The wrong winter airport outfit, but effective for eating celebrities

Consider the difference in temperature of your destination.
If going to a warm place, can you avoid taking your overcoat and accompanying scarves, gloves, boots? Consider leaving them at home, or in the car at the airport, and instead layering up. You can always ditch a layer into your checked or carry-on bag when you get to the airport, if you left room. Plus, when you arrive, you can remove another layer and be comfortable from the time you exit the plane.

If you are going to a cold place, instead of packing them, wear your coat and hat, scarves, gloves, boots. It can slow you down a little in the TSA screening, but it can save you some excess baggage fees. Just use the pockets of the coat to hold the accessories to help speed your progress through the security check. Plus, airplanes are so cold this time of the year, so your jacket can double as a blanket in case the cost-cutting airlines do not provide any on your flight.

A great travel trick is to use a pashmina or similar wrap as a blanket, scarf and jacket throughout your trip, unless you are a straight male, in which case a Mexican serape (poncho) could work, albeit a bit bulky.

Select items carefully knowing you might have to remove them for security checks.
Boots that take a personal assistant to get on or off are a bad option to wear to the airport, especially when you remember your limbs tend to swell when traveling. Lots of jewelry and accessories can also slow you (and the rest of the line) down, and you run the risk of losing some of it in the removal/replacement process. Men might want to consider some sort of murse/man bag/computer bag that can safely carry all of the items you normally try and stash in your pockets: phone, change, wallet, sandwiches, etc. Then you can have all of your items for the cabin in one easy-to-access place. And, for your mother’s sake, make sure your socks are hole-free!

Protect your clothes and your image with underarm sweat guards.
Inside, outside, hot, cold, jetways, runways. All those temperature changes mean that you are going to get a little sweaty from time to time. Nobody likes being the smelly person on the plane (and no one wants to sit next to the smelly person on the plane), and nobody likes hauling around dirty clothes. Try this trick: apply disposable underarm shields to clothing before you leave home. Know that even when you are struggling to get your carry-on into the overhead bins that you will not be flashing sweat stains to your seatmates. When you finally get to your destination, you can remove and toss the used pads, and maybe, if turbulence did not cause your beverage to spill onto your shirt, you can wear it again, having saved valuable space in your baggage. (Garment Guard disposable underarm shields, 5 pairs for $10.95 at solutionsthatstick.com)

Bring a Bottle of Water: So they won’t let you bring it through security full, but guzzle it before security and bring the empty bottle through with you. Once inside, fill it up at a water fountain. (Average savings: $3) Bonus: I board the plane with it full so I can stay hydrated throughout the flight, and many flight attendants will refill it on board.

Admirals Club

Baggage Fees: If you fly the same carrier and earn elite status, many airlines offer these “better” customers free checked bags. Normally, it takes just 5 coast-to-coast round trips in a calendar year to earn this status. Otherwise, you can pack strategically, wearing your bulkiest clothes on the plane and minimal other items in your carry-on.

(under)Garment Guard prevents TSA from airing your dirty knickers

Alternately, you can ship your bags ahead of time. UPS charges their normal rates if you put your suitcase in a box, or if you give it to them as is, they charge $7.50 per bag. Just allow for travel time. And on losing parcels, UPS has a way better track record than the airlines. My friend was flying to NYC with a lot of stuff. It only cost her $100 to ship two 64-pound bags to her hotel. She checked one on the plane for $15 and was able to take the subway into the city for $7 instead of paying $60 for the cab. (Savings: Second checked bag $15, overweight fee $25, 3rd bag $100= $193 each way!) Bonus: You can also do this if you go on a shopping spree away from home. Ask the stores if they will ship it for you.

Reading Material: If you don’t have any sitting around at home, ask someone around you to borrow one. And, if you have something you have finished, ask around to see if anyone wants it. I often give them to flight attendants, who are very grateful. (Average savings $8 plus possibilities of fresh-baked cookies and little booze bottles). Bonus: You might discover we declared war on Iraq, get a strange feeling of deja-vu, then suddenly realize that you borrowed a magazine from 2003, to great relief.

Pack a Lunch: It goes without saying that airport food is pretty ordinary with a pretty hefty price tag. Even if you are pressed for time, stop at Trader Joe’s or In-N-Out along the way and get some ready-made food. (Average savings: $10) Non-Bonus: Every Guatemalan leaving

Subtle Butt helps with fellow passengers' aromas

Duty Free May be Free of Duty…: and it is normally free of good deals, too. On my last trip through Brisbane Airport, MAC black liquid eyeliner was about $24 when at home, it is $16.50. Check the prices at your normal stores before you go on a trip or do a little research on the prices at your destination. I steer clear of wines and champagnes in more developing countries because they are rarely stored correctly. But I do pick up a bottle or two of Stoli vodka in Central America for around $8/liter (best price I have ever seen).

$1200 D&G dress