Here are some of the tips that we have learned over the years to avoid delays at the aiport. Please feel free to comment and add any tips of your own.
Check your flight's arrival
or departure time and for any flight delays prior to heading to the airport.
Flights are frequently delayed, and there is no need to spend extra time
waiting at the airport. You can check on flight schedules and flight delays
on-line at expectdelays.com, or through your airline on-line or by phone
(generally through an automated system)
Check for traffic or road
construction delays that might make your trip to the airport take longer than
expected. You can check traffic reports on-line at expect delays
(expectdelays.com)
by following the appropriate links in the “Traffic" section.
Get directions to the
airport. You can do this from many airport web sites, as well as from your
favorite on-line mapping site. Or, you can buy a good GPS and never worry about
driving directions again!
Check
the availability of airport parking. Many airports have more than one parking
option consisting of
multiple prices (usually based on distance from the terminal and whether you
would need to take a shuttle bus or not). Many airports list these parking
options on-line as well as the percent of spaces occupied and cost. This
information can help you estimate how long it may take to find a space (it
could be a long time if only a few spaces remain) or to decide to choose a
different lot. Some airports also now offer valet parking. Check you airport’s
home page to see if they offer this service. Also, you can check expectdelays.com for airport parking information.
Check airport delays,
flight
delays and weather conditions at your destination airport to anticipate
possible delays in your flight’s arrival or connecting flight’s departure. This
can be done easily from the main page at expectdelays.com.
If
you are returning a rental car or plan to pick one up upon your arrival at
your destination, it is
important to check on whether the rental car pick up (or drop off) area is "on-site" which you can walk to, or off-site" requiring a trip
on a shuttle bus. Many airports are moving towards having all their renal car
companies housed in an off-site rental car center, and it is important to allow
for the extra time required. This information is often found at the rental car
companies’ web sites, or at the airport web site. If in doubt, call first, and
get driving directions, as it can be very stressful searching for the rental
car return area when you are trying to catch a flight. Plus, if you haven’t
planned ahead for the extra time needed to ride a shuttle bus, you may miss
your flight!
Check on airport security line wait times. Some airports offer real-time security line wait information on-line, but if yours doesn't, you can find historical wait times for all airports on-line for every day and time, to give you some guidance. You guessed it - you can get this information from the eXpect delaYs web site.
Be Prepared for the security screening. If you follow the regulations and prepare, you should be able to get through the security screening without much hassle. Dress accordingly by not wearing any metal objects that you don't have to, and wear shoes that you can take off easily. Remove all metal objects, including your belt, and empty your pockets and put the items in your carry-on before you get to the front of the line. Remember to keep your ID and boarding pass handy. Remove you jacket and put it in a basket. In most cases you must also remove you shoes. Remove you laptop from its case and place it in a basket. Remember to have all liquids in 3 ounce bottles and in a separate clear quart size bag. For up do date detailed information, check the TSA website.
Always
print out your airline flight itinerary and confirmation number, hotel and
rental car confirmation
number, address and phone number, and rental car pick-up and drop off locations.
For those so inclined, all this information can be downloaded to your PDA. It’s
always a good idea to have a printout with you even if you have a PDA, because
you never know when some technical “glitch” will keep you from the information
in your PDA.
Check in for your flight
on-line and print your boarding pass if you aren't planning on checking
luggage. Then you can bypass the ticket counter and head straight to the
airport security check point. Remember
to double-check the restrictions for what you can put in your carry-on. Be sure
to check your airline’s website if you have any questions about carry-on size
or
weight restrictions or checked baggage number and weight allowances. Be careful
- many airlines add a surcharge for additional checked bags or overweight bags
and unless you enjoy being asked for an extra $50 or $75 (or more!) when you
are checking in, it behooves you to check the allowances ahead of time.
To save time when you reach your destination, use your favorite on-line mapping web site to map the route to your destination. Or if you are taking mass-transportation, be sure to check which bus / subway to take ahead of time (check expectdelays.com for this information), and always have your hotel’s address and phone number with you.
Please share with us any tips that you may have. Thanks!
(updated Sunday, February 24, 2008)
