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Texas is home to over 350 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline and 7,000 lakes, so it’s no wonder that there are so many incredible beaches in the Lone Star State. No matter where you’re staying, you’re sure to be close to a decent beach. But if you’re planning a trip to Texas and want to know the best places to swim, snorkel, and more, keep reading.

We’ve looked at what makes a great beach–from how many activities there are to do to how clean the shores–to put together a list of the top 15 beaches in Texas. In this guide, we’ll talk about the ideal time of year to visit, average rates for lodging, distance to airports, and other information you’ll want to know before coming.

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Best for Families – Stewart Beach

Native Texas families know that this is the place to go for a fun day trip. Stewart Beach is a gem of Galveston Island with something for everyone. Play volleyball at the courts, take your kids to the playgrounds, or participate in a beach challenge or sandcastle lesson. There are plenty of lifeguards, restrooms, and pavilions even when the beach is busy.

Stewart Beach is open from March 13 to October 10, but the best time to go for the best weather and events is between May and September. However, just be warned that it can get pretty crowded in the summer. You’ll likely pay around $260 a night for an Airbnb in the Galveston area, as this is a popular tourist destination and space on Galveston is limited. The nearest airport, William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), is about a 40-minute drive away.

Galveston Island is one of the best places to go in Texas, period. If you’re in the area, stop by Stewart Beach.

Best for Dogs – Port Aransas Beach

As one of the most dog-friendly beaches in Texas, you’re likely to see leashed and off-leash dogs all over Port Aransas Beach in Port Aransas. There are over 18 miles of Gulf shoreline for you and your pup to enjoy. You can let them off-leash at the Coastal Bend or keep them on a leash throughout the beach where they are permitted to roam the sand and water. This beach also offers camping, water sports, and other activities.

Port Aransas is open year-round but it is known for being busy in the summer (especially in the designated off-leash zone), so it’s best to bring your dog in the spring and fall. The Port Aransas area can be a bit pricey at between $250 and $375 a night for Airbnbs, but you can save money by booking during the off-season or farther from the coast. Port Aransas is about an hour and 15 minutes away from the nearest airport, Corpus Christi (CRP). You can drive or ferry in to the beach.

Best for Scuba Diving – Lake Travis

If you’re in Austin, Texas, you have to visit Lake Travis. This is the best beach in the state for scuba diving whether you’re a novice or pro. This lake (and the only lake to make our list this year) has a mix of manmade and natural features including shipwrecks and grottoes to explore. When you’re finished scuba diving, take a trip in a kayak, go ziplining, or rent a party boat. Lake Travis offers many events throughout the year, including concerts, tournaments, and games. Visit nearby Volente Beach Water Park for water slides and other family-friendly outdoor attractions.

Lake Travis is open year-round, and there’s really no bad time to visit because there’s always something to do. But for the best scuba diving conditions, shoot for the spring. The average daily rate of an Airbnb in Austin is around $250, and there’s no shortage of properties to choose from. The Austin Airport (AUS) is just a half hour’s drive away.

Best for Fishing – San Jose Island

If it’s fishing you’re after, you’re going to need to make a trip to San Jose Island. This is another incredible destination in Port Aransas, but this one is only accessible by boat. The beaches offer some of the best saltwater fishing in the state where visitors can catch trout, flounder, and red snapper among many, many others. This island is quiet and secluded, ideal for relaxing by the water and appreciating the view. Don’t forget to take a stroll on the beach to comb the sand for seashells and sand dollars before you leave.

Visit San Jose Island any time of year, as anyone from Texas can tell you that there’s good fishing year-round. You can stay in mainland Port Aransas for about $250 to $375 a night, but there are also some Airbnb rentals available right on the island that’ll run you between $175 and $250 a night. The best time to fish on San Jose Island depends on what kind of fish you’re hoping to catch. You can visit anytime, but note that you are prohibited from catching certain protected fish.

Best for Foodies – Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach is the beach for you if you mainly go to beaches for the cocktails and concessions. This beach and city in Brazoria County, Texas, is full of locally-owned restaurants serving fresh seafood and other regional eats and teeming with food trucks and concession stands. It’s a good choice if you’re just looking to lounge or swim, but it’s a foodie’s paradise. You can even catch dinner yourself if you visit the crabbing pier. Work up an appetite by going surfing or deep-sea fishing on one of many charter boats.

The best time to visit Surfside Beach is between early spring and late fall when many types of fish are in season and the weather is likely to be as pleasant as Texas gets. You can rent an Airbnb here for a little less than $200 a night on average, but you can snag one for barely $100 if you plan ahead. William P. Hobby (HOU) is the closest airport, and it’s about 60 miles away.

Best for Sailing – Bird Island Basin

For the best sailing on Laguna Madre, a hypersaline lagoon stretching 130 miles, you’re going to want to stop at Bird Island Basin in Padre Island. Bird Island Basin boat ramps are open to the public. Depending on the time of year, you might see terns, orioles, skimmers, and more. Launch here for a day of boating, fishing, birding, or all of the above for a daily fee of just $5. You can even bring your dog if you keep them on a leash. The park is simple with just restrooms and some first-come, first-served campsites, but it’s the best beach in the area for sailing.

We recommend visiting in the spring or fall for good weather and boating conditions. The beach is occasionally closed due to high tides, so keep an eye on closures. The average price of an Airbnb in Padre Island is about $250 and the nearest airport, Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport (BRO), is about 20 miles away from the basin.

Best for Nature Lovers – Padre Island National Seashore

Another spot in Padre Island you don’t want to miss, the Padre Island National Seashore is the best beach in Texas for seeing some wildlife. This beach, which boasts the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world, sits between the hypersaline Laguna Madre and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Padre Island National Seashore is home to many, many species, including the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle known to nest here. You can safely visit their protected nesting grounds to see the hatchlings make their way to the sea. Learn about sea turtle conservation efforts at the park and attend a ranger program.

If you want to see the turtles, you want to visit between June and August during their nesting season. You’ll likely spend around $250 a night for an Airbnb in Padre Island, but it depends on how close to the beach you stay. The Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP) is about 43 miles away. This beach is just a 20-minute drive from Bird Island Basin, so you can easily hit both in a day for even more adventures.

Crystal Beach

Crystal Beach in Galveston County, Texas, is a 7-mile stretch of sand on the Bolivar Peninsula. This is a great place to go if you’re around the Upper Texas Gulf Coast and you’re looking for a good old-fashioned beach day. Crystal Beach and the Bolivar Peninsula Beach are not as popular with tourists as other beaches on this list, so they shouldn’t be too crowded when you go. Hunt for Shark Teeth, build sand castles, or go swimming in this clean and quiet beach.

