When I first started travelling, the only thing I really cared about was getting from A to B and back again for less.
That typically meant picking a random destination I hadn’t been to yet, hitting up Skyscanner for the cheapest deal on that route, and flying at any hour to save €50 that I inevitably spent at the airport anyway because of course I didn’t have lounge access.
Nowadays, trip planning looks very, very different. I rarely book return flights, so my choice of destination often comes down to where I’m flying after; I actually care about things like seat pitch, and I have strong opinions on which airlines have the best in-flight dining (and that can guide who I fly with, and therefore where I fly, too).
If you’re new to this wonderful world, here are a few of my favourite websites for frequent flyers.
For trip planning: Flight Connections
If you’re looking to head abroad but you’re not too fussed about the destination – beyond that you can take a direct flight there – you should check out Flight Connections.
The website features a map showing all international airports around the world, and after selecting one, you’ll be able to see where you can fly directly from your home base.
While the website is free to use, those who pay from the premium subscription can also see which of the routes are the most affordable. Alternatively, you can use the site to select a destination you’d like to visit, then head over to Google Flights or Skyscanner to find a deal.
I find this particularly useful when “trip-maxxing” (see below), as I can see which airports that are relatively close together fly to my home base for the return leg of the journey.
For choosing the best seat: AeroLOPA
As much as Ryanair’s social media team loves it, there’s truly nothing worse than choosing a window seat only to sit down and realise there just… isn’t a window.
Thankfully, there is a way to make sure you choose the best seat on the plane: AeroLOPA.
So named for the Layout of Passenger Accommodations (LOPA), the website shows you the design of different aircraft cabins.
It’s free to use, and if you sign up for an account, you can also see recommendations based on whether the seat has a limited recline or no underseat storage.
For ensuring the best views: Which Side of the Plane
While AeroLOPA can help you choose the best seat on the plane, if you’re flying into a particularly scenic airport (think London City, Queenstown or Honolulu), you’re going to want to check out Which Side of the Plane.
Exactly what it says on the tin, you can enter your departure and arrival airports and it will let you know what views to expect if you sit on either the left and right side.
For organising your itinerary: Tripit
“Trip-maxxing”, aka rolling multiple cities (or even countries) into one holiday, is on the rise, but after a certain point, keeping track of multiple plane, train or bus tickets in a word document or a spreadsheet just doesn’t cut it any more.
Enter: Tripit. The website (and app) organises all of your reservations simply by forwarding your confirmation emails.
That way, you can see everything from hotel bookings to restaurant reservations in one place without having to search through your inbox every time.
For maximising your miles… It depends
Fair warning, dear reader: Attempting to maximise your points can get rather addictive.
There are plenty of websites specifically aimed at people who want to do so, like Head for Points in the UK or Meilen Junkies in Germany.
It’s a topic of hot debate among frequent flyers as to which website is the best, so instead I’d recommend browsing aggregators like PointsBuzz or MilesFeed which share links to the latest posts from all of the biggest sites.
Also, don’t forget to check out our guide to the best travel apps here.