6 Airport Travel Tips To Avoid Missing A Flight

Missing a flight is never fun. There are so many culprits during travel that can contribute to a missed flight. But this is completely avoidable with the right planning and knowledge. And what better way to get insider knowledge than from other travelers! In this post, I’m sharing 6 airport travel tips to avoid missing a flight. These are things I do every time I travel and it makes my travel days go smoothly.

1. Sign up for airline updates.

Did you know most airlines send flight updates to their passengers the day of the flight?

Yep, it’s true!

Get information such as delays, cancellations, and gate changes sent straight to your phone. You’ll also receive reminders 15 minutes prior to boarding and when boarding begins. These updates can come in handy if you are grabbing food or doing some shopping as it can be your signal to head back to your gate.

To get these updates, you’ll need to create an online profile with the airline you’ll be flying with.

I can’t say every airline sends these updates but I generally fly with American Airlines, Delta, and United and get these updates from them.

2. Always find your gate first.

I’m that person that refuses to be left by the plane. The first thing I do after security is find my gate. I don’t care if I have hours before my flight boards, I’m finding my gate!

It’s actually more common than you think for people to miss flights simply because they didn’t get to their gate in time. Often times, people will grab food or do a bit of shopping first not realizing how far away they are from their assigned gate.

3. Give yourself enough time in between flights.

Layovers can be annoying, especially on return flights when you’re tired and ready to get home. I personally try and book flights with the shortest layover possible. But with that said, anything under 90 minutes for international and 60 minutes for domestic will be taking a huge risk. There are so many factors that may require extra time such as having to recheck luggage, going through customs, or even out of order airport transportation which means you have to walk to your terminal instead of taking the very convenient airport train.

I ran into this problem at the Atlanta airport where the trains were out of order. I had about 70 minutes to get through customs, recheck my luggage, and get back through security. To put the cherry on top, the trains were down so I had to walk to my terminal and then to my gate. I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it because Atlanta airport is huge. But thankfully I did! So needless to say, that extra time you give yourself is essential to navigating these types of unexpected surprises.

4. Reduce excess baggage.

I know a lot of people travel carry on only. But remember to be smart about it. Don’t let your luggage hold you back and slow you down. Think about how much time you’ll have in the airport and if you’ll need to be moving quickly to get to your gate.

Also, the more stuff you have, the more likely you are to lose something. You don’t want to waste valuable time backtracking your steps to find something you dropped or left behind.

Wanna learn how to reduce excess baggage? Checkout 7 Space Saving Packing Tips That Will Have You Packing Like A Pro

5. Stay in close proximity to your assigned gate.

Most airports have food, stores, and shopping in close proximity to each terminal. If you have 2 hours or less before boarding, it’s a good idea to stay in the area so you can get back quickly. It’s easy to underestimate how fast time goes and how quickly the boarding process starts and finishes. Boarding usually only lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, and if you’re not there and the boarding closes, you’re not getting on your flight.

6. Get to the airport on time.

This might sound like a no brainer, but I have seen so many people arrive to the airport too late. It is recommended to arrive at least 2 hours prior for domestic and 3 hours prior for international flight.

Did you know if you arrive to close to boarding time, the airline desk can deny you from attempting to catch your flight?

Yep! I have seen if first hand. A passenger arrived 90 minutes before her flight and the desk wouldn’t let her check her bag and go through security. To be honest, the airport wasn’t very big and I believe the passenger could’ve gotten through security and to her gate with time to spare. However, they still wouldn’t let her through. So be sure to take information the airlines give you seriously and arrive at the recommended time.