The beaches on Bolivar Peninsula are always open, but they’re liveliest and most eventful in the summer months. Staying right in the Bolivar Peninsula will cost you between $200 and $300 a night, but campers and RVs are also welcome. The closest airport is Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT/KBPT) and it’s about 60 miles from Crystal Beach.

Rockport Beach

Rockport Beach is a gorgeous sandy beach in Rockport, Texas, that holds the title of being the first beach in Texas with Blue Wave certification (given by the Clean Beaches Coalition to beaches that are clean and responsibly managed). This beach is notoriously well kept and generally pretty quiet, and there are a lot of rules that keep it that way. There are no dogs, cars, or campfires allowed at any time and overnight campaign is not permitted. What you can do are play water sports, have a picnic, or comb the beach. Just be sure to clean up after yourself!

You can visit Rockport Beach year-round. It is open seven days a week, 375 days a year. Most festivals and events such as fishing tournaments and art fairs take place during the summer in June and July, but there’s almost always an upcoming event. On average, an Airbnb in Rockport, Texas, will run you about $200 a night, but prices are considerably lower in the fall and winter. Corpus Christi (CRP) is the nearest airport and it’s about 38 miles away.

South Packery Channel Beach

Also known as Jetty Beach, this stretch of sand in Corpus Christi sits between the scenic Padre and Mustang Islands. You’ll find South Packery Channel Beach in Packery Channel Park, a county nature park along the Gulf Coast with an endless selection of things to do. This beach is swimming- and snorkeling-friendly, and it’s home to a variety of wildlife. You might be lucky enough to spot sea turtles in the water during the warm summer months.

South Packery Channel Beach is an especially great one for anglers. The pier offers prime fishing for trout, mackerel, sheepshead, tarpon, kingfish, perch, and even grouper. The average price of an Airbnb in Corpus Christi is around $200 a night, and the drive to the Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP) is just shy of 23 minutes.

Also worth a visit is North Packery Channel Beach, located on the other side of the Packery Channel. It’s just a short walk away and you may prefer this side for typical beachgoing activities like lounging and swimming as it can be less crowded during the busy season.

Matagorda Bay Nature Park

You don’t want to miss the Matagorda Bay Nature Park if you’re in the Matagorda Area. This park in southeastern Texas offers gorgeous views of the Gulf and something for everyone. Anything you might want to do during a casual beach day, you can do here. You can boat (bring your own or rent) or try your hand at fishing, or you could play a game of mini-golf or go river rafting. There are 70 different campsites for overnight trips and even 2 Airstreams for rent that sleep up to four people each. Plus, it’s pet-friendly.

This park is open every day from sunrise to sunset, so the best time to visit is in the summer when you’ll have the most daylight to enjoy the 1,600-acre park. If you’re staying in Matagorda, you will likely pay about $120 a night for the average Airbnb. The nearest airport, Palaios Municipal Airport (PSX), is about a 45-minute drive away.

Balmorhea State Park

Balmorhea State Park is a man-made park featuring the largest spring-fed swimming pool in the world. It’s not a traditional beach, but rather a welcome swimming hole in the middle of hot and dry West Texas. The crystal clear water that bubbles up from San Solomon Springs is cool and inviting, to both people and fish. There are a number of endangered and rare fish in the water, so scuba diving is encouraged. For a unique “beach” experience in the desert, stop by this historic Balmorhea park.

This destination is open all year long, but the capacity is limited and the pool is busiest during the summer as people try to beat the heat. Your best bet is to visit in the spring or fall. To stay in Pecos, Texas, where this park is located, you are looking at an average nightly Airbnb rate of around $150. The Pecos Municipal Airport (PEQ) is about 35 minutes away.

Lighthouse Beach

Not to be confused with Lighthouse Beach in the Bahamas, this sandy beach located in Port Lavaca is for all of the RV enthusiasts reading. This beach is unassuming, but it’s a favorite among the camping crowd. Enjoy a perfectly pleasantly getaway when you reserve a campsite here for anywhere from $50 to $55 a night for RVs (or $20 for a tent site without amenities). Lighthouse Beach is serene and rarely crowded. Both Houston and San Antonio are just over two hours away.

Lighthouse Beach is always open, so it makes the most sense to just plan your trip around your weather preferences. If staying in an RV isn’t your style, the price of an Airbnb in Port Lavaca starts at just $100 a night. This beach is about a 10-minute drive from Calhoun County Airport and about a 25-minute drive from Victoria Airport (VCT).

Boca Chica Beach

Boca Chica Beach is a necessary stop if you’re ever in the Cameron County area. This beach can be found on a peninsula that splits the busy Brownsville Ship Channel and the Gulf of Mexico. Boca Chica has been kept very natural, so it’s a good place to go for a classic beach day. Boca Chica is teeming with sea life and you’ll see a lot of people snorkeling and exploring. You can take a boating trip or expedition to see dolphins, just one of the things this area is famous for, or birdwatch from the shore or a boat. Sea turtles often come here to lay their eggs in June and August as well.

The best time to visit Boca Chica Beach is between March and May when you are most likely to see dolphins coming through to breed, or in June or August when you are most likely to see sea turtles. You can stay in an Airbnb in Boca Chica for a modest price of about $130 a night. The Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport (BRO) is about 35 minutes away from Boca Chica Beach.

Mustang Island State Park

Managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Mustang Island State Park is a beautiful barrier island park that’s well worth a trip. Take a trip down the 20-mile Paddling Trail to get up close and personal with local birds and wildlife. If you’re a fan of geocaching or hunting for hidden “treasure, this is an excellent place to do it. There are many RV campsites with and without hookups and community showers open to the public.

This beach is open year-round, but the best times to visit are during the spring and fall. This is when most birds are migrating and you don’t want to miss them. The average price of an Airbnb in Corpus Christi, Texas, is about $200 a night and the closest airport, the Corpus Christi Airport (CRP), is about 25 minutes away.

Mustang Island State Park is located between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas, and it’s just a short drive to the Padre Island National Seashore and Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

Bonus: Beach Park at Isla Blanca

Though not a beach in the strictest sense, we had to include Beach Park at Isla Blanca on our list. This is a waterpark and amusement park located in Cameron County, Texas, on South Padre Island. There are more than 24 different attractions including rides, waterslides, and pools, and there’s a boardwalk in the park that’ll take you right to the beach. The cost per person is $3 for kids, $5 for students, and $6 for adults to get into the park and there are added costs for many attractions.

This park is open all year, but we recommend visiting in the spring and fall when it won’t be as crowded if you’re just going for a day or two. Or, you can purchase season passes and visit as many times as you’d like. On South Padre Island, an Airbnb costs around $250 a night on average, but you might be able to save some money if you stay a little farther inland. The drive to the nearest airport, the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport, is about 30 minutes.

Final Thoughts

Are you planning a trip to Texas in the near future? The next time you’re visiting Texas, use this list to find the right beach for you based on your favorite activities. Hopefully, this article helps you budget and plan your perfect Texas trip. Let us know which Texas beach is your favorite.

