Got any airport secrets or travel hacks? Drop them in the comments below! Also - don't forget to use code REVUE50 to get 50% OFF your first Factor box (plus 20% off your next box) at bit.ly/48aQQag!
I’ve heard that going to the left security line will get you through security faster as most people tend to go to the right naturally. (I have not tested this theory as I am TSA precheck Chad 😎)
be careful with those longue chargers. I know a did who used to put skimmers on them and they preferred those as it was usually people with business cards and didnt get caught as fast.
I use lounges a lot - Delta mostly. SFO is much better than LAX but the SAS lounge in Kastrup is really nice, so are the lounges in Geneva. Most lounges in US airports are usually overcrowded.
For reference, the first lounge knew you were only going to be in the lounge for one hour because your boarding pass was for a flight departing in an hour. That's one of the reasons they check your boarding pass when you check into a lounge.
One of the best 'secret' things about airline lounges is that the front desk are agents and able to rebook travel for you. So if you have a delayed flight you just go talk to the lounge staff instead of sitting in the horrendous line for your flight. Then sit back and enjoy your food and drink as you wait for your new flight.
I remember this was in 2015, I was travelling from India to LA, USA via Emirates. I had the cheapest economy flight possible. I had an 18 hour layover. The Dubai airport is amazing but I remember it was super crowded. I needed a shower and rest, so I was roaming around till I came to this private lounge called Marhaba. I got a ticket for USD55 and they gave me 8 hour access - unlimited food and drinks, showers, huge bathrooms and best part there were these tiny cubicles you could rest in. It was the best $55 I had spent. I took a nap, a shower and ate. I had actually over stayed by two hours without realising and no one said anything. I do not know if they still have it, I do not really travel much, but that memory is etched in my head forever.
Sam please never stop making content. You're a sterling example of applying incredibly high quality to even the most ordinary ideas. And I mean that as no insult, you are paving a path very few do and you're doing it right!
As someone who frequent Airport Lounges, there are 2 things about time limits that are worth nothing. 1. Most Lounges only allow entry when your flight it set to depart in the next 2-4hrs. 2. Once you're in no one asks you to leave. If they notice you've been there past your allotted time, they simply assume your flight is delayed. Most lounges are $20-60 USD for entry. The food varies wildly from one lounge and location to the next. I've had cheese and crackers just as I've had seafood and steak. It's also worth noting that airports tend to have multiple lounges. Some lounges are only for certain airlines and others are open to anyone within the airport.
@@pr9177 I believe if you have a Delta credit card you actually can use the destination lounge. If I'm not mistaken you can access 3 Delta lounges per day. But it's one of the very few Exceptions.
@@AE-yt4lx it varies based on the airport and lounge. Vegas typically has this type stuff, but don't bank on it. Otherwise the food is usually still good. Know that the menu usually changes.
Cheapest flights = last boarding group, so boarding time is probably half an hour later.. And I never understood the rush to go first on a plane.. You're just gonna sit there and wait for me to be one of the last to board anyway lol.
Man I love seeing regular lounges reviewed by a regular guy. All the big names in travel show you the Dubai super lounges that Ill never see in my life. Its so good to finally see content on the sorts of lounges that I actually stand a chance to visit some day. Thanks man
I can't count the amount of times I've spent like $25 on a crappy sandwich and a drink in Copenhagen Airport and now I just found out that the cheapest lounge is $30.. I feel so cheated!
at least the smoking area with the net that lets you see the tarmac is cool at copenhagen airport, though it almost flooded the last time i was there :D
I don't travel nearly as much since retiring but when I did travel thru airports, I always carried a multi-port power strip so one outlet could serve five or six. Every time I pulled that out at a waiting area, people cheered! Ya gotta work together sometimes...
I used to live in Broome (a remote town in Australia). They had a QANTAS lounge there that consisted of about half a dozen armchairs, a fridge full of beer and softdrinks, a basket of cookies and tea and coffee making facilities. It was tiny and it wasn't staffed - if you had access, they'd give you the pin pad code for the door when you checked in. You had to let yourself in, get your own drink etc. The code never changed, but was a tightly held secret by those in the know. Fun times.
13:40 my favorite travel hack is that it's not always cheaper to fly! My wife and I were going to fly from Las Vegas to San Francisco, and we found that even at $5 a gallon (at the time) for gas in my 10-12 MPG pickup truck, it would still be about twice as expensive for us to fly rather than drive. The gas cost ended up costing more than the whole rest of the trip including hotels, but was still a couple hundred bucks cheaper than flying would have been. Sure, it was about five hours longer each way, but I feel it was worth it to be able to bring a bunch of souvenirs back in the bed of the truck instead of paying even more for a couple of extra checked bags.
Those pancake machines are awesome, being on vacation with mom and dad, getting a robot to make your pancakes before going for a dip in the Holiday Inn pool + waterslide was a peak of my childhood
Was stuck in Frankfurt for a few days during a major air traffic mess a couple of years ago. Lufthansa lounge saved us as we tried to get a flight out. Outside the r longe there was nowhere to sit anywhere else. Lines to customer service desk took hours. Inside the lounge: food, showers, and best of all, a Lufthansa agent to help us rebook. On the way home we flew first class. The first class lounge there was on another level: a security gate inside the lounge, table service, a personal assistant, a ride out to the plane in an SUV
I had a long layover in Frankfurt in June 2023, but none of the lounges were allowing day visits. I found a row of seats in a quieter area and stretched out as best I could. I guess there was room to do that because others beat me to the day-use purchase! 😂
In Amsterdam airport we once did a super fancy trip and used the VIP lounge service like that. It had its own security and passport control with nobody on line, hardly anybody in there. The most amazing thing is they met us as we got off the plane, took us though that little door in the jetway, down the stairs and into a limo to the lounge - so you never even are in the gate area. Same thing later when we got our next flight.
@@Sashazur I had a layover in france on the way to Amsterday. Just found a typewriter or was it a terminal? and struggled with that French keyboard which changes letters around compared to the American kb.
The rich people equivalent to the McDonald’s milkshake machine always being broke was hilarious!! 😂 fantastic content. I love how you a filming multiple videos at a time while you’re going on your different adventures. Cheers Sam!
The "lounge at the arrival destination" option is underrated. Get off the plane, head into the lounge. Hit the restroom, slug down an espresso, and grab a bottle of water. If the flight is long or time zones have been crossed, you can also grab a quick bite. If you have been on the plane overnight and need to freshen up, there are frequently showers. Again--underrated.
@@joebevf Yes. each has little subtleties and twists on the rules. But when you can get into one upon landing from a long trip--that is an underrated perk. If traveling long distances, you likely checked luggage anyway so running into the lounge does not even slow you down.
Arrival lounges are rare and next to non-existence with credit card benefit. Why would you go to a lounge after arrived at your final destination? Head out into the destination and have fun.
I was able to visit Greece last autumn. The airline sent me an email before my flight and asked me if I wanted to upgrade to business class, and said I could “make them an offer” to do so. So I made the lowest offer they’d accept, which was $30, got business class, and access to their lounge. The lounge had decent food, an espresso machine, and some snacks and bottled soda which I brought with me on my flight. So if you ever fly with Aegean Airlines, definitely try and upgrade your ticket for cheap when they send you the email asking if you’d like to. A nice place to relax before the flight, breakfast, coffee, snacks, and a super comfy flight was definitely worth the $30 bump in price.
One travel hack I have used is to contact an airline to see if they will change a layover to a stop over where I can stay in the city for 24-48 hours. Airlines have agreed on the times I have tried. This allowed me to visit cities for a couple of days opposed to wauting in the airport for a few hours for a connecting flight. On a flight to Bali, Indonesia, i had a stop over in Osaka, Japan. I got to stay in the city and explore for 2 days before my next flight and did not have to pay for the stop over, i got to add 48 hours in Osaka to my itinerary. I also did this by having a connecting flight in Shanghai. This works very well in china because they allow up to 5 days to stay in China if you stay in the permitted areas, as long as it is for transit and you have a forward ticket to another country. I was able to add a couple of days in Shanghai without paying for the flight or going through the process of applying for or paying for a visa.
