn’t enough space in the overhead bin. Pack accordingly.

If you don’t get good seats on your first reservation, check again closer to departure. Plans change. Seats become available when elite passengers are upgraded. If you search for seats within two or three days of departure, exit row seats often become available. Grab one for more legroom!

Comfort class

You’ll see more and more noise-canceling headphones on board. Get a pair. You’ll never want to be without them again. Many travelers use earbuds, but I like the earcups best. There are several top-notch brands, including Bose (my favorite), Beats, Sony, or Sennheiser. Browse at Costco, Amazon, or your favorite big box store.

Many people also use neck pillows to ease the agony of sleeping in economy class seats. For me, these don’t work as the seat itself only reaches up to my shoulders. Other people (mostly children) just bring their actual pillows on board.

I recommend bringing a sweater or an extra layer of clothing on board. It doesn’t matter if you’re flying out of Death Valley (or Las Vegas), it will be cold on board the flight – and there are no blankets.

Also recommended: portable reading lights and external batteries to charge your phone or iPad. Because more and more ceiling lights are not working properly, as are the USB and power ports. I like the portable headlamps from Petzl.

One request: If you are sitting in economy class, please do not recline your seat. There is not enough space. This is the fault of the airlines who keep cramming more and more seats into the plane. Yes, you have a “right” to recline. But if you sit in front of me, you will get excellent lumbar support – from my knees.

Miles or money?

If you’re hoarding a lot of frequent flyer miles, consider using them. Your miles are worth more today than they will be tomorrow. That’s because award ticket prices keep rising. There’s hyperinflation in all loyalty programs.

Miles are also very handy if you need to buy tickets within three weeks. Or within one week. Or for particularly expensive itineraries within the state.

If you find an exceptional deal on a ticket, it might be worth just buying it and earning a few more miles. Or, if those first-class seats aren’t available, you can save your miles for another day.

Best credit card?

I teach a course on this particular topic because there are a lot of variables. If you live in Alaska, the Alaska Airlines Visa card (from Bank of America) is an absolute favorite. The companion pass that is included each year is a great deal ($99 plus taxes of $23-100).

The Alaska credit card sign-up bonus is important—it’s up to 70,000 miles. There’s a $95 annual fee and a $3,000 spend minimum within 90 days, then a $6,000 annual spend minimum thereafter.

However, I recommend carrying a more robust “flexible spending” card that allows you to transfer points to other flight and hotel programs. If you pay rent every month, I recommend the Bilt Rewards card. There’s no annual fee and you earn frequent flyer points when you pay your rent. Transfer the points to Alaska Airlines or a number of other flight and hotel programs.

There are a wide variety of other flexible spending cards that include lounge memberships, travel credits, and other extras. I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 annual fee) and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card ($95 annual fee). But there are other good rates with American Express (especially for Delta flyers) and Capital One’s Venture rate.

At the airport

If you haven’t applied for Global Entry yet, you should do so now. It costs $100 per person for five years. In addition to expedited re-entry into the U.S. through customs, it includes TSA Precheck, saving you time at all major airports.

By the way, your Global Entry card counts as a Real ID compliant document, so you don’t have to pay extra for a compliant driver’s license. A passport also counts as a Real ID. If you don’t have a passport, get one now.

Before your flight

Never trust food or water on the plane. Pack your own lunch or buy sandwiches and snacks from the store on the way to the airport. Or buy a take-away snack at the airport. Fill your water bottle in advance or you’ll have to do without carton water on board.

I like the Alaska Airlines fruit and cheese platter. But it’s expensive and I often forget to pre-order it. If you plan ahead and use your Alaska Air Visa card, you get 20% off.

The cost of your hotel is usually more than your plane ticket. That’s one reason I like the flexible rewards cards. This way I can transfer the points to a hotel program of my choice, including Hyatt, Hilton, Bonvoy or IHG.

If a traditional hotel is too expensive for you, you can look into vacation rental websites like Airbnb and VRBO. It’s a bit of a Wild West, especially with add-ons like cleaning fees, host fees, and so on.

Rental cars can also be a budget-buster. My go-to place to compare flat rates for rental cars is Costco. You must be a member to make reservations.

If traditional car rentals are too expensive, check out Turo.com. It’s usually cheaper than airport cars, but there are additional fees for airport delivery or pickup or even travel costs. But it’s another option if prices are high.

Sure, there are a lot of extra detours when planning your vacation – or a back-to-school trip for the kids. But it’s worth it! See you at the airport.