Avoid Missing a Flight
Missing your flight can be a frustrating and even costly travel impediment. To ensure it does not happen, there are a few tips on how to avoid missing a flight, saving time, money, and aggravation.
Contents
Steps
- Pack everything you need in advance. The morning of a midday flight is not the time to start packing your luggage. Start preparing several days ahead or longer, to ensure you pack all that you will need and have time to buy or replace an item should you be missing something.
- Most airports have small "general" stores or kiosks where you can buy commonly misplaced luggage items, though often at much higher prices than average. Still, this can be a reasonable solution should you forget an item you wanted to pack.
- Adhere to all rules and restrictions about baggage. You do not want to get stuck paying airline baggage fees should your bags not comply with the rules.
- If possible, check in online. An increasing number of airlines offer services where you can check in for your flight online, typically effective from 24 hours before your departure time. This method saves time at the airport, and you won't be as rushed.
- Arrive early. Make an effort to Get to the Airport on Time, as you will have more time to get your tickets and everything you need to do ready to go. You should plan to be there no less than 2 hours before your scheduled flight. When you have everything ready for your flight, be patient, as there may be a long line heading into the plane.
- Know where your gate is.
- When people start boarding, it is a good idea to hurry and get your bags checked and get on the plane. If you do not know where your plane is, how can you be ready to leave?
- Stay calm.
- Various obstacles may affect your flight, including weather delays, mechanical problems, and many other problems may go wrong before you board. Be patient, and ready to board the plane.
- Follow instructions from airline and airport staff.
- The staff will most help you in telling you where your flight is, and what to do next, so it is always a good idea to listen to officials. Not only is this right, it is also expected and usually enforced.
Tips
- Respect all airline staff. Disrespecting personnel may hold you back, and be late for your flight.
- Don't hurt yourself by hurrying and panicking. There is no point in rushing if you miss your flight. Just kindly ask officials and staff for help. You may be able to fly standby on another flight (in case someone doesn't show up or cancels), but you need to be patient - after all, it's not the airline staff's fault that you weren't on time.
- Make sure your vehicle is working fine before heading to the airport. The last worry you want is to be late because your car broke down. If necessary, carry a battery jumper to start a dead car with. If you have a check engine light, it would be prudent to make sure it's not a serious problem before you leave.
Warnings
- Avoid losing your cool at airline staff if you've missed your flight. You may end up being refused service, banned from the airline or even arrested in some airports. It is not worth being abusive or argumentative towards someone who is trying to help you.
- Flights operated by low cost carriers will almost definitely not wait for latecomers. They often run on very tight schedules and thus cannot afford to sit around at the gate and wait for passengers who are late.
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- Take Good Photos from an Airplane Window Seat