Someone who has experience with lounges since I was a kid (I have a Platinum AMEX, so I get into these lounges, especially Delta's, for free, so just keep that in mind while reading), I see buying access to lounges based on two factors: 1. How long your flight is, and 2. if you are buying access to an international lounge or a domestic lounge. I would say that getting access to a lounge before a 2 hour flight isn't really worth it, because its just 2 hours, its kinda whatever. However, if you have a 5+ hour intracontinental flight coming up from NYC to LAX for example, then maybe you want to consider buying access so you can take a shower or get some food (do your research before your lounge visit btw, not all are created equal and some might have showers while others don't). The other factor is if you are getting on an international flight or not. Typically, lounges in international terminals almost always have better amenities such as (pretty much, a few exceptions) showers, better/more food, and possible sit-down service (depends on the lounge). However, if you are taking a domestic flight, then expect less amenities such as a limited buffet (depends on airline, I know that the United Club has a limited buffet in their domestic lounges while Delta usually has a full spread in their domestic lounges), almost always no showers, and a smaller lounge in general. Just some things to keep in mind as you choose your airport experience.
another way you can get into the lounges is by being under 18. when I was around 14/15 years old, I went solo travelling and my mum asked the airport staff to look out for me during the trip. So I got one staff member assisting me at all times, got upgraded to 1st class and even got to go into the lounges and have free food. I felt very fancy :)
If you’re ever at JFK Terminal 4, you can pay to enter the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. It’s so worth paying to get in because they do à la carte dining instead of a Buffet, and it is unlimited. The food there is delicious and it’s not a very large lounge so it doesn’t usually get super crowded.
I dont ever comment, but I wanna say this style of video is super refreshing and enjoyable. i really felt you took us along for the experience, just like your last outback one. Keep it up, youre going to be huuuuge one day.
Hey Sam, viewer from Michigan here. You are quite an inspiration to me, a college student trying to make it all work out. I have yet to understand how you can be so gentle and kind, even when things don’t quite work out, or aren’t fair. I hope your career as a considerate and kindhearted content creator goes far! God bless 🫡
I'm amazed that there are people who think that just because Sam is making high quality TH-cam videos, that he is a millionaire. Some people are so out of touch. Also, Sam deserves so much more success lol
to be fair though (no excuse to that commenter they were rude) not many youtubers are like sam and would just openly tell their audience what they spent and how much they made hey! it's a shame bc it gives us a warped idea of how much money content creators make cause we just know about the millionaires earnings
@@junnybear957 yeah we only see ad revenue and the insane amount of big sponsorships that youtubers get, we don't see the taxes or youtube's cut of the profits.
If your travel pillow has a zipper, open it up and remove the stuffing. Stuff it with clothes (I can get 3 t-shirts, 3 underwear and 4 pair of socks with room to spare in mine, and have over stuffed it with another shirt and pair of shorts) It's a good way to save on baggage fees on the cheaper airlines. If you're only going a few days, a pillow and a personal bag will have all you need. No luggage charges for carry-ons or checked bags.
The Plaza Premium Lounge in the Hong Kong airport is great- you can actually book mini hotel rooms for hours at a time, and also includes a shower and meal before/ after your 'room' time. Great for when you're just laying over and don't really want/ need to go into Hong Kong proper or being late @ night when most things are closed anyway. The rooms are so quiet & always such a surprise walking out & realising you're already in the middle of an airport upon waking! Price is not terrible either.
In Hong Kong, this makes a lot of sense as hotels prices are very high. So a lounge visit is many times cheaper and less work for your body. Take the lounge ANY DAY!
If you pay regular price on an Economy class ticket, ask the check-in counter if there is room in Business Class before boarding starts. 50% of the time, I was upgraded to Business Class without paying more than the Economy ticket. I got access to the Lounges, flight seats and got to hear people saying "I would never pay so much for a Business Class ticket;" neither did I ! This won't work with Discount tickets.
I have been traveling non stop for the last 4 years and have asked multiple times for an upgrade but they always decline. Was upgraded twice though when I didn't ask haha. I think nowadays it just doesn't work that way anymore😅
my favorite travel tip is to wrap stuff like perfume in socks and put them inside of the shoes i pack in my check-in bag. you can also put all of your socks inside your shoes to save space and help them retain their shape. it actually saves quite a bit of space!
I do this too. It’s also extra padding for fragile items. I often buy shoes when visiting USA, and I often use the shoeboxes to protect items I don’t want crushed, and then stuff small items inside the shoes, which go straight in the suitcase (not in the shoebox).
Chase's United Explorer card gives you 2 United lounge passes per year. The card fee is about $95 a year and provides 2 free checked bags when flying United. We live near an United hub and fly with them almost exclusively due to the cheaper ticket prices.
YES! Me, too! I also love that the United airline miles I earn never expire! I've never paid for a trip to Europe, and I have family there. Free tickets, free lounge-- you're going to use your credit card anyway!
I LOVE airport lounges. I had a 9 hour layover in Doha and my bank has this foreign currency card that I used to buy my Euros for that trip. It came with lounge access. The kind staff let me stay there the entire time until my flight boarded despite me technically only getting 2 hours for free. I also got access to this sleeping area thing, which was also lovely
travel hack: if you're in europe, try high speed rail! Great views, far less boarding checks, in alot of situations faster than flying (because of all the airport security/boarding stuff), and generally very comfortable with ample leg room.
At Singapore Changi Airport if you want to see the famous Jewel Rain Vortex waterfall I recommend you to take the Skytrain from either T3 Transfer B or T2 Transfer E at 6:30 pm Singapore Time.
With the American Express Platinum card you get a bunch of credits to off set the annual fee. So a $200 travel travel credit for things like checked bags and guest for the lounge. Streaming credit, Walmart plus membership, etc. Also the card gets you status with Marriott and Hilton hotels.
Travel tip. If your bag is soft and doesn't have 4 wheels, I have to flip it down on the soft side, that way the wheels won't just spin and keep the bag in one place. So keep electronics and fragile items buried in your clothes instead of on top in any side pockets
I travel frequently I use the credit card for lounge access it pays for itself just on food but the more important thing is private customer service in case flight gets cancelled or delayed you can get tickets on another flight.
Was traveling with some friends on American Airlines from Nairobi Kenya to JFK with a stop over in London Heathrow. My friends were members of the American Airlines Admirals Club and were allowed to bring a guest into the club with them, so of course they brought me. Pretty nice place with all the things you've mentioned in this video. Nice comfortable chairs, some people were sleeping in them, nice buffet... But the thing I liked most was being able to take a nice hot shower right in the middle of the busy London Heathrow Airport... and boy did we all need one. This showering at an airport was new to all of us and we were a little hesitant. I went first. They have a desk that's set up like a hotel desk and you go up there and tell them you'd like to take a shower. They give you a key to a room and tell you it's down that hallway. The hallway looks just like a hallway in a hotel with rooms on either side. I find my room number and open the door. It's a very clean, bright, and large marble bathroom complete with sink, toilet, fresh towels, soap, hair shampoo.... and of course a very nice walk in shower. I felt very comfortable in there and it was bigger and cleaner than my own bathroom at home. There was no time limit, so I took a nice long hot shower. When I reported back to my friends how it went they wasted no time going to take their showers. I told them I'd be napping in one of the seats and to leave me alone and not to bother me unless it was time to go catch our flight. Life is good!
Access to United Club for $50 is a good deal. At Newark Airport, it's $60. The first year I tried it, there regular lounge was full, and I was shuttled off to the annex lounge. I was bummed. I had an evening flight, and my plan was to work from there during the day (so that I wouldn't use a vacation day), and then board my flight at 6. The 'lounge' was pretty basic. Just chairs and tables with outlets. The food was basic as well. Chips, fruit, coffee, juice, etc. I thought it was a rip off, but I decided to do it again a year later. It was a totally different experience. United had expanded to another terminal with an upgraded lounge. It was wonderful and worth it.
This is wonderful news. I am an older handicapped traveler so having the ability to stretch out, relax and have a choice of something to eat makes me a great day and deal. Thanks
Really interesting video! So sorry that the Canadian lounge did you dirty, as a Canadian that makes me embarrassed. Also the writing on this one was top notch, so many jokes in such a small time frame!
