To begin with, there will be people who will be upset in some places about this text. If everyone did that! But there are travel days where small tricks can sometimes be allowed. In this sense: good luck!
On air travel: boarding like a pro
If you travel as a couple, you should always reserve the window and aisle seat online in the classic three-row series of the Boeing 737 and A320. The likelihood of other passengers voluntarily checking their mid-seats when checking in online is low, unless the machine's extremely high workload forces them to do so. In addition, you should choose the seats as far back as possible, because passengers who want to get away quickly at the destination, avoid these places.
When boarding the plane you should board as last possible. Because with the announcement "Boarding is completed" begins the popular conversion into the free rows. Better that you yourself occupy the free three-way row, before others take their chance. Ignore the actual seat number on your ticket.
Anyone who dares extends this move for more comfort on the often remaining free seats with more legroom at the emergency exits . These seats are often left empty because the airlines charge 10 to 60 euros extra per way. Travel professionals know: A ticket inspection in the plane is usually omitted.
Admittedly, you need a bit of luck, but the last passengers at the entrance sometimes even get a new boarding pass: with an upgrade to Business Class . "Throughout the year and all distances, one can assume that an aircraft will be overbooked at around ten percent," says David Haße, editor of the airline information service airliners.de.
On rail travel: Know where the free seats are
Man is a herd animal. When traveling, he focuses more on the mass, which seems to point him on the right path. But do not do it. Especially vividly, this can be seen on platforms. More than half of all passengers wishing to board an IC or ICE are in the middle of the boarding zone. Rule number one when boarding without a seat reservation is: move away from the group. Second, take a look at the order of the cars and choose the wagons as far away as possible from the dining car . In front of and behind the dining car are those train parts in which most people reserve their seats.
And: worth comparing! After all, trains can also be booked within Germany via the Czech Railways website. The train tie is often omitted, and prices are always below DB level. The website is also available in German.
When booking a hotel: A call makes the difference
Many German hoteliers work closely with portals such as Booking.com, HRS and Expedia. Every fourth booking comes through these portals, of which, according to Dehoga-Bundesverband 60 percent alone on Booking.com. Although the best price clause for the portals could be overturned in court, but few hoteliers dare to undercut the prices of the portals publicly on their own website. Therefore, a call to the desired accommodation often causes a change: many hoteliers give up booking by telephone booking up to 10 percent discount , in order to save the 15 to 19 percent agency commission to the portals. A win-win situation for hotelier and guest.