Note that some of the locations on this list may have COVID-19 rules in place. Check ahead of time for temporary closures and restrictions.

Full disclosure: We may receive financial compensation when you click on links and are approved for products from our advertising partners. Opinions and product recommendations on FlyerGeek are those of our writers and have not been influenced, reviewed or approved by any advertiser. Learn more about how we make money.

Can you really get the experience of flying solo on a commercial flight?

While sharing limited space comes with the territory, there are some ways you can boost your chances of getting a row to yourself on an airplane.

People who fly a lot know that there are some unspoken rules about how seats fill up on planes. You can use these trends to get in position to snag your own row. Of course, the stars really do need to align perfectly for this to happen, but take a look at the 10 ways to maximize your chances of getting a row to yourself on your next flight.

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Pick the Middle Seat When You Book Your Flight

This one requires a little faith. While claiming the middle seat on an untouched row is always a gamble, this is the easiest way to boost your chances of getting your own row. Other travelers will be more likely to skip over your row if they can get window or aisle seats without a neighbor. Taking the middle seat essentially “claims” a row unless the flight is full.

Know How to Board for Keeps in a “Wild West” Boarding Scenario

What if you’re flying on an airline that doesn’t assign seats? Make a beeline for the back. You’ll have the advantage of letting the rest of the plane fill up before the passenger traffic trickles down to you. The strategy of picking a middle seat mentioned above can also be a big help here. A middle seat located in the back of a plane boosts your odds of getting your own row more than almost anything.

Keep Your Head on a Swivel After Boarding

You have a prime opportunity for a “do-over” if you find yourself stuffed in a full row by the time the announcement is made that boarding is complete. Look around the airplane to see if any empty rows remain. Consider any empty row your eyes can see as yours to claim!

Ask the Gate Agent for a Favor

It’s actually perfectly acceptable to politely ask a gate agent about what the situation looks like for seating while you’re waiting for boarding. Most gate agents and ticketing agents will help you out with switching or upgrading seats to avoid getting stuffed into a full row. Most people don’t take advantage of the opportunity for a pre-boarding boost simply because they don’t know that you’re allowed to ask.

Don’t Travel During Peak Times

Picky passengers know to never fly during peak times. If you have a real aversion to being stuck in a full row, it’s smart to try to fly during off-peak times. It’s not unusual for empty rows to be bountiful. Midweek flights are best when jockeying for position in an unoccupied row. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the days with the lowest flight volumes. Flying on those days actually gives you the benefit of getting the lowest fares most of the time. That means you’re paying less for a more private flying experience if your schedule allows you to jet off on weekdays.

Pick Row 13 When You Book Your Flight to Get Lucky

Let the superstition of other people be your good luck! Yes, some people really are afraid to book seats in row 13 on flights. The negative connotation that goes along with the number even causes some people to subconsciously skip over it when they’re selecting rows. Grabbing a seat in row 13 when you book might be all that’s necessary to avoid seat neighbors.

Get a Good Seat Map App

While some airlines are pretty good about providing seat maps, you might want to consider a third-party app. In addition to showing you existing seat layouts, many apps will actually send alerts to your phone when new seats open up. This can help you to strategize for getting into an empty row before your flight.

Fly on Newer Routes

Passenger volume is often skimpy on new routes when they’re first introduced by airlines. Part of the reason is that passengers simply don’t know about these routes yet. Others are hesitant to try out “experimental” routes. It’s all good news for you if you want your own row. There’s also a secret perk to this. Airlines tend to really roll out the red carpet with the best service when launching new routes because they want to build customer momentum. You may end up having one of the best flights of your life if you’re one of the first people to fly on a new route. This same rule applies for booking flights with newly launched carriers. You’ll probably have good luck with getting your own row if you give a newer carrier a try.

Travel Using Smaller Airports

This hack doesn’t come with any guarantees. However, you’re less likely to get a row to yourself on a flight if you’re flying out of a big hub like Atlanta (ATL), Los Angeles (LAX) or New York (JFK). Check out the flight offerings out of a smaller airport that’s in your region to see what you may have been missing this whole time. Many smaller airports actually have pretty impressive routes with steady departures to popular places.

Bonus Tip: Reserving a Row for Two

What if you’re traveling with someone else? You might be wondering how the two of you can increase your odds of not having to awkwardly share your row with a third party. This hack for getting your own row on a flight is pretty foolproof. Simply take the window and aisle seats when booking your flight. This will leave the “awkward” middle seat open. Nobody will choose this seat unless the flight is absolutely full. However, you won’t necessarily be stuck sitting on either end of a stranger just because you’ve chosen to try this strategy if your flight does fill up. The third party will more than likely be happy to swap the middle seat for the window seat or aisle seat once they show up. There’s really no reason to ever book side-by-side seats as your default when traveling with another person!

Getting an Airplane Row to Yourself: Is It Really Just Luck?

Yes, getting your own row on a flight partly comes down to luck. However, smart travelers know how to make their own luck by simply being proactive about the how and where of booking their seats. The disclaimer here is that there’s really nothing you can do to get some space when a flight is booked to capacity. However, these tips will put you in position to seize the opportunity if there is room for an empty row on your flight. The final thing to say is that nobody likes an entitled airline passenger. While it will be great if you can make the stars align to get an empty row on your flight, this isn’t something you should expect every time. What’s more, it’s not the responsibility of airline staff to try to help you play airline-seat chess to get into an empty row. While asking for a little inside information before you board is fine, make sure you’re not pestering gate agents or flight attendants to do your dirty work.

Full disclosure: We may receive financial compensation when you click on links and are approved for products from our advertising partners. Opinions and product recommendations on FlyerGeek are those of our writers and have not been influenced, reviewed or approved by any advertiser. Learn more about how we make money.

Airport security screening is a universally unpleasant experience, no matter how often you travel and which airports you frequent. It always takes longer than you’d like it to and can be pretty confusing, and most of us wish there were a way to avoid it.

Well, there’s no way to completely get out of going through airport security (and really, that’s for the best), but there may be ways to make the process a little less tedious. For some, that’s TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. Find out here if these programs are worth it and how to get started.

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What Is TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck is a program of the United States Transportation Security Administration that provides smoother airport screening. It saves members time during security checks and lets them go through without removing most items.

According to the TSA, 95% of passengers with TSA PreCheck coverage waited less than five minutes at security checks in October 2021. Typically, going through airport security takes anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes on average but can take even longer depending on which airport you’re at.

So how does it work? Basically, you answer questions about your travel history and personal life when applying for membership, and your answers are saved in the TSA PreCheck system. This allows for a streamlined check-in process because the system can automatically determine whether you present a security risk.