I have experienced many times to be simply invited to join someone in the airport lounge during my work travels. Visited multiple airport-lounches because I was just being friendly(every time it started with some small-talk when waiting in line). I did meet very interesting people this way, most of them were like me(no free access to the airport lounge). A lot of people travel alone for work and are just like some short-term travel-work-friends that help you to kill the time. At some point I did meet a ‘travel-work-friend’ that was allowed to bring like 20 persons with him into the klm lounch because he traveled that much. We started to have a little chat when waiting in line for the security checks and we did run into each other again in a airport shop (because we both did have a wife at home that liked these whiskey-glasses with the name of the city printed in it). At the international airport KLM lounge in Chicago we did have a great time with some beers before our flights. People did keep joining us with all different backgrounds, at some point we were with like 15 other persons. Nobody knew each other before. It reminded me of going out on a weekend evening during college. This was just one experience that really helped me to keep enjoy traveling for work.
The last time we flew out of Denver we only had 15 minutes before boarding started and i was starving. I saw the lines at the McDonalds and other fast food places was super long. I remembered that my United Credit card gives me 2 free lounge access coupons. My wife and I went into the United Club, scarfed down some eggs and sausage then headed to our gate.
I always always buy the absolute cheapest ticket I can find, except for a couple of domestic carriers in the U.S. - I've had one too many bad experiences with Spirit Airlines. But my favorite hack is selecting a seat in the back of the plane. We like to call it "Business Economy." You often get more attentive service. And if you have a longer haul international flight, choose a specialty meal like kosher, vegan, halal, etc. The food isn't worse than the regular airline meals and you'll get yours first. :)
I used to always sit in the back as I bought the cheapest at the last moment. Sun Country (MSP) staff would throw me an extra burger or beer back there but those days seem over, they even pulled out the leather seats to go ultra low fair with new private equity owners. As flights are usually full it doesn't seem there is anything unique about being in the back these days. In fact my most painful flight was very back in the family section in the middle, horrible. I'm even paying for the front lately as seats are becoming brutally thin and painful. I like the distraction of the meal service since a child, no rush.
The other thing to consider is the lounge networks and group memberships like Priority Pass - which you can get via non-branded travel credit cards as well. The Plaza Premium lounges Sam went to are part of the priority pass network.
@bdogg314… YES, thanks very much for stating Plaza Premium lounges work with Priority Pass. I just got my Priiority with Chase Reserved and didn’t know that. 😊
@@dang8352 your mileage may vary but I just used it in Orlando earlier this year. Unfortunately the Priority Pass with Chase is changing June 30 and is removing the dining benefit.
I have Priority Pass. In international airports, it is a great thing to have, but there are no guarantees. In the US, you can use you Priority Pass member ID as a book mark, because the available lounges are few and far between (Many US aiports have NO lounge available for PP), and that is if they even let you in, and often they will not.
Plaza lounges are great. They have full fledged rooms with beds and showers. If you book a budget flight with a long layover plus a 8-hour stay in plaza it still costs much less than a standard, short layover flight. Which is great if you're travelling with young children because two back to back 12-hour flights is too much to bare for most adults. It's really nice to have the time to refresh.
It put me so deep in waste time in the airport mode that I swear I heard Karens ranting about masks. I was home relaxing and my closest neighbor is more than 1/4 mile away.
I didn't even think that I cared about airport lounges until you made this video. Another excellent and entertaining upload, Sam! Keep up the great work...
Lounges are under rated as you’ve shown. I will book the nastiest cheapest flight but lounges always make sense especially with layovers. As you’ve shown admission is pretty much the same price as a small meal in an airport anyway. My experience had been similar, you get given say 4 hours max but I think it’s more an excuse to kick you out if you have too much free alcohol.
The only travel tip I have is that when you’re flying into and out of Orlando always make sure to fly JetBlue. They just built a new terminal (terminal C) a couple years ago and it’s beautiful. JetBlue is one of the only “major” airlines that flies out of this terminal so you don’t have to wait in massive lines for security or bag drop off and getting your bag from baggage claim is super easy as theirs only like 4 carousels that it could go to. It’s also got a chic fil an and a shake shack which is a HUGE plus for me lol. If you take any other airline into Orlando it is basically a cluster-f to get your bag and you have to go across one of those monorail things to get to baggage claim which can be a little confusing sometimes…
Knowing I’d have a 4 hour wait at SFO (June 2024) I purchased United Club pass and am so glad I did. 1. The chairs were so much more comfortable than terminal!Though it seemed deliberate that there was no where to stretch out/lie down, they did have 4-5 pods that people looked to be sleeping in. These were in middle of room, dimmed and reclined a bit more. There were hundreds of chairs and plenty of room, plus tables where you could eat. 2. The espresso machine worked! Plus soda, ice tea and juice available. Additionally there was a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails. 3. Food was okay. They had turkey/brie sandwiches and vegetarian wraps, a chicken pasta dish, cheese, crackers, fruit and some small desserts. What looked best was a noodle/rice bar, where you could make your own noodle or rice bowl. Sandos, wraps, & Cheese and berries looked like they had been out awhile but I did see the pasta was replenished. I grabbed an extra banana and apple for the flight and they were ripe. There was no where to bus your plates and I sat next to half-empty bowls and melted cocktails for an hour before it was picked up. There were attendants everywhere but clearing used dishes was not a priority. 4. Charging stations were abundant. 5. Bathrooms were plenty but nothing special. (I did not see showers (but didn’t look for them either). I was there 3+ hours and it was well worth it to me to have somewhere comfortable to sit, plenty of snacks, a convenient restroom, and drinks. Considering a bottle of water costs $7 minimum I drank the entry fee in water alone! I had read mixed reviews about this lounge; it is definitely better than sitting in terminal and paying same price for crappy food and overpriced drinks. If you imbibe in alcohol this is definitely a good deal.
Biggest travel hack is just being nice. I used to give away so much to those people. Oh and if your airport has more then 10 gates you better show early
Don't forget to to tip your lounge hostess! You know about how much your tab would be under normal circumstances so even just 10% of that is the right thing to do.
Some airports actually have interior hotels. You can book into the hotel, often by the hour, shower, sleep, etc. You are already in the airport so there's no going back through security. They can be expensive though. Thanks for another great one, Sam!
AMEX Centurion Lounges are probably the best in the entire industry. They just opened one in ATL, it’s huge with outdoor patios, beautiful decor, and the best food of all lounges. My second place is any airline branded lounges.
I agreed with that until I went to the Sapphire Lounges in HK this Jan, then the one in NYC(LGA) last month. it's higher tier than the Centurion Lounges.
Yeah this video surprised me, I guess I'd forgotten what it was like to go into the delta skyclub in ATL for the first time and feel like a king while eating cold sandwiches with a glass of juice before my flight. He seemed very excited about some pretty mid lounges in this The extent of lounges goes so far above and below what was shown in this video. I've been to countries where the lounge i picked at random is just a dirty room with garbage on the floor and a coffee maker. Then Ive been in the new centurion flagship and some other big ones. I think if you travel, the platnium card makes a ton of sense, that $695 is heavily offset by things you may be already paying for, like the free hulu, disney+ espn+ subscription, uber one, tons of credits/cashback. I can confidently say I make a net gain from my platinum only actually flying maybe 5 times a year or so? Hell, just a craft cocktail at the centurion whiskey bar should run you like $15 outside a lounge.
Atlanta Amex lounge does not have the best food for sure. It has gross pita bread, hummus and cheese cubes and sometimes chicken and rice. Have you been to Seattle? They have smoothies, mini sandwiches, freshly made ice cream, and way more selection with higher quality meats, salads, and pastries. Plus it's less crowded than ATL every time I've been.
Man, you lived a charmed life. Not because you got access to the lounges, but you apparently found one that wasn’t just jammed shoulder to shoulder with people and screaming kids. Usually finding a place to sit down requires at least 30 minutes of stalking to find someone getting up then fighting nine other people for that seat in a game of whacked musical chairs.
My fiancé opened my eyes to the world of “arriving early to spend more time at the airport lounge”. He got a United credit card and gets a few free lounge passes per year (we don’t got that business class money lol).
This is so crazy to me. I remember going to the airport lounge as a kid with my dad and his fancy credit card, and haven't been to one since, but the price of everything at airports nowadays makes me really want to go again. My local airport is CPH and a meal is at least $15, and $10 more if you'd like a beer with that. Grab a to go snack and drink for the flight and that's $30 spent before you even board the flight. The lounges in CPH start at $30, and they come with amenities.
Headed to Japan in March and looking forward to the Narita Lounge before we come back! Also, I discovered the pancake machine at a Holiday Inn Express. I love them too!!
