TravelNerd – Improving the Airport Experience

Large airports can feel like mazes, full of obstacles, junctions, bottlenecks, and dead-ends that cause traveler delays and even missed flights. Rather than changing the way airports are laid out, TravelNerd changes the way people get around inside of them. The web-application offers detailed terminal maps, along with tips on ground transportation and long-term parking lots, to make the airport experience just a little bit easier for tourists and business travelers alike.

Select the airports you’re leaving from and going to, and then click “Search.” TravelNerd will immediately pull up a dossier on your departure airport, providing you with a detailed terminal map, along with links to read more about airport wi-fi networks, coffee stand locations, and the cheapest long-term parking lots. Click on the “Restaurants” tab along the left-hand side of the page to see a list of airport restaurants filtered by concourse. In addition to showing you the names of all the restaurants, TravelNerd will also let you know the hours those establishments are open and whether or not they’re considered child friendly. TravelNerd even has inside information about airport lounges, providing you with details about all first-class lounges in your departure airport, sorted by terminal or name.

If you need help getting from the airport to a hotel in your destination city, TravelNerd has got your back. Click on the “Ground Transportation” tab to see all your ground transportation options. Not only does TravelNerd list the phone numbers for all taxi companies and airport shuttle services, but it also includes “Book Online” buttons that you can use to make a reservation from your home computer.

Practical Uses:

• Plan your route when walking between gates in a large airport
• Save money by parking your car in the cheapest long-term airport lot
• Find out if your airline’s first class lounge will be open before your flight
• Get advice on which airport restaurants are the most child-friendly

Insider Tips:

• Use TravelNerd to compare travel fees across all major U.S. airlines
• TravelNerd offers coupons for people looking up parking lot rates
• Book a shuttle service through the TravelNerd platform
• Comment on any airport amenity to add your own information to TravelNerd
• Download the free iPhone app to use TravelNerd at the airport

What we liked:

• TravelNerd can make traveling a less stressful experience
• People can save money by parking in the cheapest lots
• Families can plan out where they’ll eat and relax before their flights
• Finding information about pet relief areas is easier on TravelNerd than on most airport websites

What we didn’t like:

• TravelNerd doesn’t include any information about rental cars

Alternatives:

• GateGuru – http://gateguruapp.com
• iFly – http://www.ifly.com

Company Info:

• Launched: 2012
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California
• Founded by: NerdWallet
• Web site: http://www.travelnerd.com

Costs:

• Free