If you are determined to be low risk, which you must be to be approved for membership, then you will be allowed to pass through security checkpoints without presenting items such as electronics and liquids from your luggage or removing your jacket and shoes for screening.

TSA PreCheck members do not need to remove or present the following when checking in:

• Shoes
• Light jackets
• Belts
• Laptops
• 3-1-1 liquids

This program is family-friendly. Children under the age of 12 can accompany their parents in TSA PreCheck when traveling and do not need to be members themselves. Children between the ages of 13 and 17 may also go through TSA PreCheck lines with their parents if they are traveling on the same reservation, provided that they have received a TSA PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass. These are given randomly, so there is no guarantee that a child of this age will get one.

TSA PreCheck is not available at all airports. As of right now, there are more than 200 airports with over 80 airlines allowing TSA PreCheck, including most major airports in all 50 states.

Anyone can apply for TSA PreCheck, but approval is not guaranteed. This program is restricted to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents only. Membership is valid for 5 years.

What Is Global Entry?

Global Entry is a program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that allows members to travel more quickly through security screening when entering the United States. Members enjoy reduced wait times and shorter lines than non-members and do not have to present paperwork when going through security.

Global Entry membership also comes with TSA PreCheck membership for everyone enrolled. If you apply for Global Entry and are determined to be low-risk, you are approved as a member and granted expedited clearance when flying or traveling by boat into the United States.

Global Entry enrollees use designated kiosks at 75 different airports to go through security. They then use the kiosk to scan their passport or U.S. permanent resident card and fingerprints and fill out a digital customs declaration. Upon completion, members receive a receipt and can proceed to get their bags and leave.

There are not usually lines at these kiosks and in the event that kiosks are down, Global Entry members can jump to the front of the line at standard security.

You can apply for Global Entry if you are a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or foreign national. Membership is valid for 5 years.

What Are the Differences?

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are very similar. The TSA PreCheck is an entity of the Transportation Security Administration and Global Entry is an entity of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, but they’re both classified as Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler programs.

They also offer many of the same benefits to members including shorter lines and wait times.

The primary difference between the two is that TSA PreCheck is used when members are flying out of a U.S. airport and Global Entry is used when members are flying into the U.S. from an international destination.

Here are the key similarities and differences between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry:

TSA PreCheck	Global Entry
Air travel only	Air, land, and sea travel
Flights out of U.S.	Travel into U.S.
Open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents	Open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and some foreign nationals
5-year membership	5-year membership
$85 enrollment fee	$100 enrollment fee

All Global Entry members are also TSA PreCheck members but not all TSA PreCheck members are also Global Entry members.

How to Apply for TSA PreCheck

You can apply for TSA PreCheck in person at one of more than 400 TSA PreCheck application centers including 50 airport locations and 350 designated office locations. Appointments are not required, but having one may reduce your wait time. You can optionally pre-enroll before arriving to save yourself more time.

The first thing you will need to do is fill out an application. You’ll answer a series of questions demonstrating proof of citizenship and identity during this step. If you are able, provide one of the following unexpired documents to prove your citizenship status and identity:

• U.S. Passport
• Enhanced Tribal Card
• Free and Secure Trade Card
• U.S. Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Identification Card
• Permanent Resident Card or Green Card
• Foreign Passport and Immigrant Visa with I-551 annotation showing permanent residence of one year
• Re-Entry Permit

If you do not have one of these documents, you will need another form of photo identification as well as proof of citizenship. Valid photo IDs include:

• Driver’s license issued by a state or outlying possession of the U.S.
• Temporary driver’s license and expired driver’s license
• Photo ID card issued by the federal government, state, or outlying possession of the U.S.
• U.S. active or retired military ID card
• U.S. military dependent’s card
• Native American tribal document with photo
• Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security Administration Transportation worker Identification Credential
• Merchant Mariner Credential

Valid proof of citizenship documents include:

• Birth certificate
• Certificate of Citizenship
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Citizen Identification Card
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Certification of Report of Birth Abroad
• Expired passport that is within 12 months of expiration

After providing these materials, you will have your fingerprints scanned and undergo a thorough background check. If your application is accepted, you’ll receive your unique Known Traveler Number that you will use when booking flights and checking in at the airport. Note that applications can take up to 60 days to process. You can check the status of your application online.

When applying for TSA PreCheck membership, be aware that you will likely not be accepted if you have a criminal record or history of security violations. Also, you need to re-apply for membership every five years. You need to visit an enrollment center again to renew your membership.

The cost for a five-year membership is $85. Most people need to pay for TSA PreCheck enrollment, but certain travel credit cards provide membership as a benefit.

How to Get Free Membership

Many travel credit cards and loyalty programs offer TSA PreCheck as a benefit to members. Membership may be free to cardholders or cardholders may be eligible to pay the fee with points or rewards. We’ll list a few of our favorite cards and rewards programs that qualify here, but you can visit the TSA PreCheck site to see the complete list.

Credit cards that offer free TSA PreCheck include:

• Capital One Venture Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
• American Express Platinum Cards
• Bank of America Premium Rewards Card
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve American Express Cards
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card
• United Club Infinite Card

Loyalty programs that offer TSA PreCheck include:

• IHG Rewards Club
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Orbitz Rewards
• Radisson Rewards
• United MileagePlus

How to Apply for Global Entry

Global Entry applications include an exhaustive background check as well as an interview. To apply, start by creating a Trusted Traveler Program account. Then, complete the online application that will ask you questions about your background and history. There is a non-refundable $100 fee for applying.

Once your application is complete, it is reviewed and either rejected or conditionally approved. With conditional approval, you can schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center where you will meet with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer and learn more about Global Entry. Bring your driver’s license or ID card and valid passport. The officer will ask you questions about why you’re applying for membership and review your application. 

At select airports (called an Enrollment on Arrival airport), you may be able to complete an interview after your next international flight. This is subject to availability, but you can view a list of Enrollment on Arrival airports prior to your next trip.

If you want to be a member of both programs, apply only for Global Entry. This application is longer and more involved, but it gives you faster screening at more locations (not just airports) and includes TSA PreCheck. Plus, certain populations, such as Mexican Nationals, may be able to qualify for TSA PreCheck by first becoming Global Entry members. However, be aware that Global Entry applications take a while to process and you might wait several weeks for an interview.

Pros and Cons

One of the main advantages of these travel programs is that they are affordable, especially when you consider how much time they can save you at airports and that membership is valid for five years.

The long membership also means that you won’t have to go through the application process often, making the programs useful even if you don’t travel a ton. If you do a lot of traveling, you can save many hours at airports and enjoy a generally smoother check-in experience.

One of the main disadvantages of these programs is that not all airports participate. Although many major airports and travel ports accept TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, some airports and airlines choose not to. For example, some smaller airports and certain international airlines don’t participate. It’s always worth checking before you travel so you know what to expect.

