Travel can be quite stressful, which is why gaining insights from seasoned travelers can be incredibly beneficial.
There are numerous airplane etiquette guidelines meant to be adhered to, though not everyone chooses to follow them.
In addition to these, travel hacks are gaining popularity on platforms like TikTok, with trends such as ‘skiplagging’ becoming well-known online.
The most recent trend, known as ‘check-in chicken,’ undoubtedly carries risks, as it involves waiting until the very last moments of check-in to book a seat.
According to the New York Post, a TikToker who shares budget travel tips on the platform recounted her personal experience with this trend.
“They pawn off the middle seats or the back of the plane in the hope that you will then pay to change your seat,” she explained.
“If you sit tight and wait, what you will see is they all start to go, and the only ones left are the extra legroom seats and the ones at front of the plane.”
Despite ‘check-in chicken’ gaining traction on social media, many people are questioning whether it justifies the additional stress and inconvenience.
Adam Duckworth, the founder of Adam Duckworth, shared with Fox News Digital: “Being a ‘check-in chicken’ will 100 percent add stress to your day.
“To do this properly, you have to regularly monitor seat maps in the last 24 hours before going on a trip. For many of us, the time is better spent packing and getting everything in order around the house before our travels.”
He further added: “This trend will suck up a lot of your time, and you should ask yourself, ‘What is my time worth?’ And be very careful, because if you do this wrong and wait too long, you could lose your seat altogether.”
If you are seeking a flight upgrade, a flight attendant has shared a tip that claims to have a ‘99 percent success rate’ when requesting an upgrade.
Initially, TikTok user @cierra_mistt suggests paying attention to see if your flight is fully booked. In such scenarios, gate attendants may request volunteers to switch to another flight.
While freebies or discounts are typically offered in exchange, she advises travelers not to accept these incentives right away.
Instead, she suggests: “First go to the gate agent, second give them a price and say that you want that in cash.”
“When the gate agent is rebooking you for that next flight, make sure that they put you in first class to compensate for the time that you’re losing.”
Some individuals have reported being upgraded to business class after applying this strategy.