8 things every frequent flyer wants

How about a little peace of mind for your Valentine this year? (Photo: Clear)

Even busy travelers love to know than when they’re out of sight, they are not out of mind (or heart!). Say “you’re special” to the frequent flyer in your life with one of these gifts for Valentine’s Day.


CLEAR membership


Nothing is more frustrating than bumping into an unexpected delay at airport security. Or worrying about it. Giving a CLEAR gift card
means your beloved can skip the worry, and skip the lines for six
months. CLEAR lines are now open at 10 airports with two more quickly on
the way: San Francisco-SFO, San Jose-SJC, Las Vegas-LAS, Denver-DEN,
Dallas-Ft Worth -DFW, Houston-IAH & HOU, San Antonio-SAT, White
Plains-HPN, Orlando-MCO and soon in Miami-MIA and one other that will
soon be announced. CLEAR’s six-month gift card is specially priced this week
only (thru Feb 14) at just $49– that’s nearly half off the standard
price of $90. Plus, giving CLEAR means more time to phone you from the
gate, right?


Smartphone battery backup

Power management is the new time management, and carrying spare juice
for a smartphone is an insurance plan of the highest value for biz
travelers. These battery backups come in all shapes in sizes, and most
will charge a smartphone and tablet simultaneously. Only you know what
works best for your bae: a stylish statement, like the colorful Kate Spade charger ($80), a case that boosts charge like the Mophie (from $100), or a simple stick charger like the PowerStick (from $40). (Okay, I know you are wondering…here’s how you define “bae” )


Lounge access


Business travelers know an airport club room is an indispensable
oasis. Learn where your lover’s lounge gaps are and then fill them. Many
airlines offer gifting of lounge passes, like American (one day, $50; one month, $99) and United (one year, $500 or 60,000 miles). Or if you’re on a super-tight budget, just sneak into his or her phone and install the LoungeBuddy app to put club room info at his or her fingertips. It’s the thought that counts.


Airport massage

Did you know that foot massage is the most requested service at airport XpresSpas?

Even the strongest bodies sag under the stress of travel. A gift card for an airport massage (like at XpresSpa,
from $25) may be just the push your favorite flyer needs to take a
pampering break—to stow that laptop back in the carry-on and relax into a
massage during a flight delay. Before buying that card, check out this listing to learn which massage shops are at the airports frequented most often.


Inflight entertainment


Say it with a movie. Gift Casablanca or Top Gun
($15 each), and you send an instant “you’re my hero” message—plus
provide a couple of hours of entertainment for a long flight or a night
alone in the hotel room. In the iTunes store, you can shop for an item
and then gift it with just a few clicks. Specify the day you’d like it
sent, and type in a message. Be Mine.


Travel blanket/eye mask

No more snuggling into questionable blankets on long flights: Your partner will appreciate a highly packable bit of luxury, a cashmere travel set
that includes a blanket, pillow and eye shades ($395). Priceless. If
you’ve just started dating and this is too much of a commitment, even a fleece travel blanket ($12.95) will be appreciated.


Carry-on organizer

A carry-on quickly becomes a creepy nest of snaky black cables, and digging through it inflight can require contortions. The GridIt
organizer keeps everything where it should be, while providing lots of
flexibility ($49.94). Suddenly, a place for everything and everything in
its place. There’s even one that doubles as a MacBook carrying case
(pictured).


Packing cube


Even the savviest traveler can take packing to the next level. Packing cubes, like these from Tumi ($45), make prepping for a trip a pleasure—and unpacking even better. Good for the moral in lots of colors and practical, too.


I know I’d love to receive any of these gifts, but I hear it’s better
to give than receive. And for last-minute shoppers like me, a special
tip: Gift cards, like those from CLEAR, are delivered instantly and your loved one will think you’ve been planning for weeks!


 - TravelSkills