TikTok has quickly grown into one of the go-to apps for quick tips, tricks and “life hacks” — and it’s easy to see why. 

Millions of videos promising simple ways to get around holiday red tape and save “£££” on your flights are watched on the platform every day. The hashtag for #TravelHacks has more than 3.3B views and some videos generate more than 3.4 million likes. 

But how much of this information is true — and how much could be potentially damaging to your holiday plans?

To find out, experts at world-famous travel pillow brand Trtl Travel investigated some of the platform's most popular hacks. They tried the hacks out themselves and used their extensive knowledge of the industry to answer the question: do they work, or are they just a myth?

1. You can send your flight number in messages so people can quickly see all your flight detail

@loulouexplores I do this every time I fly. Send this ti a disorganised friend haha. #flighthack #traveltip #travelhacks ♬ AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM (feat. Kendrick Lamar) - Beyoncé

The theory: If you’ve ever found yourself scrambling around to find your flight information or needing to give constant updates to a family member picking you up at the airport, this hack is for you. TikTok user @loulouexplores affirms that rather than tracking through an app or an email, you can simply send your flight number as a message to one of your contacts and click on the number to get the latest information.

In practice: Michael Corrigan, Founder & CEO at Trtl says: “I’m a big fan of this hack. I use it often when travelling between the UK and the US to see colleagues. If you hold down on the number and click ‘Preview Flight’, you can see everything from your terminal number, your gate, the current status of the flight (useful for spotting delays nice and early), the departure time and the arrival time. 

The only drawback is that this doesn’t work on all airlines. Short-haul providers like Ryanair don’t seem to accommodate it, for example. But this is a huge time-saver for anyone on a long-haul flight with an iPhone.”

Conclusion: True

2. Call the hotel directly for a price after getting a quote from a third-party site

@girlvsglobe budget travel hacks ✌️ if you’re broke and want to travel, listen up! pls ignore my prepubescent choir boy hair in this video 🙃 #travelhacks #budgettravelhacks ♬ original sound - sabina | girl vs globe

The theory: Ever wonder how much those comparison sites like Booking.com make on commissions for hotel bookings? Well, it’s a lot — and the hotels would rather give you a lower price than hand over a cut to a third party. At least, that’s what TikTok user @girlvsglobe says in her video explaining that calling a hotel you found on a comparison site can often save you a lot of money.

In practice: “While it’s difficult to prove that this works all the time, we took this theory for a spin with a few hotels,” says Michael. 

“We saw savings of as much as 25% on a standard double room; in one instance, we found the price drop from £665 to just £494 when booking through the hotel directly. Seems like a winner!”

Conclusion: True

3. Dress in a suit to get upgraded to first class

@flighthacks Here’s my best trick to score free upgrades to business class. Would you try this? #travelhacks #upgrade #traveltips #fypシ ♬ THEY ARE GONNA KNOW - Heliqs

The theory: Who doesn’t like a free upgrade? While getting bumped up to first or business class on a flight is a dream many people never fulfil, TikTok user @flighthacks promises a way for travellers to land the comfy seats every time — just wear a suit! They urge passengers to swap out the shorts-and-tee combo with a tailored three-piece suit and then simply ask for an upgrade once aboard. Simple… right?

In practice: “This hack is based on the premise that human psychology is easier to manipulate than it actually is,” says Michael. “Moreover, it assumes airline staff don’t have clear policies to adhere to when offering upgrades — which they do. Plus, upgrades only happen in the rare instance that a flight is overbooked. If this has ever worked, I’m pretty sure it had nothing to do with an outfit.”

Conclusion: Myth

4. Browse for flights in Incognito mode to get better deals

@guletravels Who is saving 100’s of $$$ on booking flights with me?📱🙌✈️ VPN hack is coming next on page as per requests🪄 #howtotravelcheap #ticktoktravel #travelbloggers #travelhacks #bookcheapflights ♬ Sunroof - Nicky Youre & dazy

The theory: Websites use cookies to track your activity and give you the information they think is most relevant to you. But what if that means you’re missing out on some great deals? TikTok user @guletravels believes that’s the case. They claim that you can get cheaper prices on flights by browsing in Incognito mode instead.

In practice: “When we tried to replicate this on popular flight booking sites like Ryanair and EasyJet, we couldn’t: we got the same prices,” says Michael. “Clearing cookies doesn’t impact price. What does impact price are other variables like when you’re booking, the destination, and the flight route. It’s possible that this works on specific comparison sites, but our evidence suggests this isn’t a reliable way to get cheaper flights.”

Conclusion: Myth

5. You can bring food through airport security

@whimsicallybritt You absolutely can bring food through airport security! 👍🏽 Your leftover meal, fruits, snacks, protein powder, and even fresh and frozen meats are permitted! Anything liquid or creamy, like honey and hummus, must be 3.4oz (100ml) or less. Type into Google “TSA food rules” and click the TSA.gov link for a comprehensive list of foods you can bring, those you can bring under a certain amount, and those you should put in your checked bag. Exceptions are made for baby food and formula which will need to be screened separately if over 3.4oz. And alcohol over 140 proof cannot be carried AT ALL, even in checked bags! Check the customs requirements for international destinations! You may get past TSA, but will need to toss your food upon entering another country, this is especially true for fresh fruits & vegetables, meats, etc. For example, we had to toss our jerky in Japan 😔 #tsa #frequentflyer #traveltip #travelblog #blacktravelfeed #femalesolotravel #traveltiktok #ilovefood ♬ Chaleur épique sous les tropiques - AGAV

 

The theory: Airport security is arguably the most stressful part of travelling. There’s so much to remember not to take through there with you, from metal to liquids to… food?

