Fly High and Travel in Style (on a Small Budget)

Published by Travelife Magazine

All aboard! (Wiley Post Airport)

You see the likes of her every time you travel whether it’s at the airport, hotel, resort or restaurant. Smartly dressed in a light suit and chic with a scarf around her neck, she waltzes in the airport terminal ahead of everyone else. She always takes the first class seat, and the flight attendants always seem to be at her beck and call, eager to please.

Wherever first class takes me (Houston Airport)

What does she have that you don’t? The obvious answer would be money to burn, but no. She doesn’t have more in her bank account than you do. She’s simply smart. She’s a smart traveller because she knows the tips and tricks on how to get upgrades and better service. The fact is, she travels coach often, but often gets bumped to business class or first class. Fortunately, we were able to take the seat next to her - on first class, of course - one day while we were in transit, and she generously shared her secrets. Do you want to fly high and travel in style? Fasten your seatbelts and take notes.

If you're boarding a 10-seater, you can definitely go casual.

 

The early bird really does get the worm - If you arrive early, especially on non-peak days, there’s a greater chance for you to get the good seats. I’ve proven this many times during my domestic flights. Whenever we come in early, we’d be given the first class seats or at least the roomy seats in front.

With my travel savvy friends, members of my Gustatory Group.

Don’t be shy, speak up! -  A friend was travelling from Manila to Singapore when she felt chest pains. Although she knew that the flight attendant probably wouldn’t be able to do anything, she informed the stewardess of her condition anyway. Soon as the crew was informed, she was moved to first class where she would be more comfortable and where she could be better attended to. 

The same goes for hotels. If you’re having problems with your room, like a lumpy bed for instance or the traffic noise coming in from the window, request if you can be moved somewhere else where you will be more comfortable.

Hello, housekeeping? I think there is a pea under my mattress.

Photo by Nana Arellano Aoyong

Feeling lucky? – Find out your chances. “The airline, as a general rule, will only upgrade passengers from economy to business,  or from business to first class if there is an overbooking in the lower class,” shares Peggy Perez-Vera, an Airline Industry Consultant. Upon checking in, inquire about the load. Ask nicely for chances of an upgrade. “The passenger then knows what his chances are, whether he should hope for an upgrade.  Plus, the check in clerk knows you are interested in the upgrade” and will keep you in mind as soon as an upgrade adjustment is possible. Perez-Vera, who’s been in the industry for over 37 years, also suggests following up at the counter close to the flight time.   Upgrading doesn't happen at the start of the check-in process but at the later part when the flight is about to close.

My favorite travel accessory, the pashmina: it can work as a shawl, a scarf, or a blanket!

Plus it’s the quickest way to dress up any outfit.

Photo by Nana Arellano Aoyong

Give way - If you’re not in a hurry to get to your destination, volunteer to give up your seat for a later flight when a flight is oversold. This will give you an extra day to see the sights in another city for free especially if you’re on a stopover. The airline will provide you with free accommodations and transfers plus a few hundreds of dollars to spend! On most cases, you’ll be given a free overseas call to inform whoever is expecting you that your flight’s been moved. There’s also a great chance you’ll get an upgrade on the flight you’ll be rebooked in.

With Ana Viajera, you always travel first class.

A smile goes a long way – Be courteous and considerate to the people attending to you. They’ve been on their feet servicing customers for several hours; a little consideration and gratitude has its pay offs.  Avoid being cranky or snooty and never be demanding. Asking for an upgrade straight out will only antagonize and irritate the service personnel.

Your concierge can be your best friend – “The concierge of a good hotel can do wonders, especially for regular guests,” swears an experienced world traveller. In New York, she always stays at the New York Palace. The concierge at the Palace always gets her the best table anywhere, anytime.  “My concierge has done wonders for me., including -- on my last New York trip -- calling the airline and asking them to wait for me as I was extremely late and got to JFK airport 30 minutes before takeoff.”

Ana Viajera: the best choice!

 

Your travel agent can be your second best friend –Travel agents are clued in to details the internet won’t tell you.  They know the business and will definitely have access to the most up-to-date information on how to get the best value for your money. Your agent must be someone you can trust, so pick one like you would choose a lawyer or doctor. Ask for referrals from friends and family.