My travel hack is I usually buy a coach ticket, and I check in at the counter, never a kiosk. When I get to the counter, I always ask if there are any open business or first-class seats left. If there are, I will ask if it is possible to upgrade at a heavy discount. This is best if the flight isn't full or nearly full. More often than not, I succeed in buying my way into business or first class. The airline will take the extra money over leaving the seat vacant. I've done this dozens of times. I upgraded to first class from a coach ticket on a 12 hour international fight for only $50. I will admit, if I take any flight over 4 hours at my age, I start in business class, and usually negotiate last minute for a bump up, why m which normally sets me back another $150-$200 dollars. The money is worth it to be comfortable on long, non-stop fights to me
It really is going to be ok. I’m so happy you throw that line in at the end. The first time I heard it from you Sam it made me feel so appreciated and heard. Since I’ve always came back to your videos
If you fly Frontier tickets are much cheaper if you buy them at the airport compared to online. For example I fly between Phoenix and Denver on a monthly basis for around $50 round trip. On my return flight i buy the next trips ticket.
Sam your content is way too good to only have 166k subscribers, get this guy to 1 million already lol Been watching you for about a year now and I can’t wait to see what your channel will look like a year from now
Dude i fw you this made me smile youre a pretty stand up and humble dude u a positive dude i fw that. Please keep this up you definitely earned my viewership i hope to see you continue to grow :) good luck friend i hope life treats you well in this journey of content creation stay safe!
I had an international flight and tried to get lounge access because I had an 8 hour layover. Couldn't get to the top tier but they at least had comfy seats, great wifi, many cold food items, and a warm soup. And unlimited beer so I did have a couple glasses of that haha. Honestly for about $35 usd to spend my 8 hours there. It was ridiculously worth it. PS I only got the lounge access because I booked the full trip using that airline only. still had to pay but the tickets were the cheapest I could find anywhere. Worth
I really appreciate how you are able to make content out of making content(the traveling aspect) and still have it be just as good as the other stuff, kudos
Well i love this so much, definitely going to check out some airport lounges for my next flight!! Thank you for sharing this video and these tips, Sam!
Man i always book into the lounge in Dublin. The food is quite limited but considering how much i would spend on food while in the airport plus the peace and quiet my fiancee loves its well worth it. Plus i always sneak a generous amount of snacks into my bag for the flight. More money saved.
The Montreal one was unfortunately not surprising as a Canadian. We get absolutely wrecked on ticket prices for domestic flights and then soaked for every penny at the terminal with the least amount of effort they think people will accept.
Actually I’ve found that lately the prices to fly to Florida from Toronto prices are cheaper or equal to than flying out of Buffalo for the past year or two. Strange to say this but I’ve been pricing Air Canada, Porter and Southwest and have sadly been flying from Toronto YYZ rather than that fantastic smaller Buffalo BUF airport.
For military, take advantage of discounts offered at the shops and food places and the USO. My family used to use the one at SFO when it was 24/7. We would sleep over the night before when had an early flight, it was amazing to be able to rest and literally sleep in the terminal then roll out and get to our flight. Unfortunately it doesn't seem that most USOs have 24/7 hours anymore but it is nice to get to the airport early and unwind, grab a snack before you go to your terminal. In a recent flight one of the shops was having a clearance on candy (skittles) and it came out to under a $1 with military discount for a king sized skittles. It's little things.
Mate, I just had a 3hr lay over at Hong Kong. The food there was so crazy expensive I didn't even buy a drink. If I had known about this then it totally would have been worth it.
Another way in for free is to just ask someone if they'll bring you in as a guest. I know my United Club membership allows me to enter with up to 2 guests. It may feel a bit awkward groveling to strangers at the entrance to the lounge, but I suspect the first or second person you ask will tag you in.
Got any airport secrets or travel hacks? Drop them in the comments below! Also - don't forget to use code REVUE50 to get 50% OFF your first Factor box (plus 20% off your next box) at bit.ly/48aQQag!
I’ve heard that going to the left security line will get you through security faster as most people tend to go to the right naturally. (I have not tested this theory as I am TSA precheck Chad 😎)
Get cheap travel insurance and if your flight is delayed you get a lounge key for 3 people
be careful with those longue chargers. I know a did who used to put skimmers on them and they preferred those as it was usually people with business cards and didnt get caught as fast.
I use lounges a lot - Delta mostly. SFO is much better than LAX but the SAS lounge in Kastrup is really nice, so are the lounges in Geneva. Most lounges in US airports are usually overcrowded.
I will give 1 year of free lounge access I'm the CEO! Google “FLY LYFE”
$50 equals approximately 50 USD. Yup, that checks out. 😂 love it
Exchange rates are crazy these days
I quite literally laughed out loud during that segment 😂
Can we get an update in a future video. The exchange rate might have changed in your favour by then 🤪
*cries in Canadian
That scene in the movie 'Social Network'. Starts scribbling on notepad... Hang on, I'm just checking your math on that. Yes, I got the same thing.
For reference, the first lounge knew you were only going to be in the lounge for one hour because your boarding pass was for a flight departing in an hour. That's one of the reasons they check your boarding pass when you check into a lounge.
Makes sense.
One of the best 'secret' things about airline lounges is that the front desk are agents and able to rebook travel for you. So if you have a delayed flight you just go talk to the lounge staff instead of sitting in the horrendous line for your flight. Then sit back and enjoy your food and drink as you wait for your new flight.
yes! Any cancelled or delayed flights are always rebooked free of charge, at least with most airlines!
This only applies to proprietary lounges (eg, you're flying United and you're in a UAL lounge).
Larger lounges will even have a desk inside staffed with agents who only do that.
Wow, i didn't know that. Thanks for the secret tip. 😉
That definitely beats standing in a long line at a regular ticketing agent!
I remember this was in 2015, I was travelling from India to LA, USA via Emirates. I had the cheapest economy flight possible. I had an 18 hour layover. The Dubai airport is amazing but I remember it was super crowded. I needed a shower and rest, so I was roaming around till I came to this private lounge called Marhaba. I got a ticket for USD55 and they gave me 8 hour access - unlimited food and drinks, showers, huge bathrooms and best part there were these tiny cubicles you could rest in. It was the best $55 I had spent. I took a nap, a shower and ate. I had actually over stayed by two hours without realising and no one said anything. I do not know if they still have it, I do not really travel much, but that memory is etched in my head forever.
how fitting, Marhaba is Arabic for hello/welcome
There is a Marhaba lounge in Changi airport.
Airport lounges are rarely ever strict with time limits unless a lot of other people booked spots and they need the space.
@@BrooklynBallahonor system
@@EthyroYup, hotel staff are very aware of those who are dishonorable and overstay 😜
Sam please never stop making content. You're a sterling example of applying incredibly high quality to even the most ordinary ideas. And I mean that as no insult, you are paving a path very few do and you're doing it right!
This!
AMEN
"Most ordinary ideas". You didn't have to do him dirty like that LMAO XD
@@MachivelianBear Like I said, I mean no insult. It's honestly very refreshing
well keep giving him money so that this is a viable thing for him to do that won't fizzle out
As someone who frequent Airport Lounges, there are 2 things about time limits that are worth nothing.
1. Most Lounges only allow entry when your flight it set to depart in the next 2-4hrs.
2. Once you're in no one asks you to leave. If they notice you've been there past your allotted time, they simply assume your flight is delayed.
Most lounges are $20-60 USD for entry. The food varies wildly from one lounge and location to the next. I've had cheese and crackers just as I've had seafood and steak. It's also worth noting that airports tend to have multiple lounges. Some lounges are only for certain airlines and others are open to anyone within the airport.
I was also going to comment on this. You typically can’t use the lounge at your destination airport.
@@pr9177There are lounges labeled as arrivals lounges that can be used at the destination, but they are rare.
I only stayed in 3 arrivals lounges.
Where is the seafood and steak?
@@pr9177 I believe if you have a Delta credit card you actually can use the destination lounge. If I'm not mistaken you can access 3 Delta lounges per day. But it's one of the very few Exceptions.
@@AE-yt4lx it varies based on the airport and lounge. Vegas typically has this type stuff, but don't bank on it. Otherwise the food is usually still good. Know that the menu usually changes.
