5 Things You Should Always Do to Avoid Missing Your Flight
Nothing is worse than missing your flight. Depending on the airline’s generosity and availability of flights, you could end up majorly out of pocket or waiting around for hours for the next seat, meaning you miss precious vacation time or important appointments. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and do everything you can to avoid missing your flight, and here are some tips to help you out.
- Double-check the details
It’s important that when you book the flight, you put the details into your phone’s calendar, so you know exactly what time you need to arrive to check-in. However, flight times can change either due to operational reasons or because of weather or other issues, so make sure you check your flight details online the day before you fly to see if they’ve changed. You should also look out for any last-minute texts or e-mails from the airline in case things change.
- Don’t get held up at security
Many a flight has been missed because of issues getting through security, so make sure you’re well-prepared.
- Check none of the liquids in your carry-on exceed 100ml
- Place your liquids in a clear bag
- Keep your electrical items in a separate pouch so you can place them on the tray
- Wear shoes that are easy to slip off and on and avoid heavy layers
- Keep your documents in your pocket so that they’re easy to access
This means that even if there’s a long queue at security, you can get through quickly and don’t need to wait while your bags are double-checked.
- Book your airport parking space
Nothing is worse than circling around the airport, trying to find a space in a parking lot when check-in is about to close. During the busy holiday season and summer, airport parking lots can be packed, so book in advance via cheapairportparking.org to ensure you get a space.
- Finish packing the night before
Even if your flight is in the afternoon, don’t leave it until the last minute to pack. You’ll end up feeling flustered and rushed and end up dashing out the door at the last possible second. Get your luggage packed and set out your outfit for the plane the night before. That way, you can get up, have breakfast, and do any last-minute chores at a leisurely pace instead of running around looking for stuff.
- Arrive in plenty of time
It’s better to arrive early at the airport and be a little bored than to spend hundreds of dollars because you miss your flight. As a general rule, you need to get there three hours early for international, two hours for domestic, but if it’s a large airport or a particularly busy time, you may want to leave more time. If you’re taking public transport, be sure to allow for traffic or overcrowded services.
Nobody wants to deal with the stress of missing their flight, so follow the above tips, and you can minimize the risk of that happening.