Travel through cyberspace – Book through the hotel’s official website. According to Michael Jaey Albana, Director of Sales & Marketing of Traders Hotel Manila, “hotels prioritize guests booked through the hotel's website to be given better rooms or an upgrade.”

The blue ticket that will more than likely get you first class treatment.

Dress like a king for royal treatment – Nobody in the first class would like to be seated beside a smelly and unkempt passenger.  “How a passenger is dressed is one of the main criteria for choosing which passenger will be upgraded, should the need occur,” says Perez-Vera. Those dressed properly, preferably in business attire or casual chic, and even those who speak eloquently in English, indicate that they are professionals and refined and therefore know how to conduct themselves in the plane and won’t present any problems.

The same goes for restaurants and other service providers.  “When checking in, it would influence the person checking you in if you dress in a suit or business attire,” shares Michael Jaey Albana, who has had several years of experience in the hotel industry. Unfortunately, we still live in a world wherein appearances affect how people respond to you. If you dress respectably, there’s a greater chance you will be treated the same way.  

Dress in layers. This way you're always warm,

and you can always peel off the layers when you start getting hot.

Tip big – If you often dine in the same establishment and always give a generous tip, their waiters will remember.  The standard tip for waiters is 10 to 15% of the actual bill. Don’t forget to tip your Maitre d’, bartender, bellboy, concierge, housekeeper, parking valet, room service attendant, cab driver, chauffeur and porter.

Be social – Take the extra effort to get to know your service providers personally. Call your server or waiter by his or her name. This will make them feel more special and less of a “servant”. When a server introduces himself, greet him in return. Befriend the chefs and managers. Compliment the chef on his dishes. You’ll be surprised with the payoffs.  You might get a free dessert or the best table next time.

Easy on the shopping. A bag lady will never get upgraded..unless you're toting a designer.

It’s the same way for check in clerks and the plane crew. Once, my flight from the Marshall Islands to Guam was delayed. This meant that I would be late for my connecting flight to the Philippines. Although I knew that the airline would not forsake me, I befriended the plane crew and told them about my concern. It paid off because during the entire flight, they were especially attentive to my needs and showered me with goodies, including an earphone that would have cost me $5.

Go clubbing - Frequent customer clubs are always entitled to privileges and extra benefits. Join the club and enjoy perks like free rental days for cars, special gifts from hotels, upgrade priority and airline miles. “My club has connections everywhere, so they book me great tables at top restaurants,” shares a member of the Global Leisure and Concierge Club.  Local airlines have frequent flyer programs that partner with other establishments to make earning miles quicker and give you better seats. Mabuhay Miles for instance partners with several credit card companies, so rewards points can be converted to miles.

Please come again - A friend of mine stayed in a hotel in Singapore for a few days. He travelled on to Malaysia after his visit but made a reservation in the same hotel for his return. Upon his return, he was immediately given a room upgrade.  “Most hotels give a little more for their loyal customers,” concurs Albana of Traders Hotel Manila. Albana adds that if you can’t get an upgrade, you’ll at least get special attention and welcome gifts like fruits, wine or chocolate.

Convertibles are best for road trips.

Smooth drive – If you rent a car on your travels, always choose the smaller car. Compacts tend to be in high demand so there is always a great possibility of being upgraded to larger luxury vehicle. This is great if you want to travel in style and comfort, however, keep in mind that larger cars use up more gas. Also remember that weekends are the busiest rental period so book a car from Mondays through Thursdays. You’ll get a greater chance of getting the car you want.

Let your fingers do the walking

Take your mouse on a trip and refer to sites that can help you get the best deals and give you more chances to upgrades, freebies and better service. Also travellers often share their experiences in these sites. Customer reviews and ratings are often more reliable than advertising claims. Here are some of our recommended travel sites on how to get better deals and better chances at travelling in style without breaking the bank.

LoveMySeat.com – gives you an inside tour of almost any airline in the world from in-flight amenities to seating. This will make you better informed when choosing the right airline.

Flyertalk.com - everything you need to know about frequent flyer miles plus informative forums on travel and dining.

 Upgradetravelbetter.com - live the first class life at coach prices.