Bro had 10 minutes till boarding and said "i'll sit for lunch 🤠" could nooot be me
Right?!!! I would be like I gotta gooooooooo
right 😭😭
If he's right there and is in a later boarding group it's nbd
You learn how to time it all up when you travel a lot.
Cheapest flights = last boarding group, so boarding time is probably half an hour later..
And I never understood the rush to go first on a plane.. You're just gonna sit there and wait for me to be one of the last to board anyway lol.
Man I love seeing regular lounges reviewed by a regular guy. All the big names in travel show you the Dubai super lounges that Ill never see in my life. Its so good to finally see content on the sorts of lounges that I actually stand a chance to visit some day. Thanks man
Agreed!
I can't count the amount of times I've spent like $25 on a crappy sandwich and a drink in Copenhagen Airport and now I just found out that the cheapest lounge is $30..
I feel so cheated!
Same l
And you can probably expense it as "dinner" since you are eating there. .
OMG I spent the night in a seat in the Copenhagen airport. I came in at 11 while my flight left at 10 AM
Oh, I've spent $20 just for two Heinekens in Sydney. It's ridiculous.
at least the smoking area with the net that lets you see the tarmac is cool at copenhagen airport, though it almost flooded the last time i was there :D
I don't travel nearly as much since retiring but when I did travel thru airports, I always carried a multi-port power strip so one outlet could serve five or six. Every time I pulled that out at a waiting area, people cheered! Ya gotta work together sometimes...
For those that don’t know, American Express waives annual fees for military. I’ve been enjoying platinum card benefits for years. Great travel hack
Once you get out the military, Amex will know the status change immediately, and you ll pay the 500 annual fee
lol at least JayCray tried 😅@@Charlieneumann04
Thanks for the tip, I will now enlist in the army in order to use American express
@@maxxyang3723 lots of kids join just to get lucky to go overseas like Germany or Japan/ Korea. It's worth it honestly
$500 AF and not $700? thats still a big discount imo@@Charlieneumann04
I used to live in Broome (a remote town in Australia). They had a QANTAS lounge there that consisted of about half a dozen armchairs, a fridge full of beer and softdrinks, a basket of cookies and tea and coffee making facilities. It was tiny and it wasn't staffed - if you had access, they'd give you the pin pad code for the door when you checked in. You had to let yourself in, get your own drink etc.
The code never changed, but was a tightly held secret by those in the know.
Fun times.
What's the code?
What's the code?
Long since forgotten I'm afraid. Also the terminal has gone through a fairly significant refurb since then so i doubt is the same.
24990 was for when i last flew from Broome
1234
My only hack related is that the moment your flight gets delayed, rush to the lounge. It will fill up fast.
13:40 my favorite travel hack is that it's not always cheaper to fly! My wife and I were going to fly from Las Vegas to San Francisco, and we found that even at $5 a gallon (at the time) for gas in my 10-12 MPG pickup truck, it would still be about twice as expensive for us to fly rather than drive. The gas cost ended up costing more than the whole rest of the trip including hotels, but was still a couple hundred bucks cheaper than flying would have been. Sure, it was about five hours longer each way, but I feel it was worth it to be able to bring a bunch of souvenirs back in the bed of the truck instead of paying even more for a couple of extra checked bags.
Those pancake machines are awesome, being on vacation with mom and dad, getting a robot to make your pancakes before going for a dip in the Holiday Inn pool + waterslide was a peak of my childhood
facts
FACTSSSSSSSS
@@Niravata it’s not that deep lol
We had a waffle maker at the Westin... of course post pandemic you take what you can get.
@@Niravata sorry he didnt summon the philosophers fucking stone on his 12th birthday
Was stuck in Frankfurt for a few days during a major air traffic mess a couple of years ago. Lufthansa lounge saved us as we tried to get a flight out. Outside the r longe there was nowhere to sit anywhere else. Lines to customer service desk took hours. Inside the lounge: food, showers, and best of all, a Lufthansa agent to help us rebook. On the way home we flew first class. The first class lounge there was on another level: a security gate inside the lounge, table service, a personal assistant, a ride out to the plane in an SUV
You forgot about the Beir 🍻
I had a long layover in Frankfurt in June 2023, but none of the lounges were allowing day visits. I found a row of seats in a quieter area and stretched out as best I could. I guess there was room to do that because others beat me to the day-use purchase! 😂
In Amsterdam airport we once did a super fancy trip and used the VIP lounge service like that. It had its own security and passport control with nobody on line, hardly anybody in there. The most amazing thing is they met us as we got off the plane, took us though that little door in the jetway, down the stairs and into a limo to the lounge - so you never even are in the gate area. Same thing later when we got our next flight.
@@Sashazur I had a layover in france on the way to Amsterday. Just found a typewriter or was it a terminal? and struggled with that French keyboard which changes letters around compared to the American kb.
The rich people equivalent to the McDonald’s milkshake machine always being broke was hilarious!! 😂 fantastic content. I love how you a filming multiple videos at a time while you’re going on your different adventures. Cheers Sam!
That was a good one. It is actually true though. Happened to me multiple times and I don’t fly all that much.
The "lounge at the arrival destination" option is underrated. Get off the plane, head into the lounge. Hit the restroom, slug down an espresso, and grab a bottle of water. If the flight is long or time zones have been crossed, you can also grab a quick bite. If you have been on the plane overnight and need to freshen up, there are frequently showers. Again--underrated.
See my note, if it is next day you may not have access via the previously purchased pass.
@@joebevf Yes. each has little subtleties and twists on the rules. But when you can get into one upon landing from a long trip--that is an underrated perk. If traveling long distances, you likely checked luggage anyway so running into the lounge does not even slow you down.
Arrival lounges are rare and next to non-existence with credit card benefit. Why would you go to a lounge after arrived at your final destination?
Head out into the destination and have fun.
@@streetcar6080 coffee. Food. Pee. Several reasons
@@drjsmajor You can get coffee and pee anywhere. Why stay at an airport? People want to get out of the airport.
I was able to visit Greece last autumn. The airline sent me an email before my flight and asked me if I wanted to upgrade to business class, and said I could “make them an offer” to do so. So I made the lowest offer they’d accept, which was $30, got business class, and access to their lounge. The lounge had decent food, an espresso machine, and some snacks and bottled soda which I brought with me on my flight. So if you ever fly with Aegean Airlines, definitely try and upgrade your ticket for cheap when they send you the email asking if you’d like to. A nice place to relax before the flight, breakfast, coffee, snacks, and a super comfy flight was definitely worth the $30 bump in price.
🤯
I saw that and was like “wth! I’m not going to bid for an upgrade!” Definitely didn’t think $30 could win. Haha next time I guess I’ll try it
That would make me feel like a WINNER!
Great idea! Sometimes I upgrade at the airport because they like me but I'll take the security of knowing beforehand.
That's amazing 😍 thanks for sharing!!❤️
One travel hack I have used is to contact an airline to see if they will change a layover to a stop over where I can stay in the city for 24-48 hours. Airlines have agreed on the times I have tried. This allowed me to visit cities for a couple of days opposed to wauting in the airport for a few hours for a connecting flight.
On a flight to Bali, Indonesia, i had a stop over in Osaka, Japan. I got to stay in the city and explore for 2 days before my next flight and did not have to pay for the stop over, i got to add 48 hours in Osaka to my itinerary.
I also did this by having a connecting flight in Shanghai. This works very well in china because they allow up to 5 days to stay in China if you stay in the permitted areas, as long as it is for transit and you have a forward ticket to another country. I was able to add a couple of days in Shanghai without paying for the flight or going through the process of applying for or paying for a visa.
Someone who has experience with lounges since I was a kid (I have a Platinum AMEX, so I get into these lounges, especially Delta's, for free, so just keep that in mind while reading), I see buying access to lounges based on two factors: 1. How long your flight is, and 2. if you are buying access to an international lounge or a domestic lounge. I would say that getting access to a lounge before a 2 hour flight isn't really worth it, because its just 2 hours, its kinda whatever. However, if you have a 5+ hour intracontinental flight coming up from NYC to LAX for example, then maybe you want to consider buying access so you can take a shower or get some food (do your research before your lounge visit btw, not all are created equal and some might have showers while others don't). The other factor is if you are getting on an international flight or not. Typically, lounges in international terminals almost always have better amenities such as (pretty much, a few exceptions) showers, better/more food, and possible sit-down service (depends on the lounge). However, if you are taking a domestic flight, then expect less amenities such as a limited buffet (depends on airline, I know that the United Club has a limited buffet in their domestic lounges while Delta usually has a full spread in their domestic lounges), almost always no showers, and a smaller lounge in general. Just some things to keep in mind as you choose your airport experience.
