TIktok, Instagram, influencers sometimes give out really bad travel advice. Here I go thorugh some of the worst travel hacks that …
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TIktok, Instagram, influencers sometimes give out really bad travel advice. Here I go thorugh some of the worst travel hacks that …
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Hi Mark, your videos are absolutely fantastic! You need to visit Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK, which is more underrated globally compared to London, York or Chester and it’s really worth visiting! 😃
TikTok is a haven for idiocy.
People who need wheelchairs, animals, and children should be banned on all flights
The fake disability scam disgusts me. It makes things harder for those of us who have it, particularly if it's not apparent. I had open chest surgery a couple of months ago and still need a wheelchair for long distances or lengthy walking, like malls, supermarkets or airports. Plus nobody sees the scar on my chest unless I lift up my shirt or dress.
The faking a disability one is akin to people strapping fake service dog vests to family pets so they can take them to the grocery store or restaurant.
It obviously can hinder the safety of other people, but it can also discredit people who actually do need service animals from entering certain establishments.
I recognise Bristol Airport in that footage!
Won't they also scan your pillow when going through security check?
It is amazing what people do sometimes to save a few bucks.
I recently took 12 flights, going around the world, traveled with my sister so she chose window and i chose aisle seats, and every single flight, there was someone sitting in the middle seat… every single plane is stuffed full these days.
I was in Iceland met up with a group from the US and one woman in the group put on everything she brought on while in the cab to the airport so not to pay for baggage and the flight was delayed and hat to sit there for ours with everything on.
Skip lagging is perfectly legal and in case where your connecting flight is the next day you can also argue at check in that you need your bags at the hotel – thus checking in the bags for only the leg you intend on flying on. Also you can just notify airline after you land that you don’t intend to fly the next flight due to change of plans, and woella you also do the airline a solid by letting them know – no «waiting for passenger x» argument either.
I’m hard of hearing and on a recent trip checked this off when booking.
I found myself very uncomfortable when I discovered that I was now in the first-boarding group with people in wheelchairs.
My main issue is not being able to understand overhead announcements but otherwise I literally ran a half marathon last year and don’t need to board first.
That said I went with the first group anyway but I’m still torn on it.
As far as Disneyland goes, there used to be fit individuals who would hire disabled ones; and act as their care-taker. Now both got to skip the lines! Or, have a disabled relative? Bring them with you to Disneyland! Pay their expenses. Granted, this latter "hack" was mostly used by California residents who lived near the park.
My son has moderate autism. Level 2. As someone who has seen people try to abuse these system set up for disabled people. It does tick me off. Because I feel like it makes people question when I use these things for my son. He’s not fully verbal and has other issues and so I feel like sometimes we get more looks because people think everyone is abusing the system. I just think there’s a special place in hell for people that fake having a disability. I would gladly wait in a long line every day. If my child didn’t have to deal with the problems he has to deal with on a daily basis.
I hate people that fake disabilities. I have autism so I don’t look like I have a disability, and I already feel uncomfortable using stuff to get through airports even though I need it. I have had way many meltdowns and panic attacks at airports and on airplanes. And that’s even after planning and getting help. Just the whole experience makes my anxiety spike.
Your wheelchair point was a logical fallacy. an airport isn't running out of wheelchairs. people still shouldn't do it, though.
Anyone want to share tips for getting travel deals? I’m newly retired and virtually have no schedule I need to follow – never had a chance to just “go”! But now I do!
How does one hear about great deals/package deals/book early deals? Not looking for anything free just looking to take advantage of what’s out there!
I’m an American with dual EU
citizenship and residency-
Grazie!
Didn't know that booking an entire row with plans to cancel last minute was a "thing" 😮
The last time my wife and I flew we were among those unlucky passengers who were sold tickets on an overbooked flight. Luckily we were the last two passengers to be given a seat, but it started off our trip with unneeded stress as missing that flight would have created a domino effect for later plans!
Why do people want to bring so much stuff on a plane
One hack that is great and this video has reminded me of it the random allocation hack on Ryanair or wizzair, where you hold all the middle seats when you check in online and you will be allocated a window or aisle as there are no middle seats available
Along with faking disabilities, those awful people that fake service dogs to avoid a fee and/or let their big dogs in cabin. It really undermines the awesome job that real service dog do for actual disabled people.
