1) If flying longhaul and it’s easy enough to work out what the previous sector of your plane is (say you are flying BA NRT-LHR it’s pretty easy to work out what plane will be operating your sector – but it’s not so easy if you are flying oLHR-NRT where the airline can shuffle aircraft and rested crews) about the time that the previous sector is meant to depart check to make sure that it left on time. If it’s cancelled or severely delayed – knowing that before the return sector is officially cancelled or the ETD updated, which is often hours later and always prompts a flood of people to look for alternative options is in your interests. This has saved me many times.

2) Have a sensible preferred ‘back up’ plan written down in case your flight gets cancelled/delayed. Especially useful if connecting on a shorthaul trip or flying domestically in the USA/Canada/Australia where it’s generally possible to get between A and B via any one of C, D or E. Suggesting an alternative to the airline staff is often much better than letting them offer up something to you. I always write it down so I can hand the bit of paper to the airline staff – so they can have it beside their keyboard as they type – much better than on a phone/tablet which have a screen lock etc. If they have a long queue of people to deal with – they will want to deal with you quickly and not be mucking about trying to unlock a phone with you.

3) On domestic USA flights most airlines will let most fare buckets standby for an earlier flight. If you have any status then you will get priority on the standby list. Only downside is you will generally get a middle seat… but if you get to where you want to be a couple of hours earlier then it’s generally worth it. Now playing standby roulette is not always a game you will win … but you can easily find out how many people are on the list, what your number on that list is and how many seats are free. If you are 30th on a list and there are 3 seats free you’re toast. But if you are 4th or 5th on the same list you are in with a good chance.

4) There’s a difference between the minimum connection time and a sensible connection time. You are almost certain to miss your onward connection if you book more or less the minimum connection time at say PVG (where passport control and baggage reclaim needs to be done before rechecking in landslide) or any USA airport if arriving on an international flight.

5) Get a debit card with sensible FX rates and transaction fees. I’ve saved several hundred pounds with a debit card from a high street bank which uses the mastercard fx rates for european currencies and has no transaction fees (including for ATM withdrawals) in europe. Sure you don’t earn miles … but the cash savings have been incredible and far superior to any miles I would have earnt. Sadly they have increased the fees and fx spread on non european currencies – but there are alternatives out there.