Traveling? Here are some secret tips from travel agents

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Airports see record crowds during the holiday travel season, which can mean headaches for all those travelers. But it doesn’t have to be a terrible experience just because it’s incredibly busy, especially if you listen to the experts.

These lesser-known tips and tricks from travel agents can help holiday travel go smoothly and make it less stressful.

• Pre-book airport lounges - When you have a layover or delayed flight, an airport lounge can help you escape the crowds, but during peak travel times, they often have long waits and fill up fast. But some let you make reservations a day in advance, so snag one at your airport lounge, if you can.
• Reserve a spot in the security line - Some airports even let you reserve a spot ahead of time in security lines. The rules vary at airports, these U.S. airports have options to reserve spots in TSA security lines ahead of time:
• Denver International Airport
• George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport
• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
• New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport
• Orlando International Airport
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
• Use digital hotel keys for faster check-in - Some hotel chain programs, like Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, have digital key options through their apps, which let you skip the busy front desk and lobby during peak holiday travel times.
• Take the first flight of the day out - Sure, it’s early, but those morning flights are less likely to have delays or cancellations, and if your departure does hit a snag, you’ll have a better shot to get on one later in the day.
• Ask for hotel room decorations - A lot of hotels go all out during the holidays and some can set up an in-room menorah or Christmas tree in your room. Check with the concierge to see if they can deck the halls for you.
• Book your rideshare in advance - This is especially helpful if you’re traveling on a holiday like Christmas Eve or Christmas Day because if a driver accepts the reserved ride and cancels or falls through, you’ll have priority on getting another car to you.

Source: Forbes