I like the aisle and my husband likes the window. We don’t care if someone wants the middle. Those people who don’t pay for a seat at booking get them.
Check your moral compass my friend 😂 oh if there were more upstanding humans!!!
As a legit wheelchair user, I can say the "perks" aren't real.
1) You still go through security like anyone else. The pat down and swab takes longer than going through the scanner.
2) I pre-board because I NEED the extra time, not because I want it. Pre-boarding is MAYBE 10 minutes before everyone else and the plane leaves at the same time regardless. Upon landing I'm the last to leave.
3) Staff have mishandled and even destroyed my wheelchair. I have a backup chair now but I'm always worried my chair will be wrecked upon arrival. It's also been sent to baggage claim when I requested it gate checked.
4) I'm young with an invisible disability. I've noticed some judgemental looks, especially skipping the line at immigration upon arrival. (tbf I wanted to wait in line but the staff forced me to the front)
Honestly it's a huge inconvenience to travel with a mobility aid…. but if you need it, then it's invaluable!
Some parents put their kids into economy plus and a regular economy for themselves. The tell the flight attendant to make others switch seats with them.
Believe me, as someone who has to use a wheelchair in the airport, I would rather just be able to go through the regular lines. In most airports we have to wait for someone to come get us which can cause us to worry about making connecting flights. The best airports will allow my spouse to push me while we tag along with an attendant taking another passenger. It is an ordeal.
Controversial statement here. I don't think that faking disability is in any way worse than most of the other mentioned. For example I think that people who hide an entire backpack under their sweater and pretend to be fat are morally at exactly the same level as the fake disability people.
One I heard was free checked luggage. Pack a suitcase that is clearly too big for checked luggage. Take it through TSA: they’re not responsible for saying it’s too big. Only the staff at check-in who you bypassed by checking in online can force you to check-in luggage. At the gate, hand your oversized luggage to the boarding agent.
Thanks social media and the crazy selfishness. If too many people break the rules, the people who follow the rules might start to question what’s the point of following those rules. I have never heard of the book and cancel nor have I heard of the wheelchair thing. It’s just unthinkable in my opinion.
Indeed packing weird sets you up for more security searches. Get on that list is easy but no good way to get off it. I like your video. Some of these are creators trying to say something new … when it is not.
The Wheelchair hack got to me – have a friend who couldn't walk the long distances at LAX, and advised her to ask for a wheelchair escort, really needed it.
On the other hand, should call out people who try to take their "emotional support" animals to the cabin instead of the hold, IMO.
I think a family tried the leave an open seat trick on me. I had the middle seat, right side on a flight. I get to my assigned seat and there is a toddler in my seat sandwiched between mom and dad. Mom was also holding a baby. Now I don’t want to be the jerk that moves a toddler. So I bravely got the fight attendant's attention so she could do it. Turns out the extended family with grandpa and grandma had the whole row except my seat so they just sat wherever they wanted. They moved the open seat to middle seat, left. It was a full flight so all seats were assigned.
Not all disabilities require a wheelchair. Being blind for instance is a valid disability. You can have functioning legs and still need assistance. Some autistic people can also become too overwhemed to be able to find their gate.
Parents not paying to choose their seats, or calling the airline directly to ensure they are seated next to their small children. I have seen families get placed in middle seats rows away from one another because they booked basic economy, and then try to get people who paid to reserve their seat to switch with them. As a parent of small children, this drives me NUTS. Either call the airline to book, or pay the up-charge to book seats together.
As someone who can fall asleep instantly on a flight, I would certainly ruin the fun and stay in the middle seat LOL
I am going to Japan and I did pick seat as a couple. I pee a lot so I pick the aisle and hubby wanted a window so he can lean and sleep. The pillow stuffing with clothe. The gate agent in Orlando, there is video, caught a man doing this and was told he need put it in a bag and he refuse. Security had to get involved.
