19 April 2023 , 14:00
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A frequent flyer has explained why she always prints off her boarding pass when travelling.
Sophie-Claire Hoeller is regularly moving through airports and predicts that she flies at least once a month.
The travel pro is committed to an "old school approach" when it comes to air travel, and finds that it helps her avoid any confusion and last minute mix-ups.
Part of doing that involves printing her boarding pass and striving to "chat up gate agents" when necessary.
"Talking to a real-life human has helped me avoid seat assignment fees when my husband and I wanted to sit together, get onto a different flight when necessary, and even score the occasional (rare) upgrade," she wrote on Insider.
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The travel pro wants to avoid the risk of her phone running out of battery (Universal Images Group via Getty)As well as checking-in online before she gets to the airport and making sure her ticket is loaded onto her phone, Sophie-Claire prints out her boarding pass.
"That's the best way to ensure getting the seats you want and avoid getting bumped should the plane be overbooked since you're high on the list of passengers who'll be on the flight," she added.
Part of the reason she insists on having a paper copy is for fear of technical malfunctions, such as the airlines' app crashing or her phone running out of battery.
Sophie-Claire also wants to avoid a situation where the wifi signal has failed or her phone screen won't unlock.
"Something always happens just as I've made it to the front of the line at boarding, rendering me flustered, and I'll become that awful person holding up everyone else," she added.
Sophie-Claire is also keen to avoid having to juggle carry-on items, snacks, water bottles and other small items while digging around for her phone in her bag.
A printed boarding pass can be tucked between the pages of her passport, she points out.
On top of all that, she rightly notes that the airport's systems could go down or that the scanners could break.
The long waits at airports many travellers endured last year could mean your previously full of juice phone could run out of battery before your delayed plane takes off.
A pilot recently explained another boarding mistake that many passengers are prone to making.
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In the age of ultra-low price air travel, the experience of rushing to the boarding gate with seemingly little time to spare only to be sat there for what feels like an age waiting for the plane is a common one.
She is a big advocate of the paper ticket (Getty Images)When the boarding call finally comes, it can be easy to jump to your feet in anticipation of getting going.
This is, according to pilot Patrick Smith, a mistake.
He believes one of the most common blunders travellers make is rushing to the gate when boarding is announced.
“When your flight is called for boarding, resist the urge to stand up and get in line immediately," he told eShores.
"In the past, people stayed in their seats until their row or zone was called.
"Nowadays, when the first pre-boarding call is announced, two-hundred people instantly stand up and form a mob, blocking the way for those passengers whose zones are actually being called. People are forced to literally elbow and shove their way to the front.
"It’s madness, and there’s no need for it. Standing in line does not get you on the plane any faster. On the contrary, it makes the already tedious boarding process take longer."