10 things airport passengers should stop wasting money on, according to a former flight attendant

09.02.2024 - 14:45 / insider.com

When I joined the airline industry as a flight attendant, I thought we'd learn all the secrets for getting the cheapest tickets. But I had to pick them up myself or through my colleagues.

Here are some of the best tips I've learned for saving money while flying:

It might sound strange, but I always advise people to purchase an economy ticket at home and upgrade it at the airport.

Opting for an upgrade will drastically reduce the price of the ticket.

As soon as you purchase your economy seat, you may start receiving email deals to upgrade your ticket, but don't rush. Wait until you get to the airport and ask for an upgrade at the counter or the gate.

Sometimes, if the plane is empty, or you have a loyalty program with the airline, the gate agent can upgrade you to business class at no additional cost. But even if you have to pay, it's going to be much cheaper than buying online.

Just be extremely nice to the staff, and arrive early so business seats are still available. But don't wait until you get on the plane — flight attendants don't usually have that much power.

Plane travel is expensive. You already paid for the ticket, taxi, and luggage, so don't waste your money on overpriced airport water.

You can't take liquids through security, but no one says you can't take an empty bottle.

Most airports are full of water fountains, and many have a special pump to refill bottles quickly.

To keep your bottle full during the flight, just ask your flight attendant for a refill. If you're lucky, they may even put ice in it. 

For some reason, people have a fear of bringing food through the Transportation Security Administration security. But it's a great way to save money, as long as it's solid, like a sandwich.

There are even restaurants and shops before security that advertise TSA-approved foods.

If you're flying internationally, it's best to finish any food from your first destination before landing because some countries don't allow fresh foods through customs. 

If you have an important liquid that's over 3 ounces, but you don't want to pay to check a bag, it's worth trying to freeze it so it goes through the security scanner as a solid.

Even if it melts a little bit on the ride to the airport, it shouldn't be a problem if it's stored properly. 

Duty-free shops always attract passengers at the airport, but the savings aren't as good as they seem. Some airlines also have duty-free catalogs on board so you can shop in the skies. But those prices are even worse.

You can find much better deals online if you take the time to look.

There's no perfect recipe for booking the cheapest flight. But there are some tips that can help you stick to your budget.

The best days to buy tickets are Tuesday and Wednesday because