9 airport travel hacks for the frequent flier

9 airport travel hacks for the frequent flier9 airport travel hacks for the frequent flierI travel quite a lot. In recent years, Ive become accustomed to airport life as an integral part of my work routine, whether Im traveling to the cities where I hostBossed Up Bootcampor flyingto speak at colleges and companies. As I prepare for next yearsBossed Up Booktour, Im aya my flight schedule will only pick up, tooLots of people complain about being a road warrior, and understandably so. Airports are stress hubs, hotel life gets lonely real quick, and theres nothing actually glamourous about spending less than 24 hours in a new city. But over the years Ive learned some MAJOR lessons on how to actually love work travel even in the airportHere are my top airport hacks to krallele work travel like a boss.And hey dont leave me hanging. Let me know what best practices you would add to this list, or if you try these out, how they work for youAlways keep a packed bag of toiletries While Im not one to keep a fully-packed suitcase (which seems like a bit much), I bit the bullet and bought two of all my must-have toiletries. How awful is it when you forget your toothbrush or bobby pins? Going without while youre on the road is a pain, and I got plain fed-up with running to CVS while on the go.Now I always keep my dopp kit packed so I dont need to think twice and can just throw it into my suitcase and rest assured that my must-haves are all there.Stock up on creature comfortsAlong with my toiletries, I try to always have a few creature comforts on hand.Trail mix or a protein bar is a total life-saver and instant hanger-helper when youre desperate for food but stuck in airport terminal food deserts. When I was struggling with sleep issues last year, I made sure to always have packets of my favorite SleepyTime tea packed, too. And Im always stocked up on a small supply of extra medicine I might need on the road. Ibuprofen is a must for when my bodys aching from too much time i n a cramped airplane seat. My allergy meds keep me sniffle-free when Im speaking in a city where the pollen is extra pollen-y, too.I keep all these comfort items in my suitcase and constantly replenish them each time I return home.Scout out security linesMany airports including my main one here in Denver have one or two security lines that always move a little faster. I started picking up on this after becoming a terminal regular and realized the security line farthest to one side was always a little more lax. Theres one line at DEN where you never have to take off your shoes and you can keep your electronics all packed up.Im no TSA expert, so Im not sure why this is the case, but its become my most reliable time-saver in the airport by far. While the crowds head towards the center security lines, I make a beeline for the one furthest to the end and I always whiz through.Make the most of your time waiting in line to really scout out the security checkpoints ahead and see if theres a fast lane in your next airport.My Away luggageAwayis a brand that actually lives up to their Instagram hype. I was originally gifted myAway Carry-On(which retails for $225) while I was the co-host of the Stuff Mom Never Told You podcast last year, but Im already considering purchasing another one on my own, too.The bag features a truly smart, sturdy plan that performs better thananycarry-on luggage Ive ever had in the past. And thats saying something because I used to go through at least a bag a year. Im pretty tough on my luggage, dragging them through New York City cobblestone sidewalks in The Village, dusty, sandstone curbsides in Denver, and everywhere in between.Not only does this piece of luggage hold upandhave a lifetime warranty, it also charges my dang phone Its got a built-in rechargeable battery thats a total lifesaver when youre on the go (more on this below), and it just plain looks cool to be strutting through an airport while youre charging your phone from you bag. Bring your own (water) bottleYou already know how strongly I believe in the benefits ofstaying hydrated, right? Well, when it comes to air travel, this isespeciallyvital. In such climate-controlled environments, where humidity can be as low as 10-15%, your body actually dehydrates just through respiration alone. According toMarie Claire,women can lose around 1.6 litres of water on an average 10-hour flight. YikesAs a total budgetnista, Iloathespending money on water, especially when I know there must be water fountains around. And with the booming number of water fountains designed specifically for filling water bottles, theres never been a better time to bring your own with you. Just make sure you drain it before you go through security so you dont look like a total travel rookie in the security line and hold everyone up.I often use a small, lightweight, stainless steel travel mug to carry my morning coffee or matcha on my way to the airport, and then refill throughout the day with water from the fountain. All about that double drink dealBack-up batteriesI have a collection of spare battery chargers on hand from the many conferences Ive attended. A few years back it was all the rage in corporate swag bags at conferences I was keynoting, and I stocked up There are differing opinions on which are the best, but for me, it doesnt need to hold some huge charge or have any fancy features. I just use mine as an emergency boost for my phone when Im in-between outlets.I use my mobile device a LOT more when Im traveling for work. And you definitely dont want to get stuck without a much-needed Yelp search or GoogleMaps directions when you need them. So whatever kind of battery you go for, the most important thing to do is to keep them fully charged while youre home, and slip them into your backpack or purse on your way out on a trip.Snuggle up with a PashminaI cant express my love for my go-to Pashmina scarf enough. For those not familiar, Pashmina is technically the te rm for the fine wool textile that comes from Kashmir. But in the USA in recent years, its become synonymous for the popular design of a wide, long scarf made of almost any material. Its especially used to describe those with the signature knotted fringe on either end.A legit wool or cashmere pashmina is a lifesaver in over-air-conditioned airports and planes alike. When you need a blanket, its big enough to spread over your legs. Wish you had a pillow? Bunch it up and youll be dreamin before you know it. Its a stylish scarf, relatively thin and compact, and yet it still keeps you warm in the changing temperatures involved with modern air travel.Bose noise-canceling headphonesIf youre serious about travel, noise-canceling headphones are a total game-changer. As you might guess, Im a bigpodcastenthusiast, and also find listening to downloaded Spotify playlists super soothing when flying. The difference between regular earbuds versus myBose Noise-Cancelling Headphones ($179 on Amazon)i s like night and day.And the best part? If the baby a few rows back is teething, or the bros one aisle up cant stop discussing the details of their bachelor party, you wont have to hear about it. Just dont forget to pack a spare AA battery (which powers the noise-canceling function), because running out mid-flight is a bummer. These things spoil you pretty quick.Commit to an airlineI went all-in on Southwest Airlines a few years back, and fly like a total VIP with them now. Their prices are unbeatable, flights run reliably on time or ahead of schedule, and I find booking through their site super easy. I think their boarding process is incredibly efficient (although it is certainly different than other airlines, so if youre new to them, prepare yourself for a unique on-boarding). I especially appreciate their commitment to superior customer service, whether Im on the phone re-booking with an agent or mid-flight with an attendant. Theyre fun people who make a pretty un-fun industry mu ch more pleasant.I also earn tons of travel points with myChase Rapid Rewards credit card, which I use for all my business expenses. That combined with my frequent flight schedule means Im always earning A List status, which earns me auto-check-in perks and the ability to cut security lines like first-class ticket holders in most airports, too. For the past 2 years Ive racked up enough points to earn their coveted Companion Pass, too Whenever and wherever I fly, BradTheBoo can tag along fo FREE.Whether you choose Southwest or another airline, find the one you like best and do everything you can to stick with it. Youll reap the rewards in a major way.This article first appeared on Bossed Up.