5 facts to consider in order not to lose your flight
The fear of losing the flight that haunts many. Losing your flight can ruin your vacation, it can cost you a work appointment or a family reunion.
The risk of a flight cancellation or a delayed flight is already high enough, but there are some facts that can make only you lose the flight. I can tell you by personal experience and by cases I have witnessed. Here are the key facts that you must take into consideration to avoid losing a flight.
1. Calculate the distance to the airport
This is your beginning point, estimating the time needed to reach the departures of the airport. If the airport is around the corner, it’s a great fortune. If the airport is one or two hours away by car, you should calculate the chance of any unexpected events such as traffic, accidents, works in progress, strikes or bad weather conditions along the way.
If you are in a foreign country and have to return home, you should ask information for all the above in advance. Not always can you estimate the time needed without knowing the traffic conditions on the way, which you probably don’t even imagine there may be any in the first place.
You should evaluate your parking options: if you are going to park directly at the airport or at an external parking and may need to use a mini bus service to arrive at departures (it takes up some of your time). If you are reaching the airport by public means of transportation, make sure you arrive in advance since delays can occur there too.
My advice is to calculate your time allowing extra time for unexpected events, from the time you leave your house until the departures gate.
2. Travel with the correct documentation and the appropriate luggage
I once risked losing the flight because, at check in the staff noted that my ID card had expired one week ago. Luckily, I was not far from home and took my passport instead. A very ordinary mistake even for someone who is used to traveling a lot. Ever since I learned my lesson, to check the expiration dates of the travelling documents.
You understand the importance of making sure that you have everything checked, not only your ID card but also any other accompanying document like an entry visa or permit. If those are not as required, you may be denied boarding the flight.
Pay attention also that your luggage (that you bring on board or you check in) respects the dimensions and weight allowed according to your travelling class indicated on your ticket. A luggage that exceeds weight, may not only make you pay an extra fee, but also waste your time and energy to sort the problem out.
3. The long lines at check-in, security and passport controls
This is a focal point. The more the airport you travel from is crowded, the more you can expect getting stuck at those long lines, especially at high seasons. Don’t think that everybody is waiting for you at controls. Those waiting lines can consume a big amount of your available time to affront these three key steps:
- check-in at the airport for yourself and your luggage: the trend is that almost all passengers arrive at the same time and therefore you can expect a big waiting time before you check in your luggage;
- security controls: I have witnessed lines of hundreds of meters, waiting time of more than one hour. These are extreme examples, but keep in mind that passing security controls takes time. My mind goes to the airport of Tel Aviv, Israel where the security controls are asphyxiating (sometimes arriving three hours in advance is not enough time);
- passport controls: in order to get to international departure areas you may have to affront extra controls. Also in this case, you may find long waiting lines.
Make sure not to underestimate this fact and inform yourself in advance if you have never visited before that particular airport, otherwise you will have to be the person that screams that you are losing your flight in the hope of people letting you cut in front of them!
4. The position of your departure gate and tight flight connections
I chose to put these points together because both depend on the airport’s design and the distances you have to cover. At big airports and more importantly if it is your first time there, it’s a good idea to locate your departure gate or the correct terminal. At least you will know where it is and you will no longer have the anxiety of how much time you need to get to it.
If you are on a multi connection flight, make sure you have enough time between. If your next flight is in less than one hour, you are already on the verge of losing the next one, at least at some airports.
It is very easy to lose a flight if you don’t have enough time to reach the next gate. Usually, they do allow you to board if you come from a connecting flight, but sometimes they don’t. Especially if you must change terminals, that may take up time. There are many cases where people arrive at the gate to find it closed. At that point, there is no way they will let you board.
5. Overbooking
If you are one of the last passengers to check in, it may happen that you are told that the plane is “already full”. But how is that possible since you have bought a ticket even months ago? Many times, airlines will sell more tickets than the seats available, taking into consideration statistics that someone may not show at the boarding gate and therefore this way they make more money.
This last point can be easily avoided by checking-in in advance. The sooner you do it, the sooner you secure your seat on board.
All the same, you may be asked if you would be willing to lose the flight in exchange for an economic compensation, but in this case the choice is yours.
Considering all the above, I recommend leaving early and informed. It is such a simple advice, but so important so that you don’t run around at the last minute at the airport, especially at an airport that you don’t know.
The same advice is valid also for the airports that you have been before: the same flight that you may be taking regularly can be lost for some unexpected reason.
Have a nice flight!