Another disadvantage is that it can take a while for your applications to process and your interview to be scheduled. You could be waiting several months to hear back about your application and it can be tedious to gather everything you need to apply, especially if you are not a native U.S. citizen.

Final Thoughts

We feel that TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are well worth the time and money to enroll. Although the processes to apply are no walks in the park, it’s very doable for most people and you can save a significant amount of time at airports. And since most major airports participate in these programs, you don’t really need to plan travel any differently.

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are not the same and you may benefit from one more than the other. Global Entry is best for people who take regular international flights and TSA PreCheck is best for people who travel domestically a few times a year. We recommend looking into credit cards and loyalty programs that include TSA PreCheck as a benefit if this program makes the most sense for you.

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Finding the best deal on flights is more about how far in advance you book and less about what day of the week you book.

According to studies by travel shopping sites and airlines, the best time to book a flight is between three months and three weeks before you plan to leave. At three weeks before the flight, airlines are trying to reach capacity and tend to drop their prices. But after this three-week mark, you’re more likely to see tickets going up in price as people who procrastinated booking their ticket scramble for a seat.

In this article, we’ll compare prices when purchasing tickets with different popular travel sites to find the best days to book—and take—flights.

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What Day of the Week Should You Book?

The myth that you can find the lowest ticket prices on Tuesdays isn’t really true anymore. So, what day of the week should you book?

The online travel agency CheapAir.com recently did a study to try to get to the bottom of this. It found that prices only fluctuate by an average of 1% from weekday to weekday, meaning no day is better than any other to book. 

In the past, you could generally find the lowest fare prices on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but these days no longer have the lowest prices on average. Pricing is automated now, so fares change with the market. Although Tuesday and Wednesday used to be the preferred days for sales and deals, there are too many factors involved in pricing these days to predict with any accuracy what days of the week have the cheapest flights.

With how much fare prices fluctuate, it doesn’t really matter what day of the week you buy a ticket. 

What CheapAir.com did find, however, is that Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest days to actually fly. On average, you can save $73 a ticket when flying these days. 

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were found to be the most expensive on average, but the most expensive of these depends on where you’re going and which airline you’re using. 

With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at how to book cheap flights with different booking sites. For all of our examples, you’re taking a trip from JFK to LAX and booking a one-way flight. Here’s how to get the best prices.

Google Flights

Google Flights has one of the best flight search engines in the game (read our guide on the Google ITA flight Matrix to learn more about this technology) and offers the ability to customize your flight search down to every detail. But when should you book a ticket using Google Flights?

First off, you’re going to want to click on your date to see the calendar. This will show you the lowest prices for every day as far in the future as you want. You can compare prices throughout the week to help you decide when to fly (this is true of every booking site).

For three to four weeks from now, the lowest ticket price is the same for a one-way ticket. Three and a half weeks from now, this ticket happens to be for a JetBlue flight priced at $77. We found that it doesn’t really matter whether you book on a Tuesday night or Friday morning. 

Starting five weeks in advance, the price of the same ticket spikes up to $139 before dropping back down to $77 for the following Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Friday of the same week, the price goes up to $136 and down slightly to $123 on Saturday. 

After doing several comparisons, we found that Monday and Tuesday tend to be the cheapest days to fly and Friday and Saturday tend to take turns with the highest price, no matter how far out you’re booking. 

For the sake of comparison, we’ll generally leave holidays out of our calculations because patterns go out the window. Around Christmas, ticket prices are all over the place. On December 20th, a ticket will cost $149. On December 21st, $263. The prices top out at $263 on Thursday, December 23rd. 

Especially if you know that you’ll be flying during a travel peak, your best bet is to try to fly at the beginning of the week on Monday when booking through Google Flights. Prices may change every couple of hours, but the day you book will have little influence. Select “Track Prices” to receive updates.

Expedia

We also took a look at Expedia. The price calendar on this site is color-coded: green indicates the lowest prices, grey indicates average or typical, and red indicates the highest prices.

Looking for flights about three weeks out, the price of a flight was $77 on Monday,  Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and $78 on Wednesday. Searching for flights farther out two months in advance, we noticed a theme. Tuesday usually has a low price, but Expedia claims that its lowest average daily prices are actually on Fridays. Monday and Wednesday are usually pretty comparable at a price slightly higher than Tuesday, and Sunday flights tend to be the most expensive.

But as far as when you should book, Expedia recommends purchasing your tickets on a Sunday to save the most money. Booking on a Thursday or Friday will probably cost the most.

Orbitz

If you’re looking for a cheap ticket, you might look to Orbitz. This travel site has been around for two decades and continues to specialize in discount flights on a number of (mostly budget) carriers.

Like the others, the Orbitz flight search tool has a calendar that shows projected prices by date. Across all of our searches, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday tended to be most likely to have the lowest prices. If there was a great deal, such as $77 for a flight three weeks from now, it was probably going to be the same from Monday to Wednesday. But if these days had different prices, Monday was just a little more likely to be the most expensive. Tuesdays and Wednesdays often shared low prices. 

We found the best prices as early as two weeks in advance—earlier than that and you’re paying high last-minute prices. When you hit about the three-and-a-half-month mark, the rates start going up and becoming a little less predictable.

As far as which days are the most expensive, that turned out to be either Sunday or Friday, as a rule. We were surprised to find Saturday tied for the best deals fairly regularly. 

Kayak

Kayak is probably another site you check when you need a flight and you need it cheap. This site offers bookings for just about any type of travel you might want and you can sometimes save on flights by adding hotels and rental cars to your trip.

This site works a little differently when you’re comparing prices. Instead of showing you a calendar with estimated prices for each day, Kayak gives you an expected range such as $58+, $119+, and $241+. Unfortunately, we found these estimates to be pretty misleading. For example, a ticket four weeks from the time we’re writing this says it’ll cost $58+, but when you actually search prices, the lowest is $77. This is common, so just keep this in mind.

The cheapest days to fly are usually Monday through Thursday. If you have to pick one, bet on Monday. Friday and Sunday are almost always the most expensive days and Thursday is often the second most expensive. The best time to book through Kayak is about two or three weeks in advance when ticket prices are the same every day of the week and about as low as they’re going to get (barring a last-minute flash deal, which we don’t recommend holding out for). Try to book no farther than two-and-a-half months in advance for the best deals.

Like Google Flights, Kayak allows you to track prices so you’re the first to know if a ticket you were looking at has changed its rate.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner may be a UK-based agency, but that doesn’t mean you can’t score deals on domestic US flights.

Unfortunately, this travel site makes comparing day-to-day prices just a little more difficult than the others (no convenient calendar), so we researched the best days to book so you don’t have to. 

