It shouldn’t be a shocking statement to say that arriving on time is important when traveling. Why is this really something that needs to be discussed today? It is very simple many people do not arrive at the airport on time. If you want to make sure you are never stressed out by being late, there are some things you should do.
Many people time their flights so they arrive at the end point with enough time for a quick dash to the cab or a local destination. That’s really not the best option. Scheduling an early flight that gets you there ahead of time is the stress-free alternative.
Why get there early? Having that time to kill on the other end is always more enjoyable than stressing because you are going to be late when there is an unexpected delay.
What if your flight is delayed or cancelled? Since there are now fewer flights to select from, it can take a bit of time to get on a new flight in the case of cancellation. Most people know to expect problems when it is winter with all the snow and ice, but many forget about the vicious thunderstorms that can cause problems in the summer. They delay flights every summer. The past performance records can tell you what to expect from a flight to some extent, but they won’t tell you if bad weather is coming on the day you want to fly.
When you venture out of your home country, remember you will have to go through custom lines and there may delays while transferring in airports or waiting out intense weather, such as monsoons. A Frangipani cost me several hours last year when it was scrutinized by customs. I was not prepared for that time waster.
The first flight of the day is generally your best bet for avoiding delays. Flights later in the day can get knocked back like dominos if one earlier flight has a delay.
If you have a choice of connecting cities, pick the one with the warmest climate. Try to avoid airports with lots of delayed flights… though many times these will be hubs, and you won’t be able to avoid them. It’s because they are hubs that they have more delayed flights than other airports. It’s sort of the nature of hubs.
Some other reasons for delays include weather (think Chicago-ORD) or alignment of runways (think San Francisco-SFO).
It’s time to jump back to the initial idea of this piece and remember the importance of arriving early. Give yourself a twenty-four hour grace period whenever possible. If you’re connecting, be sure your layover is at least two hours. Sure layovers are a drag, but if you have a tight connection, and that first flight is delayed an hour… your connection is BUSTED!!! Now what?
When you are stuck with a tight connection, do not leave home without knowing your secondary plan if something goes wrong. If you’re delayed, knowing the alternatives will be valuable when you’re trying to rebook.
To avoid missing your flight in the first place, be sure you get to the airport in plenty of time. On my All Inclusive Resorts In Hawaii For Adults trip last month I forgot this fundamental point. Most airlines now cut off check in for domestic flights 30 minutes to flight time. Your plans will be ruined if you run in twenty minutes to departure and learn you cannot check your bags. Even if you have thirty or forty minutes to spare, you could get caught in security and still not make it. And face it, that’s always a possibility.
So to get there on time, get to the airport early… for an early morning flight… Avoid tight connections, and get there a day ahead. You can get over your jet lag, get a good night’s sleep, and be ready for the start of your trip.