One TikTok user has set out to dispel what they believe is a travel myth: you can’t take food items through security. @whimsicallybritt argues that you can bring your treats and goodies through the ol’ metal detectors if you bag them up appropriately.

In practice: “Most people know that bringing liquids through security is a no-no if in large quantities, so it might be a little surprising to find out that food is okay,” says Michael. “When you know that, it’s a big money-saver, as catering options in the departures lounge have a healthy markup.”

“However, you can’t just bring anything through. Dry foods like cakes, fruit, sandwiches and — yes — chocolate are okay, but foods in sauces or with a high liquid content (like soups or yoghurts) can’t go through security. You should also show your food nice and clearly; don’t leave it nestled in the bottom of your bag.” 

Conclusion: True

6. Book both end seats on a set of three to get more space

@theoandrodrigo Of course this hack will most likely work only if the flight is not sold out 😁 This is by far our favourite travel hack! #traveltiktok #wanderlust #travel #traveltok #traveling #travellovers #travelhack #flight ♬ original sound - Theo & Rodrigo 🌍 Travel Vlogs

The theory: No one likes the middle seat. And if that’s true, can you use this to your advantage to nab some additional space for you and your travel companion?

TikTok user @theoandrodrigo says that it is. They suggest booking the two end seats on a row of three on your next long-haul flight (the window and aisle seats if you’re on the left or right bank) rather than two seats next to each other. Supposedly, it’ll deter other passengers from taking that awkward middle seat so that when you take off, you have a whole extra seat to yourselves; no strangers snoozing on your shoulder!

In practice: “While it’s a nice idea, this is highly unlikely to work,” says Michael. “The first major hurdle is that many long-haul flights are fully booked, so staff will simply direct passengers with unassigned seats to the one between you and your travel partner.”

“And on those less busy flights? Many travel providers won’t let you book seats like this: their online booking platforms restrict it.”

“If you really want that extra space, you can book the seat in the middle too. However, don’t expect to be particularly popular; you’ll get extra room at the expense of other potential passengers.”

Conclusion: Myth

7. Create your own in-flight entertainment system with your phone and boarding pass

@skyscanner Travelling with a budget airline? Create your own in-flight entertainment system 💡 #TravelTok #Skyscanner #TravelHacks #TravelTips #BudgetTravel Featuring: @KELLY & GEORGIA - TRAVEL ♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim

In theory: Budget airlines are known for many things. In-flight entertainment isn’t one of them.

Luckily, Skyscanner’s TikTok account has shared a hack to fight off the boredom on those low-cost flights. All you need is your phone (stocked up with pre-downloaded TV shows and films), a phone case that fits, and your boarding pass. You can effortlessly enjoy your own in-flight entertainment system at eye level by pinning one side of the paper between your phone and its case and the other behind the tray table. Give your arms a rest. 

In practice: Michael says, “This is a clever idea, as simple as it is. It works with a phone but just be warned: a tablet is probably too heavy. Additionally, you’ll need to remember to get a hard copy of your boarding pass, which might be tricky because most budget airlines want you to use their app instead. Nevertheless, a great hack!”

Conclusion: True

8. You can get cheaper rates by directly speaking with AirBnB hosts you’ve previously rented with

@annathingbutanimals I also secretly do this when my friends stay at an airbnb too. I could legit open a travel agency at this point #travelhacks #travelhacking #cheaptravel #budgettravel #savingmoneytips #travelhacking101 #cheapairbnbs ♬ original sound - Anna - Vegan Group Travel

 

The theory: AirBnB used to be the affordable alternative to hotels, but with prices going up, it can be hard to get a good deal anymore. Unless you’ve stayed in one before, claims TikTok user @annathingbutanimals. She says that by keeping the phone number of any AirBnB host you stay with, you can call them directly when you want to visit again.

By offering to pay in cash, you can convince a host to charge you as much as 50% less. Bypassing the AirBnB booking system means the host doesn’t have to pay additional fees to AirBnB, and since you’ve stayed before, they already know you’re a good tenant (assuming, you know, you are).

In practice: “While I don’t doubt that this probably does work on occasion, there are a few issues with this,” says Michael. 

“Firstly, it’s not clear how you’re supposed to get the host's contact number, as AirBnB is increasingly stringent in keeping any messages within its app. You can’t even type a phone number into AirBnB’s messenger without getting creative, and many AirBnB hosts won’t want to risk removal from the platform for violating terms of service.”

“Then there’s the issues that the guest could face. Cash-in-hand bookings have no legal protections should something go awry, be it double-bookings (app users will get the room and you’ll be left stranded) or even straight-up fraud.”

“In my opinion, the potential savings you could make here outweigh the additional risks you create for yourself and the host.”

Conclusion: Probably true — but not advised.

What are travel hacks?

TikTok might not be the most reliable source to make your next holiday more comfortable or cheaper, but with new hacks discovered daily, it’s an exciting time to travel. 

But if there’s one hack we know that is true, it’s this: you can comfortably rest wherever you are, whether in the depths of Economy Class or on that bumpy coach ride. Learn more about the world-famous Trtl travel pillow today.