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday have the lowest prices whether you’re booking three weeks or three months in advance. For example, we found tickets for as low as $76 on each of these days when searching for flights five weeks out. Often, Thursday is right there with these three, but it might be just a tad bit more expensive (e.g. $86). Prices shoot up on Friday, dip a little on Saturday, and go back up on Sunday. Friday and Sunday usually offer the same prices, which can be two times more expensive than the lowest price or more (e.g. $148).

This site shows you the best, cheapest, and fastest flights for whatever day you’ve selected so you can compare not just the best prices but the most convenient flights.

CheapOAir

We felt we had to include the less popular CheapOAir, the agency responsible for the study mentioned earlier, because it lives up to its name.

This site actually offers the lowest deals we’ve seen for the one-way JFK to LAX example flight we set up. Three weeks out, you can get a ticket for as low as $68.68. This price was found for a Wednesday and the Tuesday before was just $69.73. On that Thursday, $69.73. In general, we found Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday to be the best days to fly. Prices fluctuate very little across these days. You want to book about three weeks in advance when using this site to get the best deals.

The most expensive day is generally Sunday, but not by a whole lot. For example, six weeks out, you can get a Sunday flight ticket for as little as $78.79. If you don’t mind flying Spirit or Frontier or taking a longer flight, CheapOAir can probably save you the most money.

Momondo

For our final comparison, we’re looking at Momondo. This booking site has been a subsidiary of Kayak for several years, but many people choose it over its parent company.

This flight search engine stands out from the others because it displays a bar graph at the top of the search page that shows you the price for the date you’ve chosen compared to prices for the dates around it. The graph displays day-by-day prices for three weeks at a time, and you can click on your selected date to see a calendar that gives price ranges (just like Kayak). Deal-hunting was easier with this tool than any of the others.

We found that Tuesday and Wednesday usually have the lowest prices, with Wednesday having a slight edge. Sunday and Friday have the highest prices, and Monday and Thursday fall somewhere in the middle. Start searching for flights at least three weeks in advance.

Final Thoughts

Finding low prices on tickets is not really about what day of the week you book the flight. What matters most is how far out you book and when you fly. We found that many travel sites offered the same prices and tended to follow the same patterns as far as which days of the week had the lowest price, so just use your favorite agency. If you have loyalty points with an airline, you should always use those to save money on tickets and fees.

So if you came here for an answer to which days you should fly: Monday through Wednesday are the best days to fly and Friday and Sunday are the worst.

If you are able to be flexible about exactly when you depart and which airlines you use, you’ll have the best chance of saving money. Try comparing prices across different travel booking sites as well as booking directly with your airline of choice.

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Whether you’re taking weeks-long trips or short weekend getaways, it’s not always convenient to have to adhere to a hotel’s check-in and check-out schedule. Coupled with hectic flight schedules, staying in hotels while traveling can become a real headache. What do you do when your flight lands hours before you’re able to check into your room?

Early check-in is a good option when this is the case. Many hotels are willing to work with you when the check-in time on your reservation isn’t ideal for you, but there are some key things to keep in mind when searching for hotels that will do this and making the request. Keep reading to become an early check-in expert.

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Normal Hotel Check-In Policies

Most hotels make you wait until early- to mid-afternoon to check into your room, usually around 2 or 3 PM. On the day that you check out, you will likely be asked to leave between 10 AM and 12 PM. 

Hotels try to give themselves a window of at least a few hours between when a guest checks out and the next is scheduled to arrive to carry out any routine cleaning and restocking that needs to take place. 

For a standard reservation, you often can’t get the key to your room before the check-in time on your booking (or check out late without incurring fees). That is, unless you’ve arranged for early check-in in advance.

During peak travel times when most rooms are booked, it may take longer for hotel staff to turn around a room, and getting an early check-in on short notice is less likely. During off-seasons, you may get lucky and the hotel will be fine advancing your check-in.

But don’t count on luck if you’re angling to check into a hotel early. Instead, plan ahead.

How to Get Early Check-In

You usually have to seek early check-in out because not all hotels offer it openly (if they wanted everyone to check in early, they’d just change the reservation times). Always contact the hotel you’ll be staying at as far in advance as possible to secure early check-in for your trip because getting it last minute is never guaranteed. 

Your early check-in request may be prioritized if you are a rewards club member. In fact, elite status with certain hotels automatically comes with complimentary early check-in. A lot of hotels give late check-outs to guests with elite status, but some give early check-ins as well or instead. The following rewards programs offer this perk: 

• Choice Privileges – Gold, Platinum, and Diamond level status members receive early check-ins. You become a Gold member after seven nights, a Platinum member after 15 nights, and a Diamond member after 25 nights
• IHG Rewards – Spire elite members are able to check in at 10 AM at participating locations, and they also get priority check-in
• Wyndham Rewards – Wyndham Rewards members with Platinum or Diamond status receive early check-in. You become a Platinum member after nine nights and a Diamond member after 24 nights
• World of Hyatt – early check-in is available for a fee of $10 or more to basic members and Discoverist members, and complimentary early check-in is available to Explorist and Globalist members. All member statuses with this rewards program may check in as early as 9 AM
• Radisson Rewards – Silver, Gold, and Platinum members are eligible to receive early check-in upon request and are permitted to check in up to two hours before the time on their reservation

When early check-in isn’t complimentary with your membership status, you may be able to purchase it with awards points or cash.

Politeness will take you far when you need to check in early. If you’re kind to the front desk staff and reasonable with your requests, you’re much more likely to get to your room ahead of schedule. It’s not usually a big deal for hotels to speed the process along for you, but it doesn’t hurt to show appreciation.

Also, be flexible. Let the staff know that you’re willing to accept a different room than the one you reserved, along with whatever upcharges may come with this. They may have a surplus of a certain room type. And because they want to fill their rooms, they might agree to letting you check in early if you let them move you around.

And don’t assume that just because you’ve checked into a hotel early before you will be able to do it again.

Can you Stash Your Luggage Before Your Room Is Ready?

When you get in from a long flight, one of the first things you want to do is set down your bags. But if your room isn’t quite ready, most hotels will store your luggage for you somewhere in the lobby, usually the front desk. This way, you can go stretch your legs knowing that someone is keeping an eye on your belongings.

Alternatively, you may be able to place your luggage in your room before the hospitality staff has finished, but this really depends on the hotel you’re staying at.

Considerations

Keep in mind that early check-ins may incur additional fees, even if you are an elite rewards member. The cost is usually somewhere in the range of $10 to $30, but the exact price depends on the hotel you’re staying at, the time of year, and when you’re requesting early check-in.

Make sure to read the fine print on early check-in policies to find out not only how much this will cost you but also what time you can actually check in. Some hotels may give you a couple of hours at the earliest and others may have more generous early check-in windows. If you’re going to be arriving several hours in advance of the time you’re scheduled to check-in, even a slim early check-in could be hugely helpful.

