Even seasoned airline employees have their flying woes — including the former CEO of American Airlines.

Doug Parker was the airline’s CEO from 2001 to 2023, during which he learned one important lesson for flyers to make their travels smoother.

“There are no silver bullets,” Parker told the Airlines Confidential podcast, but “I can tell you what I tell my family.”

The one rule that Parker and his family follow every time they fly: “Do not check a bag.”

“Wherever we’re going, you can buy stuff when you get there,” he explained. “It’s not that the airlines don’t know how to get there, but it’s incredibly complex, and it makes your experience much more difficult.”

“That’s my major tip to anybody — just figure out a way, no matter where you’re going, to get it into your carry-ons and don’t check a bag.”

Considering how often luggage gets lost or damaged, the advice is sound — and not all airlines are the same when it comes to losing luggage.

A 2024 report found that American Airlines lost more bags than any other airline. Other airlines are starting to integrate Apple AirTags and will begin accepting Find My item locations in the coming months as part of their customer service process for locating mishandled or delayed bags.

While it may seem daunting to pack just a carry-on for a longer trip, learning to pack light could save the hassle of dealing with luggage when you land, though it may be hard to avoid if you don’t board early.

Parker also shared that airline employees will likely take better care of you if you’re nice and respectful to them.

“Probably a better tip is just be nice to the people that are out there working. It’s not just pablum. While it’s hard for the traveler, that makes it harder on the people that are out there,” he advised.