How to Never Miss a Flight Again
In a recent story for Atlantic magazine, staff writer Amanda Mull described two types of travelers: those who arrive on a flight at least a few hours before arrival, and those who actively experience the adrenaline thrill of being late.
Yes, some people like to stand in lines and run to the exit a moment before the flight attendant closes the doors. But for the rest of us (most of us?), The feeling of being late for a flight and panicking through the airport is hell on earth.
Our editor-in-chief Virginia recently experienced this nightmare, turned into reality, when her airport shuttle broke down in the middle; somehow, between phone calls with the airline and its credit company in an attempt to change the flight and get compensation, she still managed to do so within 15 minutes before departure.
Aside from the obvious things like setting an alarm to make sure you wake up on time, here are a few ways to make sure you’re flying, which can take a little prep work and make sure you’re packing properly.
Register for TSA, Global Entry or Clear Pre-Check
If you want to avoid potential airport delays, the easiest way to speed up the process is to register with programs such as TSA Precheck, Global Entry or Clear, which will allow you to access separate, usually faster, security lines. Obviously, this cannot be done right before the flight; You must register so you can better prepare for times when you are running late.
But what should you choose? Well, here’s our guide to the topic itself. To summarize, your decision should depend on how often you fly and how much you are willing to pay. The $ 85 TSA pre-screening may be the best option if you fly multiple times a year. However, for just $ 15, Global Entry will also allow you to go through the same expedited screening as TSA Precheck, but will also expedite your re-entry to the US if you come from overseas. Again, this depends on your specific needs, so refer to our post for a solution.
Allow yourself enough time
How much time depends on several factors, including the scheduled departure time, specific airline and destination. ( Experts generally recommend a minimum of two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights; if it is a holiday, additional time should be allocated.)
As we wrote earlier , if you are severely constrained, always check with your airline for check-in times and baggage reductions. You can also use resources like iFly and App in the Air to anticipate how long you can wait at security.
Don’t check the bag
If your flight is about to take off and you are still at your hotel and in a chaotic state while packing, you should consider bringing your bag as carry-on so you can skip the entire check-in process with the airline. oncoming and proceed straight to safety. (You will also have to check in online to do this, which will save you time getting a physical boarding pass.) There are a few things you need to consider before repackaging, such as throwing away any liquids in excess of 3.4 ounces and whether your bag is a carry-on size. put it in.
And while you do, store any liquids you bring in a separate plastic bag and on top of your carry-on bag so you can easily remove it when you enter security. (And make sure your laptop and other electronics are available too.)
Download your airline’s app
If you are running late, always check for traffic jams to find the best route to the airport. (I often rely on apps like Waze .) You should also download your airline ‘s app for several important reasons.
First, you can usually find both your exit number and pick-up time on the app. If there are any changes, you will be warned about this as well. (You can usually also use the airline’s app to find out about any possible delays. And if you’re already in dire straits, you can use the app at least to rebook your flight at the last minute.) Just make sure to enable push – notifications to be notified of changes regarding your flight.
If you are unfamiliar with the airport, be sure to also quickly search for a map on the Internet so that you can easily find your boarding gate.
Inform the flight attendant or TSA
While there are no official rules on what flight attendants or TSA agents can do, if your flight is about to depart, they can escort you to the front line at check-in or security. (At the very least, you might have to beg other travelers to get there, so kindness and courtesy can go a long way.) On Reddit, some users even suggest trying their hand at the security priority line and explaining their circumstances to the agent. If you are running late due to an obstructed communication, be sure to inform the flight attendant so that he can help you get off the plane before other passengers enter the aisle too.
And if you are late for your flight, here is our guide on this matter .