To speed the process along further, provide the hotel with as much information before checking in as you can. Let them know exactly when you’ll be arriving, the size of your party, and any accommodations you would like.

Always try to ask for early check-in when you’re booking a reservation. You can usually select this option when checking out if it’s available, and this is also when you should ask for late check-in. 

If you can’t request early check-in when booking, simply call the hotel you’ll be visiting right after making your reservation and see if they can make it happen for you. This is almost always first-come, first-served, so they’ll be able to let you know where you stand in line and how likely you are to get what you’re asking for. This’ll make planning easier for you and them.

Use the Hotel Business Center and Wifi

If you’re not able to secure early check-in for your stay or you still arrive a little before they allow you to go to your room, make the most of your time waiting. Most hotels are fine with you using their lounge or business center as a non-guest, as long as you let them know that you’ll be doing it. Some hotels may not appreciate you making yourself comfortable while you wait, especially if they’re busy, but others will happily agree as long as you aren’t in an inconvenient location.

If you’re traveling on business, you can use this time to catch up on work or prepare for meetings. Set your luggage down next to you if the hotel doesn’t have a place to hold onto it. If the hotel staff knows you’re waiting on your room, they’ll usually be happy to come and get you to notify you that your room is ready from wherever you’re camped out. 

If a hotel’s lounge or business center is exclusive, your membership status with their rewards program will likely determine whether you can get in or not. Being an elite member could give you access to a swanky lounge that’s off-limits to other guests (and guests in waiting).

Use the Hotel Gym and/or Restaurant

If you have more time to kill before you get your room key, check out the hotel’s gym or restaurant. What better way is there to unwind after a long flight than to hit the gym or grab some dinner and a drink?

Some hotel gyms and fitness centers require a room key or pass to use. Ask the front desk if they have an unassigned key you can borrow or if you can purchase a day pass. Again, just asking and being decent will go a long way when you’re making requests of busy staff members.

Use Cash and Points

Fees for early check-in should be paid with rewards points whenever possible. A great travel credit card—especially, in this case, a hotel credit card—will become your best friend when you’re away from home, if it isn’t already.

One of the fastest ways to become a hotel rewards member is to open a hotel credit card with a brand you frequently stay at. You can acquire points every time you use your card to pay for hotel stays and whatever fees you may incur, such as fees for early check-in. Plus, being a hotel rewards member usually comes with plenty of perks outside of early check-in (as nice as this can be).

Wyndham Rewards has been one of the best hotel rewards programs for several years, so we’ll use this loyalty program as an example of why you should definitely become a rewards member with your hotel(s) of choice. 

You become a Blue-level member the moment you enroll in Wyndham Rewards, and this status comes with savings, opportunities to earn award nights, and free WiFi at every hotel. Once you’ve stayed with Wyndham just three times, you get bumped up to Gold status, where you can start enjoying perks like preferred room choice, late check-out, and dedicated member services. After nine stays, you become a Platinum member and can start checking in early; and after 24 stays, you reach Diamond status and get upgrades and premium check-in.

The Wyndham Rewards Earner cards offer upwards of 45,000 bonus points for signing up and as much as 6X points on hotel stays.

But if you don’t want a hotel-branded card, a general-purpose credit card can also save you serious cash. Here are a few of our current favorites:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – bonus offer of 100,000 points and 2X points on every purchase.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – bonus offer of 80,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months and 1X points on every purchase.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express – bonus offer of 100,000 points and 5X points on hotel stays booked through American Express Travel (terms apply).

Just be mindful of annual fees that often come with the best travel credit cards. But as a rule, the higher the fee, the better the perks.

You can always just pay for your hotels with cash or a debit card, but why would you when you can earn points to put toward your next stay?

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

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Final Thoughts

It’s never a bad idea to try to get early check-in. Early check-in is always subject to availability and differs across regions, so play it safe and double check with the hotel you’ll be staying at before arriving and when booking to make sure that checking in early will be alright.

You’re more likely to get the check-in time you want if you’re a rewards member, but you still might have to pay for this perk. But we think early check-in is worth the price when you’re traveling far from home.

Full disclosure: We may receive financial compensation when you click on links and are approved for products from our advertising partners. Opinions and product recommendations on FlyerGeek are those of our writers and have not been influenced, reviewed or approved by any advertiser. Learn more about how we make money.

If you’re ready to take to the skies again, you might be considering booking a seat in business or first class for your next trip, especially if you are taking a long-haul flight or you need some extra legroom.

Who doesn’t need a little extra room these days with airlines packing as many seats in coach as they can? Nobody wants to get off their flight with cramped legs, and if it’s an overnight flight it’s nearly impossible to sleep comfortably in a coach seat that barely reclines no matter how good your neck pillow is.. 

The free-flowing wine, champagne and upscale menus in first or business class are also part of the fun! Exclusive lounge access before you board lets you grab a bite and sometimes even a shower before your flight to ensure you sleep well during your journey.

But what is the difference between the two classes of service, and is it worth the extra money or rewards to pay for a premium seat or upgrade your ticket? One thing to keep in mind is that rates and services will vary by carrier, route, aircraft and demand, but we can give you an idea of what the differences are so you’ll know what to look for when you’re booking.

We’ll also take a look at the three domestic legacy carriers and provide details on what they offer to passengers in first and business class cabins, and we’ll also tell you about some premium services offered in select business travel markets by the three airlines.

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Key Differences for International Flights

Long international flights are a prime opportunity to try business or first class service. Flights to Europe are often scheduled overnight, and if you’re headed to Asia you could be on a plane for 15-20 hours.

Seats that lay flat in business or first class can let you get some sleep during your flight so you can land refreshed and ready to tour the destination or attend to business. In some cases, there are even private lounges for upper class passengers to use before boarding. 

But not all seats are created equal, so don’t expect a lie-flat seat on all premium bookings, and not all airports have lounge access, so depending on your departure city you may or may not be able to take advantage of that perk.

Premium cabin travel usually includes expedited security screening and check-in; two or three free checked bags depending on the carrier, ticket and your elite status; priority boarding and even quick access to your luggage when you land. And the food is definitely better than the much-maligned meals served in coach, with business and first class menus often designed by renowned chiefs. 

There are also sleep kits that are handed out in premium cabins that can include slippers, pajamas and impressive pouches filled with designer amenities. Most premium cabins also have dedicated flight attendants for personal service, and extra entertainment options and sometimes free wi-fi. But as airlines reimagine business travel, they have introduced branded products that are often more upscale than traditional first class seats, so read on to find out more.

Foreign Carriers

Foreigh carriers offer some of the most deluxe premium cabin experiences with some carriers like Lufthansa offering its first class passengers chauffeured cars to the airport. And Etihad Airways even offers suites called Apartments in the Sky to its first class passengers.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the three largest domestic carriers and their offerings to showcase the amenities for business and first class passengers and give you an idea of how the two classes of travel differ and what you can expect.

