Expert tips to help you get from A to B in comfort and style.

The romance of the Jet Age arguably died decades ago now, perhaps in an immigration queue at Luton Airport. But there are ways for the frustrated traveller to ease the pain of going abroad this summer.

With the help of expert advice from three travellers who are more seasoned than an in-flight fish supper (bonus fact: they add salt because the altitude dulls taste buds), below is a 14-point insiders’ guide to corner cutting, saving money (and face) this vacation season – whether you’re booking a flight, or packing your bags.

Mr Ed Stafford is an explorer and adventurer who has walked the Amazon and presents on Discovery Channel; Mr Tom Hall is the editorial director at Lonely Planet;  and Ms Jenny Graham is the director of Quintessentially Travel.

Get a smart suitcase, says Ms Graham: “I use a Horizn Studios case with a GPS case tracker and inbuilt phone charger, so you never have to worry about running out of battery or losing it.” She also recommends asking for fragile stickers at the check-in desk.

According to Ms Graham, clearing your web cache can save money while you shop for flights, because cookies can track return visits to some airline sites and potentially increase prices. There’s some doubt about this theory, but opening an “incognito” window in your browser means you can compare yourself.

Try using a Revolut debit card (or a Monzo). It works like any other debit card, but you top up your account before you travel and when you buy stuff or withdraw cash abroad, you avoid big bank charges and get a truer exchange rate. You can also view your statement instantly on the app, and switch currencies if you move between countries. I haven’t been to a bureau de change for years.

Mr Hall suggests saving money and the environment by taking a reusable drinks bottle or coffee cup through X-ray. “There’s nothing to stop you taking empty bottles through and filling them up on the other side,” he says.

AirPortr, which works with BA and other airlines, will check in your luggage at your home and take it to your flight for you – you won’t see it until the other end. Sorted.

Mr Stafford stresses the importance of relaxation on your journey. He swears by some in-flight meditation, and recommends the popular Headspace app. “It’s a really nice way to be yourself,” he says.

If you’re a travel cushion snob, invest in a Cabeau Evolution memory foam neck pillow – it will bring you hours and hours of sleep. It’s great for tall people whose heads don’t meet the seat rest, and it rolls up into a compact shape.

Ms Graham swears by 15th Degree’s vitamin blends to help boost energy levels and combat jet lag. “I take them before, during and after the flight and it really helps me stay balanced,” she says.

If you’re a couple in economy, reserve the aisle and window seat on a row of three. If the flight isn’t full, it’s less likely anyone has reserved the middle seat. And if someone does show up, just offer them a swap – they’ll be delighted even if you aren’t.

Babies are always likely to be at the front of the economy sections on longhaul flights, because that’s where the airline cots fix to the walls, so avoid this area when booking if you want any rest. I found this to my cost on a recent 18-hour flight (Auckland-Doha, the longest in the world).

Make use of the waiting time at the baggage carousel. For example, go straight through to the car hire desks if you’re travelling with someone else and let them collect the bags. “Or get money from an ATM, or organise your ride into town,” says Mr Hall.

When travelling, Mr Stafford makes a beeline for the showers in airport business lounges. “They’re always large and scrupulously clean, so I’ll use them to do a workout – some high-intensity press ups and lunges – and then get clean. I spend too much time travelling to think, ‘I can’t do any exercise today’.”

If you have cash to spare, throw money at the problem with a company like Gilded Globe, Mr Graham says. It has its own lounges and security-cleared agents at dozens of airports, who can whisk members direct to commercial flights across the Tarmac.

If you don’t want to be identified as a lost tourist when you arrive at your destination, try to blend in. There is nothing that will give you away more than a guidebook, but there is no need to ditch it. Mr Stafford suggests simply putting a different cover over it. Job done.