✈️ The Travel Hack That Saved My Flight (and My Sanity!)

Plus a round-up of our top stories and my favorite travel accessory.

Author

Matt C
February 28, 2025

Flight Planning & Monitoring: Why It Matters ✈️

The right apps and web tools can make or break your standby trip.

I’m writing this from 10A en route to NYC for a work trip. 👋 

This time, I’ve got a confirmed seat—but my go-to flight monitoring tool still saved me. Flighty caught a three-hour delay on my inbound aircraft before the airline did, giving me a head start. With that intel, I used my airline elite status to switch (for free!) to a flight leaving two hours later with a confirmed, on-time aircraft. A small bet, but one that paid off.

Flighty is so valuable that I don’t hesitate to pay for Pro ($49/year). If you travel at least once or twice a month, it’s worth every penny. 🤌 

For standby trips, it’s just as important to have backup tools. MyIDTravel (or your airline’s booking system) is essential, but so is StaffTraveler—a must-have for checking the number of seats available on flights. Pro tip: Keep enough credits in your account by answering load requests for your airline from fellow nonrevs.

Another must-have is FlightStats, which lists all arriving and departing flights at any airport in real-time. This is especially useful when IRROPs hit—if your original flight is delayed or canceled, you can instantly see every possible alternative route out of the airport, even on different airlines. And if you’re feeling spontaneous? A quick check of FlightStats could help you spot an open seat on a last-minute adventure.

The right tools don’t just make travel easier—they can save your trip and your sanity. 🚀

Matt C
Captain, Standby Steals 💚 

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🎒 Matt’s Nonrev Necessities
The Anker 612 Magnetic Portable Charger

If there's one travel essential I never leave home without, it's the Anker 612 Magnetic Portable Charger—actually, I always carry two of them, fully charged. 🔋

I carry two of these portable battery packs on every trip!

On my recent trip to India, standby life meant I had to take three flights to get there. That’s a lot of travel time, a lot of uncertainty, and not always a lot of charging opportunities. Between different aircraft types, limited outlets, and tight connections, keeping my phone powered could have been a struggle. But with my trusty Anker chargers, I never had to worry.

Each one gives my iPhone 15 Pro a full charge, no cables or scrambling needed. Just slap it on the back of your MagSafe-compatible phone, and you're set. Whether I’m killing time at the gate, navigating an unfamiliar airport, or waiting on a seat assignment, I always know I’ve got backup power.

For any frequent traveler—especially those flying standby—this is a game-changer. If you want to make sure you’re never caught with a dead phone mid-journey, I can’t recommend these enough.

Thank me later. 😜 

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