Business Class vs First Class on American Airlines

On American, premium cabins are suggested according to routes. American Airlines recommends booking business class service on its shorter international flights from the US to Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Puerto Rico and some destinations in South America. First class is recommended for flights from the US to Asia, Australia, Europe and other parts of South America that are further away..

A business, first class or premium economy ticket will get you priority privileges before you board that include letting you speed through check-in, security and boarding, even if you arrive late. Of course, first class passengers get priority, then business, then premium economy and elite status or those who carry one of the airline’s co-branded cards that offer this benefit. You’ll also get free checked bags: two for business class travelers and three for first class passengers.

Comfortable Seats and Upscale Meals

First class service on American includes wider seats with more legroom, premium dining with menus designed by Dallas restaurateur Julian Barsotti, as well as free entertainment and wi-fi. Shorter international flights offer similar services in business class.

The airline’s most exclusive services are called Flagship First and Flagship Business. It is offered on international and transcontinental flights on its Boeing 777-300 aircraft, and is only available in five airports currently in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and New York’s JFK, with Philadelphia launching soon. Lounges in those cities for first and business class Flagship passengers offer chef-inspired meals, premium wine tables, specialty cocktail bars, shower suites and more. 

Business and first class seats and services can vary greatly by aircraft and route, so be sure to check this page to see what you are booking, and check what services are available in your departure city and destination.

Flagship First and Five Star Services

Flagship First Dining for example allows you to have a sit-down dining experience in the lounge before you board so you can maximize the amount of time you can sleep while flying. Dishes are designed in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, a culinary arts organization. The first class experience can also extend after you land in London for example, where American Airlines offers showers and breakfast and lunch buffets in its Arrivals Lounge.

American also offers Five Star Service at 16 US airports and four international ones to its premium class passengers, though this will cost $350 more per adult ticket and $100 for an additional adult. It includes access to Flagship First check-in and access to Admirals Club lounges. You can also use 35,000 AAdvantage miles to add this service on for the first adult and 10,000 miles for the second adult.

Business Class vs First Class on Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines premium products can be a little confusing. The carrier offers first class service on its shorter international flights and some domestic routes, but it’s most premium product is actually Delta One, which is technically a business class fare that is offered on longer flights.

Delta Airlines offers Sky Priority service to its first class passengers, which includes expedited check-in, security and boarding, and you also get your bags first when you land. First class seats offer up to 8” of extra legroom and seats that recline up to 5.4” compared to the main cabin. Food is made fresh and varies by length of flight. Flights over 900 miles include a chef-curated meal.

Delta One

Delta One passengers also get Sky Priority services, and on board there are 180-degree lie-flat seats. The airline’s A350 and A339 planes feature doors and privacy dividers between center suites for Delta One passengers. Passengers are offered TUMI amenity kits that include LE LABO lotion and lip balm. Delta One passengers also get Sky Club lounge access before their flight.

If you’re booked on Delta One, you’ll be the first to board the plane, and you’ll have an elevated dining experience on board with chef-designed meals with local, seasonal and regional offerings paired with premium wines. Top-shelf liquor choices include Grey Goose vodka and Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select.

Delta One is available primarily on long-haul routes, but is also available in some domestic markets including flights departing from LAX. First class passengers and Delta One passengers also have access to Sky Club lounges where available before their flight.

Business Class vs First Class on United Airlines

United First is the premium class of service offered on flights throughout the US including Alaska, Hawaii and Canada. If you’re booked on a United First ticket you get Premier Access benefits which include dedicated check-in and security lane access as well as priority boarding. You can also check up to two bags for free. Business class passengers also get Premier Access benefits. 

United Business is offered on flights between the US and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as some transcontinental flights, and offers similar benefits as those offered to first class passengers. The biggest difference is in service levels when flying.

On board in first and business class you’ll get a premium leather reclining seat with a six-way adjustable headrest with a slot for your laptop in the armrest. Granite-topped tray tables offer a flip up mobile device holder and a universal power plug. Entertainment options include United Private Screening where you can stream from an extensive series of movies and TV shows as well as DirectTV.

The carrier has teamed up with Trotter Project to offer restaurant-quality dining as well as On the Rocks cocktails, a rotating craft beer selection and illy coffee for first, business and Polaris customers.

United Polaris

The real premium product on United flights is United Polaris, which is being rolled out on new and retrofitted planes. It is a business class product that is available on long-haul international flights and is replacing United first class on long flights. Seats lie flat and there are dividers between them if you are traveling alone.

The airline has teamed up with Saks Fifth Avenue to offer luxury bedding in Polaris cabins, which includes a quilted duvet or a lighter throw blanket. You can even request mattress cushions for more comfort.

Amenity kits include slippers and pajamas for flights over 12 hours and skincare items from Sunday Riley, as well as earplugs and other amenities. There are also exclusive Polaris lounges you can visit before boarding in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark and San Francisco. If there is no Polaris lounge at your departing airport, first, business and Polaris passengers can use United Club lounges before boarding.

COVID Restrictions

Some food and beverage services are currently limited on some airlines and flights due to the pandemic, so check on what the airline is offering if this is part of the experience you are looking forward to. And some lounges that provide access to first and business class passengers are currently closed, so check on that as well if you are planning to use a lounge prior to boarding.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a lot of variables and considerations when booking a premium airline seat, and in some cases business class service is actually more premium than first class, so do your homework before booking to ensure you get the experience you want.

Many domestic flights for instance, are not that long or you have to change planes at an airline hub, so it may not be worth paying extra for a business or first class experience. Many flights don’t offer upper class services and/or there are limited seats, though it is usually an option on transcontinental flights.

Some planes are also older, and the seat configurations can vary greatly so be sure to check out the type of plane and its floor plan to get a better idea of what the actual seat you’re considering looks like, especially if the fare is lower than you expect. That may be because the plane has older seats that only recline and may not lay flat, or the seat width and pitch are not as great as you would expect.

If your company is willing to pick up the tab, then flying in a premium cabin is a no-brainer on business trips. But check out a few options for the route you are taking because it could mean the difference between having an enclosed area with a lie flat seat or just getting a wide reclining seat. Also, some carriers may have lounges in your departure city, while others don’t. It also might be of interest to find out what they’re serving and/or arrival times to make your final decision.

If you are paying for the flight or using points or miles for an award ticket, consider the value you are getting before booking a first or business class seat. For miles and points collectors, award seats in premium cabins usually offer the best value for redemptions, so if you’ve got a lot of miles and points stashed it might be time to find an award seat in a first or business class cabin to get the most value for your rewards. Shop around if you’re using miles because you can usually get a better first or business class experience with fewer miles or by transferring points if you do your research.

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