We have used the hack of booking aisle/window and hope the center stays empty. We had a 17 hour flight and it paid off. We were SO happy to have that extra space. However, if a third passenger arrived, we would give them whichever seat they desired. We know it is not guaranteed that the seat will remain empty. The worst "hack" I have ever seen was upon landing. Everybody stands up and then waits to exit. You know the drill. A woman in the very back (next to the lavatory) mocked gagging as if she was about to vomit and shoved her way all the way to the front of the plane while loudly proclaiming that she was sick. If she was about to throw up, she would have gone to the lavatory nearby, not try to shove her way past a couple hundred passengers. So rude.
Probably what I thought was a hack didn’t work at all I’m severely hearing impaired and booked a flight to dc with my 18 year old daughter last year. Paying for seats next to each other would have cost the same as another ticket. I figured when I listed myself as disabled (which is true) they would seat us together. But when we looked up our seat we were 4 rows away from each other. Fortunately my son decided to he wanted us to be together so he paid for our seat selections. Honestly it makes me upset they wouldn’t accommodate me. Even once we boarded they only once acknowledged my impairment.
We both used backpacks for our personal item. I figured if it didn’t fit I’d rather take some clothes out and throw them away then pay $100 to checking the backpack.
The wheelchair think drives me crazy. Watched a guy carefully loaded on first of all. The flight must have been miraculous because he grabbed his bag and walked off without any sign of impairment. It's so uncool.
The wheelchair hack really peeves me! I've witnessed this so many times. I admit, after a 10 hour flight back to the States, I had no filter when the FA told the passenger they needed to wait for the wheelchair to deplane and they said, oh I don't need it now. The FA'S were pissed because this passenger had been a pain in the ass the whole flight, and now said he's not needing a w/c. I told him he was a disgusting human being and a few other things. Not nice of me but I said what others thought.
There are tons of app hacks when going to Disney theme parks. Almost all suggest go through the single rider line. It’s like airline hacks or any other hack. They should all have the same title how to cheat the system and become an amoral person in the process. Add extra points for lying about being disabled.
I have an invisible disability but I get substandard help because it’s still invisible. People still don’t understand invisible disabilities and I’m usually treated worse. I also travel with Service Dogs and I’m constantly abused about my Service Dogs. PSA: Saying you wish you were disabled so you could bring your dogs with you is incredibly insulting.
Part of the problem is airlines are abusing bag sizing and weight requirements to just charge you more. Which is an obvious. The better answer is to limit carry on luggage sizes but charge less on checked. The other reason for people taking large carry on luggage is poor luggage handling on the ground. Because most flight are turn around flights taking luggage off and sending it to the right connecting flights are missed, sent to the wrong place and many fall apart on the tarmac because suitcases are not made for multiple trips and cheaply made. This is also an issue with the airlines. I don’t know if Pete Buttigieg has had his traveller’s rights enacted or not. The laws make sense in Europe. Many use rail. Go more locally. Take longer holidays so they can drive or spread out holidays where they don’t need to pack so much. If the US had similar options than the luggage requirements would make sense. In the US it’s just a scam.
True story. I got dropped off at the airport. Taxi pulled up behind. Two middle aged women got out. They were walking behind me when one said to the other: "Should I start limping now? After all. I am DISABLED ". Yes she emphasized the word and they both laughed. Now. I have MS but on good days I don't need extra help.But these two women irked me. We went through the double doors. Normally I hold the door for anyone. Not this time. One said, very loudly "Some people need to learn common courtesy." I stopped and turned around and said, very sweetly, " my apologies, ma'am. I did hear you SAY you were disabled. "
Slightly lifting your suitcase off the scale with your foot to make the weight. That's a HUGE safety issue. Aircraft weight and balance is delicate. Those 2 pounds dont seem like much, but over the course of 10, 20 bags is a lot of weight that could put the plane out of balance and fall out of the sky.
airlines don't have the issue with the weight of the extra bag, they have issue the space occupied by of the extra bag, in the cabin is limited space, a fat person will occupy the same space as a slimer person, but your extra bag will be an inconvenient.
some of these 'hacks' are applicable for flight in asia tho. Wear all your clothes, put into pillow, and skiplagging may work if you really have to do it. Even they are not strict with size and weight of your carry on, as long as it looks like it's small enough (like 20 inch) and if the rules is 7kg, they will let you in with like 7.5kg. even i get free check in when i didnt realise that i have 10kg in my carry on with jetstar.
If you took the middle seat between my wife and I, we would be so happy! We love watching your videos 😂