In what world is New York to LA intercontinental?
Hello fellow Delta lounge enjoyer. I hit up one in LAX the other week and it was absolutely insane
Very good to know, thank you! I'm about to take an international flight in just a week so this is very helpful information.
@@owen_tl Sorry, I meant intracontinental, such as coast to coast.
@@wombatpandaa9774 Yeah no problem! Happy to help!
another way you can get into the lounges is by being under 18. when I was around 14/15 years old, I went solo travelling and my mum asked the airport staff to look out for me during the trip. So I got one staff member assisting me at all times, got upgraded to 1st class and even got to go into the lounges and have free food. I felt very fancy :)
If you’re ever at JFK Terminal 4, you can pay to enter the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. It’s so worth paying to get in because they do à la carte dining instead of a Buffet, and it is unlimited. The food there is delicious and it’s not a very large lounge so it doesn’t usually get super crowded.
Assuming you're only flying Virgin or another Skyteam airline.
Damn. Slept on the floor using suitcase as a pillow in NY. Next time...
“Had to use the charger on the wall, like a peasant.” 😂
I dont ever comment, but I wanna say this style of video is super refreshing and enjoyable. i really felt you took us along for the experience, just like your last outback one. Keep it up, youre going to be huuuuge one day.
Hey Sam, viewer from Michigan here. You are quite an inspiration to me, a college student trying to make it all work out. I have yet to understand how you can be so gentle and kind, even when things don’t quite work out, or aren’t fair. I hope your career as a considerate and kindhearted content creator goes far!
God bless 🫡
SE Michigan, here🤗 Agree, Sam's content was top-tiered!
I'm amazed that there are people who think that just because Sam is making high quality TH-cam videos, that he is a millionaire.
Some people are so out of touch. Also, Sam deserves so much more success lol
to be fair though (no excuse to that commenter they were rude) not many youtubers are like sam and would just openly tell their audience what they spent and how much they made hey! it's a shame bc it gives us a warped idea of how much money content creators make cause we just know about the millionaires earnings
@@junnybear957 yeah we only see ad revenue and the insane amount of big sponsorships that youtubers get, we don't see the taxes or youtube's cut of the profits.
If your travel pillow has a zipper, open it up and remove the stuffing. Stuff it with clothes (I can get 3 t-shirts, 3 underwear and 4 pair of socks with room to spare in mine, and have over stuffed it with another shirt and pair of shorts) It's a good way to save on baggage fees on the cheaper airlines. If you're only going a few days, a pillow and a personal bag will have all you need. No luggage charges for carry-ons or checked bags.
my biggest travel hack is not getting so sleep deprived you forget google translate exists while in a Chinese airport
My travel hack is to bring a bag of chips from Walmart. I don’t spend a single dollar at airports. That coffee and sandwich can wait til I get home.
Lol
The Plaza Premium Lounge in the Hong Kong airport is great- you can actually book mini hotel rooms for hours at a time, and also includes a shower and meal before/ after your 'room' time. Great for when you're just laying over and don't really want/ need to go into Hong Kong proper or being late @ night when most things are closed anyway. The rooms are so quiet & always such a surprise walking out & realising you're already in the middle of an airport upon waking! Price is not terrible either.
I’ve used that too and it’s great, if you have a long layover.
In Hong Kong, this makes a lot of sense as hotels prices are very high. So a lounge visit is many times cheaper and less work for your body. Take the lounge ANY DAY!
If you pay regular price on an Economy class ticket, ask the check-in counter if there is room in Business Class before boarding starts. 50% of the time, I was upgraded to Business Class without paying more than the Economy ticket. I got access to the Lounges, flight seats and got to hear people saying "I would never pay so much for a Business Class ticket;" neither did I ! This won't work with Discount tickets.
Thanks for the tip man!
On which airlines has this worked, and when? (Since nowadays, the airlines offer those upgrades at a cost before and during check in.)
@@tookitogo Correct. They also often offer when online check in and sometimes can be good deals. Hit or miss if you get the option though
I have been traveling non stop for the last 4 years and have asked multiple times for an upgrade but they always decline. Was upgraded twice though when I didn't ask haha. I think nowadays it just doesn't work that way anymore😅
Upgraded for free? Unlikely. When there's seats available up front, there's always a long list of FF elites waiting for an upgrade.
my favorite travel tip is to wrap stuff like perfume in socks and put them inside of the shoes i pack in my check-in bag. you can also put all of your socks inside your shoes to save space and help them retain their shape. it actually saves quite a bit of space!
First actually helpful tip I’ve seen in a while. Thanks!
@@UncalibratedAimbot no problem! glad to be of help
I do this too. It’s also extra padding for fragile items. I often buy shoes when visiting USA, and I often use the shoeboxes to protect items I don’t want crushed, and then stuff small items inside the shoes, which go straight in the suitcase (not in the shoebox).
In the days before liquids had to be checked.
@@dreamervanroom i usually take the train or the bus so no need for that
Chase's United Explorer card gives you 2 United lounge passes per year. The card fee is about $95 a year and provides 2 free checked bags when flying United. We live near an United hub and fly with them almost exclusively due to the cheaper ticket prices.
YES! Me, too! I also love that the United airline miles I earn never expire! I've never paid for a trip to Europe, and I have family there. Free tickets, free lounge-- you're going to use your credit card anyway!
I LOVE airport lounges. I had a 9 hour layover in Doha and my bank has this foreign currency card that I used to buy my Euros for that trip. It came with lounge access. The kind staff let me stay there the entire time until my flight boarded despite me technically only getting 2 hours for free.
I also got access to this sleeping area thing, which was also lovely
travel hack: if you're in europe, try high speed rail!
Great views, far less boarding checks, in alot of situations faster than flying (because of all the airport security/boarding stuff), and generally very comfortable with ample leg room.
oh and it can get very cheap sometimes. The discounters like ouigo will have you cross france lengthwise for under 30 euros
Japan also has high speed rail!
@@gumerzambrano arguably even better rail too! yes, good point.
At Singapore Changi Airport if you want to see the famous Jewel Rain Vortex waterfall I recommend you to take the Skytrain from either T3 Transfer B or T2 Transfer E at 6:30 pm Singapore Time.
With the American Express Platinum card you get a bunch of credits to off set the annual fee. So a $200 travel travel credit for things like checked bags and guest for the lounge. Streaming credit, Walmart plus membership, etc. Also the card gets you status with Marriott and Hilton hotels.
And TSA precheck and Clear membership
Travel tip. If your bag is soft and doesn't have 4 wheels, I have to flip it down on the soft side, that way the wheels won't just spin and keep the bag in one place. So keep electronics and fragile items buried in your clothes instead of on top in any side pockets
I travel frequently I use the credit card for lounge access it pays for itself just on food but the more important thing is private customer service in case flight gets cancelled or delayed you can get tickets on another flight.
$23 to access an airport lounge with free food, peace and quiet and clean toilets?
Almost makes it worth buying a ticket to fly to Sydney.
"even when it doesnt feel like it, its gonna be okay" istg, i really needed that, came for the video but commented because of that closing statement
Was traveling with some friends on American Airlines from Nairobi Kenya to JFK with a stop over in London Heathrow.
My friends were members of the American Airlines Admirals Club and were allowed to bring a guest into the club with them, so of course they brought me.
Pretty nice place with all the things you've mentioned in this video. Nice comfortable chairs, some people were sleeping in them, nice buffet... But the thing I liked most was being able to take a nice hot shower right in the middle of the busy London Heathrow Airport... and boy did we all need one.
This showering at an airport was new to all of us and we were a little hesitant.
I went first. They have a desk that's set up like a hotel desk and you go up there and tell them you'd like to take a shower.
They give you a key to a room and tell you it's down that hallway.
The hallway looks just like a hallway in a hotel with rooms on either side.
I find my room number and open the door.
It's a very clean, bright, and large marble bathroom complete with sink, toilet, fresh towels, soap, hair shampoo.... and of course a very nice walk in shower.
I felt very comfortable in there and it was bigger and cleaner than my own bathroom at home.
There was no time limit, so I took a nice long hot shower.
