I’m about to admit something I know you have never heard from anyone else. Ever. I love airports. If I didn’t my life would be miserable. I’m not saying I haven’t had my ups and downs, my missed connections and delays. But I’ve had a very close relationship with airports for 13 years and counting, and like any couple in a long-term relationship, I’ve had to invest a lot of effort into making it work. And…living in NYC I happen to use three of the top ten worst airports in America for everything from on time departures, arrivals, amenities, quality of toilet paper… you name it. So if I can love the airport ANYONE can.
1. The #1 rule in airport survival is to arrive in plenty of time
Really, you do just that and 90% of anxiety goes away. So how much is plenty? Most airlines would say it’s 90 minutes before your departure time for a domestic flight and I agree. Another tactic in time management is to think of the Boarding Time as the mark to hit, not the Departure Time. This is usually 30 minutes before a flight leaves and will give you some built in breathing room.
If you do like to cut it close, there are two things you should know:
- The airlines have a minimum required check-in time of 45 minutes. That means if your bag isn’t checked 45 minutes before your flight leaves, they can refuse to let you board. It’s 30 minutes if you’re carrying on.
- You also need to be at the gate 15 minutes before the flight leaves. Did you know that? I didn’t. Last year I was walking the terminal in an effort to board at the last minute. When I got to the gate, it was empty and the attendant told me she could deny me boarding based on this rule. I was amazed, I never knew this rule existed simply because …it doesn’t need to. WHEN do they ever get 200 people to stow their bag, sit down, stand up to put their coat up, sit-down, stand up to get the pen they forgot, sit down and buckle their seat belt in 15 minutes?
2. Don’t be a slacker
Choose a flight that leaves early in the morning. Yes it’s miserable getting up at 4am but an early flight (before 8am) means your plane most likely came in the night before and will leave on time. Bad weather usually rolls in late morning backing up 1,000’s of flights, creating nightmarish scenarios. But you’ll already be in the air above the storm clouds. On the plus side these early flights are usually cheaper.
Side note: my smart thinking is useless in San Francisco where the fog is known to be thick in the early morning and burn off later.
3. Always check in on-line 24 hours before your flight.
It secures your seat and tells the airline “I’m a comin!” Even if you’re checking luggage this could save you time as at busy airports there’s usually a full service line and a “Luggage Only” line, meaning you already have your boarding pass. If you don’t have a printer-still check in on-line. You can print it at the airport on the airlines own computer kiosks.
4. Use Social Media as your personal assistant:
follow the airline you’re using on Twitter or Facebook. If the flight is cancelled or so delayed you will miss your connecting flight contact your airline thru these two. You may get help faster then waiting in the customer service line or calling the 1-800 #. But still get in that line.
5. Know how to react if you’re delayed
For me this is the worst. Since it usually happens when I’m on my way home after being gone for weeks. There was going to be a nice dinner waiting for me, the wine was going to chilled and now…ugh. In this case I change my attitude. I think about what I could accomplish now that would give me even more free time when I’m home. There’s always work to do whether it’s creating a list of what to accomplish around the house when I get home to writing down the 10 ways I’m going to lose weight while I eat this Auntie Annie’s soft pretzel with cheese dip.
If you want to be really productive you could go for a long walk around the terminal to get some exercise. I’ve even used this time to actually call close friends I haven’t talked to in awhile rather than send them an email.
6. Pack survival tools and have them at the ready
- Aspirin
- Ear-plugs that take the edge off of all those announcements
- Sunglasses-to combat fluorescent lighting. Use along with ear plugs and you’ve created your own private Idaho
- Travel uniform: think comfy loose clothes with a few layers. No matter what temperature your destination is – ALWAYS dress for spring like conditions in the airport and on the plane
- Rations: bring good for you energy snacks: nut mix, energy bars, a peanut butter sandwich, an orange or a banana — just don’t forget about that banana
A few things you should know that may have changed since the last time:
1. Children 12 and under no longer have to remove their shoes or be “frisked” by TSA. Even for those of us without children this is good news as during the summer months there are a lot more kids and this helps speed up the line for everyone.
2. Elderly similar to children, people 75 and older no longer have to remove shoes or their light jacket. They are also allowed multiple passes thru the metal detector or AIT machine to clear up any issues. This is to cut down on the invasive frisks and pat-downs.
3. Once you show your ID and boarding pass to the entry agent you can put both away. You no longer have to show it to the agent working the machines.
And to all you battle-tested frequent-fliers out there, if you have a great airport tip, share it with us in the comments below!
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Great tips here! I’ve done my fair share of traveling, and did not know some of them. I’ve learned a valuable lesson though: if you have to make a connection via NYC or Boston to Europe, allow more than an hour between flights. I cut it close one time but the airline took pity on me because it was not my fault. The next year’s booking, I gave myself 2 hours minimum connection time, and breathed much easier.
