Millionaire businessman lists the five essential things he does before every flight at the airport

Daily Mail​

30-04-2025

A millionaire has shared five essential things he does at the airport before every flight - tips that he claims can save the average traveller thousands.
Mark Tilbury, from Oxfordshire, is a self-made, self-proclaimed millionaire, and is the CEO of Model World LTD, Century U.K. LTD and Tilbury Multi-Media LTD, as per his LinkedIn profile.
The 56-year-old businessman often shares wealth and success tips with millions of his followers on social media - from how to build multiple streams of income to investment advice for young adults.
In a recent video uploaded to his Youtube channel, the entrepreneur highlighted a series of hacks to help save the average plane passenger money at the airport.
The eye-watering costs of food and drinks, parking, duty-free shopping, and certain airport lounges leave a significant dent in jetsetters' budgets before even departing.
But to avoid the so-called terminal trap, Tilbury shared the following tips to ensure travellers spend less at the airport and save more for their trip.
Take a photo of luggage
Taking photos of your luggage before checking it in at the airport is especially important a number of reasons, including if your bags are lost or get stolen.
This essentially helps you identify your luggage, provides proof of contents for claims, and can aid in recovering your belongings.
In the clip, Tilbury said: 'I take a picture of my luggage just before check-in so I can claim up to $3,800 (£2,869) if it gets lost or stolen.'
Pack an empty water bottle
Bringing an empty water bottle to the airport allows passengers to stay hydrated on flights without having to fork out for expensive bottled water.
It also helps reduce plastic waste by allowing flyers to refill their bottles with tap water or at designated water stations, as Tilbury added: 'I fill it up after security to save on overpriced drinks.'
Use a credit card for free lounge entry
According to Tilbury, passengers who use a credit card can be granted free access to airport lounges, where they can 'load up on food' before a flight.
Some credit cards provide free or discounted lounge access, potentially saving on entry fees and in-lounge spending, so it's worth checking with your bank for more opportunities to spend less while enjoying premium amenities at the airport.
Put an Apple AirTag in luggage
Tilbury stressed the importance of purchasing an Apple AirTag - worth as little as £28 - and putting it into luggage so that it can be tracked 'in real time'.
Apple AirTags offer real-time tracking using the Apple Find My network, allowing passengers to monitor their bag's location even after it's checked.
This, in turn, provides peace of mind, especially if flyers are worried about delays or lost luggage.
Email yourself important documents
In the video, Tilbury said: 'I email myself copies of my passport and travel documents in case I lose anything.'
Sending yourself copies of your passport and relevant travel documents, such as emails, boarding passes, and itineraries, is also crucial as it provides a backup in case of loss, theft, or if your physical documents are damaged or stolen during a trip.