When I reported back to my friends how it went they wasted no time going to take their showers.
I told them I'd be napping in one of the seats and to leave me alone and not to bother me unless it was time to go catch our flight.
Life is good!
Was BHO one of your seat mates?
He's from Kenya.
@@clark4797 I don't know who _BHO_ is, so I am going to have to give you a no on that one.
Access to United Club for $50 is a good deal. At Newark Airport, it's $60. The first year I tried it, there regular lounge was full, and I was shuttled off to the annex lounge. I was bummed. I had an evening flight, and my plan was to work from there during the day (so that I wouldn't use a vacation day), and then board my flight at 6. The 'lounge' was pretty basic. Just chairs and tables with outlets. The food was basic as well. Chips, fruit, coffee, juice, etc. I thought it was a rip off, but I decided to do it again a year later. It was a totally different experience. United had expanded to another terminal with an upgraded lounge. It was wonderful and worth it.
This is wonderful news. I am an older handicapped traveler so having the ability to stretch out, relax and have a choice of something to eat makes me a great day and deal. Thanks
“buc-ee's is the airport lounge for the common man”🤣 amazing vid man!
Thanks Bobby! Love your content 🙌🏼
Not if you live in the upper midwest its not :')
Really interesting video! So sorry that the Canadian lounge did you dirty, as a Canadian that makes me embarrassed. Also the writing on this one was top notch, so many jokes in such a small time frame!
I have experienced many times to be simply invited to join someone in the airport lounge during my work travels.
Visited multiple airport-lounches because I was just being friendly(every time it started with some small-talk when waiting in line).
I did meet very interesting people this way, most of them were like me(no free access to the airport lounge).
A lot of people travel alone for work and are just like some short-term travel-work-friends that help you to kill the time.
At some point I did meet a ‘travel-work-friend’ that was allowed to bring like 20 persons with him into the klm lounch because he traveled that much.
We started to have a little chat when waiting in line for the security checks and we did run into each other again in a airport shop (because we both did have a wife at home that liked these whiskey-glasses with the name of the city printed in it).
At the international airport KLM lounge in Chicago we did have a great time with some beers before our flights.
People did keep joining us with all different backgrounds, at some point we were with like 15 other persons.
Nobody knew each other before. It reminded me of going out on a weekend evening during college.
This was just one experience that really helped me to keep enjoy traveling for work.
The last time we flew out of Denver we only had 15 minutes before boarding started and i was starving. I saw the lines at the McDonalds and other fast food places was super long. I remembered that my United Credit card gives me 2 free lounge access coupons. My wife and I went into the United Club, scarfed down some eggs and sausage then headed to our gate.
I always always buy the absolute cheapest ticket I can find, except for a couple of domestic carriers in the U.S. - I've had one too many bad experiences with Spirit Airlines. But my favorite hack is selecting a seat in the back of the plane. We like to call it "Business Economy." You often get more attentive service. And if you have a longer haul international flight, choose a specialty meal like kosher, vegan, halal, etc. The food isn't worse than the regular airline meals and you'll get yours first. :)
I used to always sit in the back as I bought the cheapest at the last moment. Sun Country (MSP) staff would throw me an extra burger or beer back there but those days seem over, they even pulled out the leather seats to go ultra low fair with new private equity owners. As flights are usually full it doesn't seem there is anything unique about being in the back these days. In fact my most painful flight was very back in the family section in the middle, horrible. I'm even paying for the front lately as seats are becoming brutally thin and painful. I like the distraction of the meal service since a child, no rush.
yeah cheap flights are the best. I don't need a lounge
Except at the back you smell the toilets. 🤢
The other thing to consider is the lounge networks and group memberships like Priority Pass - which you can get via non-branded travel credit cards as well. The Plaza Premium lounges Sam went to are part of the priority pass network.
Thank you for this info
@bdogg314… YES, thanks very much for stating Plaza Premium lounges work with Priority Pass. I just got my Priiority with Chase Reserved and didn’t know that. 😊
@@dang8352 your mileage may vary but I just used it in Orlando earlier this year. Unfortunately the Priority Pass with Chase is changing June 30 and is removing the dining benefit.
I have Priority Pass. In international airports, it is a great thing to have, but there are no guarantees. In the US, you can use you Priority Pass member ID as a book mark, because the available lounges are few and far between (Many US aiports have NO lounge available for PP), and that is if they even let you in, and often they will not.
Plaza lounges are great. They have full fledged rooms with beds and showers. If you book a budget flight with a long layover plus a 8-hour stay in plaza it still costs much less than a standard, short layover flight. Which is great if you're travelling with young children because two back to back 12-hour flights is too much to bare for most adults. It's really nice to have the time to refresh.
I started smelling stale airplane air while watching this video. I was that immersed lol
Omg now I can’t not smell it!
It put me so deep in waste time in the airport mode that I swear I heard Karens ranting about masks. I was home relaxing and my closest neighbor is more than 1/4 mile away.
when he said about the airport toilet puddle i literally saw it in front of me and thought i was there! yuck! Great video Sam
Always carry a 12' extension cord and a 3 prong 1 to 3 outlet expander . You can turn one outlet near the ground into a table 3 charge.
4:21 - 10 mins to boarding and he is filling his plate with noodle, rice and chicken, lol this guy has some balls
"It cost $50 dollars which comes out to roughly $50 US dollars." Well played, sir.
I didn't even think that I cared about airport lounges until you made this video. Another excellent and entertaining upload, Sam! Keep up the great work...
Lounges are under rated as you’ve shown. I will book the nastiest cheapest flight but lounges always make sense especially with layovers. As you’ve shown admission is pretty much the same price as a small meal in an airport anyway. My experience had been similar, you get given say 4 hours max but I think it’s more an excuse to kick you out if you have too much free alcohol.
The only travel tip I have is that when you’re flying into and out of Orlando always make sure to fly JetBlue. They just built a new terminal (terminal C) a couple years ago and it’s beautiful. JetBlue is one of the only “major” airlines that flies out of this terminal so you don’t have to wait in massive lines for security or bag drop off and getting your bag from baggage claim is super easy as theirs only like 4 carousels that it could go to. It’s also got a chic fil an and a shake shack which is a HUGE plus for me lol. If you take any other airline into Orlando it is basically a cluster-f to get your bag and you have to go across one of those monorail things to get to baggage claim which can be a little confusing sometimes…
Yep, I’m flying Jet Blue next time just to check out he new terminal.
Icelandair flies out of terminal c also
The monorail thing can be a little confusing sometimes is an understatement!
Knowing I’d have a 4 hour wait at SFO (June 2024) I purchased United Club pass and am so glad I did. 1. The chairs were so much more comfortable than terminal!Though it seemed deliberate that there was no where to stretch out/lie down, they did have 4-5 pods that people looked to be sleeping in. These were in middle of room, dimmed and reclined a bit more. There were hundreds of chairs and plenty of room, plus tables where you could eat. 2. The espresso machine worked! Plus soda, ice tea and juice available. Additionally there was a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails. 3. Food was okay. They had turkey/brie sandwiches and vegetarian wraps, a chicken pasta dish, cheese, crackers, fruit and some small desserts. What looked best was a noodle/rice bar, where you could make your own noodle or rice bowl. Sandos, wraps, & Cheese and berries looked like they had been out awhile but I did see the pasta was replenished. I grabbed an extra banana and apple for the flight and they were ripe. There was no where to bus your plates and I sat next to half-empty bowls and melted cocktails for an hour before it was picked up. There were attendants everywhere but clearing used dishes was not a priority.
4. Charging stations were abundant. 5. Bathrooms were plenty but nothing special. (I did not see showers (but didn’t look for them either).
I was there 3+ hours and it was well worth it to me to have somewhere comfortable to sit, plenty of snacks, a convenient restroom, and drinks. Considering a bottle of water costs $7 minimum I drank the entry fee in water alone! I had read mixed reviews about this lounge; it is definitely better than sitting in terminal and paying same price for crappy food and overpriced drinks. If you imbibe in alcohol this is definitely a good deal.
Biggest travel hack is just being nice. I used to give away so much to those people. Oh and if your airport has more then 10 gates you better show early
Don't forget to to tip your lounge hostess! You know about how much your tab would be under normal circumstances so even just 10% of that is the right thing to do.
