"Hacking" airports is especially useful due to certain airport layouts. #1 rule about standing in line: everyone just stands in line without understanding why t

"Hacking" airports is especially useful due to certain airport layouts. #1 rule about standing in line: everyone just stands in line without understanding why they are standing in line. For instance, in Philadelphia, the airport security is outside of the inner walkway which connects terminals D & E. E was the international terminal, so there was always way less traffic going in/out of the gate. Sometimes D would have a security line backed up to the curb. Simply walk over to terminal E and bypass the entire line. Similarly, in LaGuardia, there are two taxi lines outside the American terminal. One is all the way at the end, hidden from sight. Everyone not familiar with the airport just lines up at the main one and if you walk around the edge of the terminal you can hop in a taxi right away. Anyone seriously optimizing their travel, though, will most likely be a loyalty member of some airline alliance and the goal is to maximize your upgrades (free or otherwise) to always fly business/first. For example, AA has a "challenge" where you can automatically earn Platinum status if you earn 10,000 points in 90 days. This isn't terribly difficult if you're flying to an international conference. You quite literally call a 1-800 number and say "I want to take the challenge." Platinum gives you automatic domestic business class upgrades when available!