Firstclasstraveltips.com - travel expert Rick Brown cracks the code to getting first class upgrades.

Bootsnall.com - includes great deals, cheap accommodation recommendations, travel discussions and interesting stories written by travellers.

Worldtravelguide.net- country guides, attraction guides, world events and everything you need to know about world travel. It’s the bible of the travel industry.

Frommers.com - weird and wonderful trip ideas and interesting tools like interactive maps.

Smartertravel.com – get unbiased travel news, deals and timely expert advice from this site.

Hotels.com – they claim to know hotels inside and out.

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When Homes Welcome Guests Back to the Past

From my TravelOkcity column, published 2011.

The Lykes back in the 30s.

Several weeks ago, we received over 400 people into our private sanctuary. Yes, our house was part of the 16^th Annual Tour of Historic Homes in Linwood Place.  Every year, some of Oklahoma City’s historic neighbourhoods showcase historic homes, opening them to the public for a walk back in time. Gatewood  Historic District and Heritage Hills opened their doors last October, while the Mesta Park Holiday Tour is something to look forward to in December when guests can enjoy the festive lights at night.

A snapshot of the olden days.

Having just moved in a year to our little abode, I was hesitant to have strangers into our home, to have them take a peek into my bathroom, which I hardly ever have time to clean with round-the-clock diaper duties on top of being a housewife and a writer. But my bathroom still has the original art deco black and white tile that has been installed when it was built in the 1930s. I personalized the bathroom’s nostalgic details with red and gold accents, mother and child artworks, and damask prints. Like the bathroom, the house features original fixtures and details accentuated with our personal touches. Out in the front yard, a pillar bears a plate that says: Linwood Place Circa 1930.

How can I possibly keep this from the public? How can I deny people the opportunity to travel back in time, to relive the days of eclectic art and design, the period of beautiful contradiction?

So reluctantly, I put out the welcome mat,  because I knew that just as people could pick up a few tips in house restoration by going through our renovated and preserved home , I also knew that I could develop a better sense of appreciation for what I have and possibly gain insight in travelling back to the past.

Our little breakfast nook with pictures we've collected from our travels.

Five other houses opened their doors as well, structures that I believe deserve to be featured in architectural or interior design magazines not only for the interesting architectural and historical features but also because of the work they’ve done inside, accentuated with their personal selections that exhibit sophistication and a great respect for the past.  Two in particular stood out, because I thought that they reflected our own tastes and aspirations, although in a grander scale.

When we moved in, this backyard was bare.

One of my favorite houses is the 1929 Tudor revival style cottage. A young couple brought contemporary elements to the house while preserving its historic aspects. The remarkable archway leading to their dining room, an example of peaked and curvilinear millwork and carpentry of the era, melds beautifully with the modern pieces of art that they brought home from their adventures around the world. 

looking out to a bright future

Like the young couple, my husband and I have always taken pride in the work that we’ve done so far for the house and the items that we’ve collected, because most, if not all, hold a special meaning to us. Every artwork tells a story of where we’ve been to or what we believe in. We shy away from mass produced store-bought items and would rather wait for that perfect piece even if it was created by a no-name artist in a small town in Hanoi, salvaged from an estate sale, or brought to life from an antique shop. The process of buying for the house has almost become like a treasure hunt.

Another house that I loved is a Prairie School style home that features a wood burning stove and interesting pieces of artwork that tell much of the owner from the reverse prints done in antique windows to the stories told through deliberately arranged wine bottle cork stoppers. 

While entering these homes,  I thought  of the importance of the present and the relevance of the past, of keeping one’s own preferences while still giving homage to the past, and how the marriage of both is not as easy to achieve, but when it is attained, the result is almost magical. And I’m not just talking about interior  design.

While I grasped on the glass doorknobs and  walked under the cathedral ceilings, I marvelled at how the past is still very much alive around us, alive in a sense that it is still significant and vibrant and can teach us a few things about functionality, beauty, and pride. Walking on the shiny hardwood floors, I heard subtle creaks whispering reminders about the value of preserving history that they may serve as lessons for our future generations.

I consider this responsibility a gift. I consider it a privilege to own a home with great historical significance, to protect and preserve this cultural structure that it may endure as a portal to the past and a landmark of wisdom through the years.

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