Also, please remember to remove laptops, breathing machines or game boxes (XBox, Playstation) etc… from your carry-on bag when going thru the TSA checkpoint. Triple check those carry-on bags for any drinks – they’re not permitted and always cause a hold-up in line when TSA needs to check inside your bag!
I actually am in line waiting to check my bags two hours or more before my flight takes off. I always assume that there will be a long line somewhere. That leaves me with plenty of time to find my gate and relax. Running through the terminal (which I have done) is not a fun exercise.
The site is great! I, too, was hoping for a way to ditnisguish between airports I’d flown to and airports that I’d been flown to.Looking at other people’s maps sure was humbling. I still have a couple to add when I have a chance to check my logbook, but boy, are my flights ever local. Farthest south: Columbus, OH. Farthest west: Columbus, OH. Lewis or Clark, I ain’t.
I LOVE AIRPORTS TOO!! I watch the people and wonder where they are going. Vacation? To visit relatives? Business? Lovers flying away to paradise….sigh!! Anyway, I enjoy the experience, and there is always a story you come home with about the airport.
I’m with you. I love the airport! It means I’m going somewhere or have just returned and that is always a great feeling. Plus you always see such interesting characters – kids on their first school trip, retirees enjoying their golden years, newlyweds going on their honeymoon. Airports themselves can be pretty interesting too. My carry on is a bag with spinner wheels so it’s easy to transport through the terminals. This allows me to easily walk around to check out all the shops and see what food options are available. In Japan this is especially fun.
Bring my own soft blanket.
Don’t trust airline blankets to be sanitary.
Plus, on long delays in terminal, great to sleep on or sleep under.
Rolled up, makes a pillow.
Outside, it’s a coat while I wait for the shuttle.
I LOVE airports too! They represent travel, adventure, and excitement. Even taking a friend to drop off at the airport is fun, although I would rather be the one leaving on a jet plane. For my 16th birthday (many years ago) I was given my choice of where to go for dinner — I chose to eat at a restaurant at the airport, where I could watch the planes departing.
Yes also love airports they are great for people and plane watching.
My best bit of advise is to be polite and use your manners if your flight is delayed or you are late for your flight I find the airport and airline staff are more helpful if you don’t loose your temper at them.
Also it’s worth getting an app for the airport you are leaving or flying to on your phone they are a great help with airport maps and depature gates and times.
We always arrive early and like to pass the time at the airport by making a list of Celebrity Look-Alikes. You’d be surprised how many “almost” famous people we have seen rushing from terminal to terminal. Who knows, maybe someday we’ll even spot a real celebrity…hopefully Samantha Brown!
I feel a little bit smarter knowing that my family and I travels like Samantha Brown!! Early flights, exercising in the terminals, games and lists and do not forget all the people watching!! Airports are what you make them and I choose to make them part of a fun environment and part of the vacation experience.
Hi Samantha;Love your new web layout.
(wink)
Nice seeing you in Scottsdales AZ for the AMG Conference. You are the best!!!!
Love this article, great Airport Survival tips,
My 2 or 3 cents;
In Rule #4, I would add, Travelers can always be stress free by using a Travel Agent to rebook, reissue and find their best connections, they can seat, enjoy a Margaritha or Mojito in the lounge Bar without making any long lines at the Airline counters
7- I also reccomend travelers to invest in their luggage to be light and easy to carry around in case they have to run and change gates last minute.
8- Will be best to use Hand bags that allow you to free both hands , very useful when checking in, pulling the rest of baggage and when placing items in security (TSA) best are backpacks, or cross body bags,
9- As Floridian, I rarely wear socks, but traveling is good to buy a dollar store pair of socks to walk trough security, perhaps in the plane and then dont feel so guilty to toss them away.
10-I always travel with my Total Pillow,sqeezes in the backback,or I placed in the carry on handles,wont fall because is a close circle, gives great support for neck, back,elbows,great if you have to wait a long time at the gates.
Cant wait to my next trip..going to India in September and as always will be sure to use your Traveling tips! Happy Travels!..Cessy
I didn’t know they no longer make you keep your id and boarding pass out through the body scanner. That’s nice to know! You learn something new every day.
I’m also one of those rare people who love airports! I sometimes show up hours early just to get photos and video.
Thanks for sharing your tips!
If eligible enroll in the global entry program–makes clearing domestic security at those airports that have pre check and customs coming into the US both a snap.
This Content is very helpful to me, where iam going to travel first time.. My kid was 5 years old. so iam tensioned about selecting travel accessories for my travel. Here you gave us a very clear details for airport traveling necessary things, thanks. try to post necessary things in seasonal wearing also…
I was wondering, what classes do you have to take in high school to be a travel guide? What all do you have to do?
i always wear socks and birkenstocks on board. can easily slip in & out of the birks to go to the restroom. and if your feet swell on the plane, you can adjust the bands. great comfort.
i always try to fly virgin america from lax to jfk. among other good things, they allow you to plug your computer into their electrical system so you dont have to worry about your puter running out of juice. and you buy wi-fi access. great for reading the news & your email, etc.