@8:47 Who would have thought $50 USD comes out roughly to $50 USD
I still don't understand why this guy doesn't have 2M subs. Absurd for the quality of content he provides.
Some airports actually have interior hotels. You can book into the hotel, often by the hour, shower, sleep, etc. You are already in the airport so there's no going back through security. They can be expensive though. Thanks for another great one, Sam!
For US Military and Veterans, the USO has lounges at almost every airport. Free, and very relaxing. Usually a little food of some kind, and coffee.
I always appreciate being able to grab a bagle and sit somewhere quiet.
Your ability to work/record multiple videos at once while you travel is incredible. Kudos
AMEX Centurion Lounges are probably the best in the entire industry. They just opened one in ATL, it’s huge with outdoor patios, beautiful decor, and the best food of all lounges.
My second place is any airline branded lounges.
I agreed with that until I went to the Sapphire Lounges in HK this Jan, then the one in NYC(LGA) last month. it's higher tier than the Centurion Lounges.
@@eile4219 I agree. I went to the Sapphire Lounge in Boston and it is well above the Centurion Lounges in terms of quality and service!
Yeah this video surprised me, I guess I'd forgotten what it was like to go into the delta skyclub in ATL for the first time and feel like a king while eating cold sandwiches with a glass of juice before my flight.
He seemed very excited about some pretty mid lounges in this
The extent of lounges goes so far above and below what was shown in this video. I've been to countries where the lounge i picked at random is just a dirty room with garbage on the floor and a coffee maker. Then Ive been in the new centurion flagship and some other big ones.
I think if you travel, the platnium card makes a ton of sense, that $695 is heavily offset by things you may be already paying for, like the free hulu, disney+ espn+ subscription, uber one, tons of credits/cashback.
I can confidently say I make a net gain from my platinum only actually flying maybe 5 times a year or so? Hell, just a craft cocktail at the centurion whiskey bar should run you like $15 outside a lounge.
Atlanta Amex lounge does not have the best food for sure. It has gross pita bread, hummus and cheese cubes and sometimes chicken and rice. Have you been to Seattle? They have smoothies, mini sandwiches, freshly made ice cream, and way more selection with higher quality meats, salads, and pastries. Plus it's less crowded than ATL every time I've been.
Man, you lived a charmed life. Not because you got access to the lounges, but you apparently found one that wasn’t just jammed shoulder to shoulder with people and screaming kids. Usually finding a place to sit down requires at least 30 minutes of stalking to find someone getting up then fighting nine other people for that seat in a game of whacked musical chairs.
My fiancé opened my eyes to the world of “arriving early to spend more time at the airport lounge”. He got a United credit card and gets a few free lounge passes per year (we don’t got that business class money lol).
I love how you remind people that even when it doesn’t feel like it’s going to be OK. That’s priceless
I've spent more than $26 for a literal snack (bottle of Coke and some cookies), so I'd say you made out like a bandit with the Plaza Lounges!
So glad you detailed the ply of the toilet paper! Excellent!
This is so crazy to me. I remember going to the airport lounge as a kid with my dad and his fancy credit card, and haven't been to one since, but the price of everything at airports nowadays makes me really want to go again. My local airport is CPH and a meal is at least $15, and $10 more if you'd like a beer with that. Grab a to go snack and drink for the flight and that's $30 spent before you even board the flight. The lounges in CPH start at $30, and they come with amenities.
Headed to Japan in March and looking forward to the Narita Lounge before we come back! Also, I discovered the pancake machine at a Holiday Inn Express. I love them too!!
I bring a hero or sandwich, a package of Kool Aid and an empty 2 liter soda bottle since I usually get in early. All make it through security.
One very important perk of the lounges... you can get the to-go coffee cup and fill it with wine. Then carry on to the boarding process.
My travel hack is I usually buy a coach ticket, and I check in at the counter, never a kiosk. When I get to the counter, I always ask if there are any open business or first-class seats left. If there are, I will ask if it is possible to upgrade at a heavy discount. This is best if the flight isn't full or nearly full. More often than not, I succeed in buying my way into business or first class. The airline will take the extra money over leaving the seat vacant. I've done this dozens of times. I upgraded to first class from a coach ticket on a 12 hour international fight for only $50. I will admit, if I take any flight over 4 hours at my age, I start in business class, and usually negotiate last minute for a bump up, why m which normally sets me back another $150-$200 dollars. The money is worth it to be comfortable on long, non-stop fights to me
It really is going to be ok. I’m so happy you throw that line in at the end. The first time I heard it from you Sam it made me feel so appreciated and heard. Since I’ve always came back to your videos
You are an endless stream of video ideas about niche topics that all interest me. Thank you
RIGHT? lol
If you fly Frontier tickets are much cheaper if you buy them at the airport compared to online. For example I fly between Phoenix and Denver on a monthly basis for around $50 round trip. On my return flight i buy the next trips ticket.
Sam your content is way too good to only have 166k subscribers, get this guy to 1 million already lol
Been watching you for about a year now and I can’t wait to see what your channel will look like a year from now
Dude i fw you this made me smile youre a pretty stand up and humble dude u a positive dude i fw that. Please keep this up you definitely earned my viewership i hope to see you continue to grow :) good luck friend i hope life treats you well in this journey of content creation stay safe!
I had an international flight and tried to get lounge access because I had an 8 hour layover. Couldn't get to the top tier but they at least had comfy seats, great wifi, many cold food items, and a warm soup. And unlimited beer so I did have a couple glasses of that haha. Honestly for about $35 usd to spend my 8 hours there. It was ridiculously worth it.
PS I only got the lounge access because I booked the full trip using that airline only. still had to pay but the tickets were the cheapest I could find anywhere. Worth
I’m happy for the information but the USD to USD conversion and the landing balloon were hilarious bonuses. Thank you sir.
The conversion calculation for $50 USD to USD was super informative 😂
I really appreciate how you are able to make content out of making content(the traveling aspect) and still have it be just as good as the other stuff, kudos
I haven’t travelled much, but I really appreciate this video and all the comments giving travel hacks!!!
The "we're just normal men" clip is one of my most favorite videos on the internet.
Well i love this so much, definitely going to check out some airport lounges for my next flight!! Thank you for sharing this video and these tips, Sam!
Man i always book into the lounge in Dublin. The food is quite limited but considering how much i would spend on food while in the airport plus the peace and quiet my fiancee loves its well worth it. Plus i always sneak a generous amount of snacks into my bag for the flight. More money saved.
The Montreal one was unfortunately not surprising as a Canadian. We get absolutely wrecked on ticket prices for domestic flights and then soaked for every penny at the terminal with the least amount of effort they think people will accept.
Actually I’ve found that lately the prices to fly to Florida from Toronto prices are cheaper or equal to than flying out of Buffalo for the past year or two. Strange to say this but I’ve been pricing Air Canada, Porter and Southwest and have sadly been flying from Toronto YYZ rather than that fantastic smaller Buffalo BUF airport.
For military, take advantage of discounts offered at the shops and food places and the USO. My family used to use the one at SFO when it was 24/7. We would sleep over the night before when had an early flight, it was amazing to be able to rest and literally sleep in the terminal then roll out and get to our flight. Unfortunately it doesn't seem that most USOs have 24/7 hours anymore but it is nice to get to the airport early and unwind, grab a snack before you go to your terminal. In a recent flight one of the shops was having a clearance on candy (skittles) and it came out to under a $1 with military discount for a king sized skittles. It's little things.
Very polite of the balloons to land at the airport
Good point. Probably got permission from the control tower first
I love the AMEX lounges so much that now I look for flights with layovers for lounge access. Lounges make air travel more appealing.
Mate, I just had a 3hr lay over at Hong Kong. The food there was so crazy expensive I didn't even buy a drink. If I had known about this then it totally would have been worth it.
Our first experience of a lounge was 8 hours at the O'Hara united lounge! We loved it! Now I look for long layovers just to hangout at the lounge.
Another way in for free is to just ask someone if they'll bring you in as a guest. I know my United Club membership allows me to enter with up to 2 guests.
It may feel a bit awkward groveling to strangers at the entrance to the lounge, but I suspect the first or second person you ask will tag you in.
You can chat with people at the baggage drop-off. Less chance to find someone with lounge access, but also less awkward to start a conversation there.
“so i had to use the outlet in the wall… like a peasant”. famous last words of a peasant 😂
You are making long form content enjoyable again