Worst missed flight affected only one of our party. Iberia wouldn't let anyone accompany a disabled person. They took all the disabled persons alone without companions from plane on the tarmac. Rest of us were taken by separate bus. People in wheelchairs were left at airport entrance gate and abandoned. We understood they would bring our sister to the departure gate. By the time we realized they did not they would not let us go find her. It was a nightmare for her. Eventually she was able to board another flight and rejoin us in Rome.
Best missed flight was at Seattle. Ferry and bumper to bumper traffic caused us to be minutes late. Friendly Southwest gate agent immediately rebooked us on the next flight.
I’ve been flying internationally for almost 20 years. I never book a connection less than 3 hours, always plan to arrive at least 3 hours before scheduled departure. The only times I’ve missed a flight is when my arriving flight was delayed by more than my connection time. I would rather wait on the right side of security than be stressed in lines or traffic.
Even with pre-check, we’ve dialed up our extra time for the airport. We’ve had too many issues with rental car return waits, construction, amazingly long security lines, etc. It’s annoying to have extra time to kill at the airport but better than the stress and cost of a missed or nearly missed flight.
That's why I never book a connection under 90 minutes if I can help it, especially in a huge airport like Denver or Dallas. I also use the Flighty app. It gives you hyper-accurate updates on your inbound aircraft, often 20-30 minutes before the official airline app does. Knowing your first flight is going to be late before everyone else does gives you a huge head start on rebooking or planning your mad dash.
This happened to me today so this is very timely—but it wasn’t my fault. At 12:49 a.m. Delta emailed me and said it was canceling my 6 a.m. flight to Atlanta because the pilots needed additional rest time, which I fully understand. Delta also canceled my connection to the Caribbean later this morning and pushed both flights back until tomorrow. Ideally, they might have gotten me on another 6 a.m. from one of the two other nearby airports. Rebooking efforts were unsuccessful…..a bad start to what is to be a one-week work trip.
I used a local travel agency for my first trip to Europe in 2017. They told me they try to never book connecting flights with less than 4 hours between arrival/departure to avoid missing flights due to delays. I always use that mantra - I travel with at least one book AND I would rather sit in a airport than have to race to a gate or miss my flight.
A friend and I were traveling home to DFW through MIA on our way back from a medical mission in Haiti. It was my first international trip, and the first time either of us had traveled through MIA. We followed the crowds through all the checkpoints and mistakenly lost time in a baggage claim area for travelers making connecting flights where they needed to recheck luggage (we did not). We were a few minutes late to our gate and couldn’t board. The lovely United rep rebooked us for the next morning and gave us a voucher for a hotel with a shuttle, although she wasn’t obligated to do so. We had a few hours of sleep and caught a very early flight home the next morning. I am forever grateful to that gate agent!
I had an hour to get from one flight to another at Heathrow. When I got off the plane I was handed an orange card. I had to take a bus, a tram, 2 elevators and go through 2 security check points. My orange card barely got me to the gate in time. However my checked bag had no orange card. It did not arrive with me. It took 2 days for it to arrive. New rule you need more than an hour between flights if you have checked luggage.
If you have mobility issues of ANY kind, even minor ones, opt for a wheelchair. It will only cost you a tip but those pushers practically sprint through the crowded corridors. I was traveling with someone with a bad back and insisted she get a wheelchair. Turned out to be the best idea because we were at ORD arriving at gate one and our departure was at the total opposite end of the terminal - a 30 minute walk at a normal pace. We would have never made it!
Just a comment about airline apps. They are not always correct. Recently I had an airline change the gate and departure time and that info that was never updated on the app. This seemed crazy to me. It’s their app and the information should be updated as soon as a change is made.
Don’t just rely on the app. Check the boards at the airport or ask the gate agent for updated info.
For domestic flights, I like to arrive at the airport two hours before departure time. But for me, arrival means entering the terminal doors, not getting to the airport and needing to park the car or take an air train to the terminal.
Most flights are regular. Use an app like FlightAware to check previous flights of that same itinerary. Call the airport to find out baggage check times and cut off.
If your bags can’t fly, you have options still. Most airports have some sort of postal or even shipping option. Especially international airports often have a DHL ask you can ship your bags back home or to your destination usually overnight if you’re willing to pay.
They are extremely limited in the United States but some international airports here in nearly all international airports worldwide except curb to gate concierge services.
these services are often expensive, but every time I’ve used them I have had no problem and they can often be booked for every leg of your trip. They escort or guide you from the curb through security to your gate carry your bags take care of travel issues and make sure everything goes smoothly. many even offer transport from your house or Hotel as well.
return your rental the night before and use your Hotel’s shuttle or transport service.
I very nearly missed a flight when the airline changed the departure time twice. I wish I had known to change my push notifications ahead of time. Luckily I was close to the airport so I was barely able to make my flight. Lesson learned.
Worst missed flight affected only one of our party. Iberia wouldn't let anyone accompany a disabled person. They took all the disabled persons alone without companions from plane on the tarmac. Rest of us were taken by separate bus. People in wheelchairs were left at airport entrance gate and abandoned. We understood they would bring our sister to the departure gate. By the time we realized they did not they would not let us go find her. It was a nightmare for her. Eventually she was able to board another flight and rejoin us in Rome.
Best missed flight was at Seattle. Ferry and bumper to bumper traffic caused us to be minutes late. Friendly Southwest gate agent immediately rebooked us on the next flight.
I’ve been flying internationally for almost 20 years. I never book a connection less than 3 hours, always plan to arrive at least 3 hours before scheduled departure. The only times I’ve missed a flight is when my arriving flight was delayed by more than my connection time. I would rather wait on the right side of security than be stressed in lines or traffic.
Even with pre-check, we’ve dialed up our extra time for the airport. We’ve had too many issues with rental car return waits, construction, amazingly long security lines, etc. It’s annoying to have extra time to kill at the airport but better than the stress and cost of a missed or nearly missed flight.
That's one vote for "arrive at the airport early."
That's why I never book a connection under 90 minutes if I can help it, especially in a huge airport like Denver or Dallas. I also use the Flighty app. It gives you hyper-accurate updates on your inbound aircraft, often 20-30 minutes before the official airline app does. Knowing your first flight is going to be late before everyone else does gives you a huge head start on rebooking or planning your mad dash.
This happened to me today so this is very timely—but it wasn’t my fault. At 12:49 a.m. Delta emailed me and said it was canceling my 6 a.m. flight to Atlanta because the pilots needed additional rest time, which I fully understand. Delta also canceled my connection to the Caribbean later this morning and pushed both flights back until tomorrow. Ideally, they might have gotten me on another 6 a.m. from one of the two other nearby airports. Rebooking efforts were unsuccessful…..a bad start to what is to be a one-week work trip.
Shame on Delta.
That should have never happend.
Remember time zones and adjust your alarm clock.
Yep, good advice!
I used a local travel agency for my first trip to Europe in 2017. They told me they try to never book connecting flights with less than 4 hours between arrival/departure to avoid missing flights due to delays. I always use that mantra - I travel with at least one book AND I would rather sit in a airport than have to race to a gate or miss my flight.
A friend and I were traveling home to DFW through MIA on our way back from a medical mission in Haiti. It was my first international trip, and the first time either of us had traveled through MIA. We followed the crowds through all the checkpoints and mistakenly lost time in a baggage claim area for travelers making connecting flights where they needed to recheck luggage (we did not). We were a few minutes late to our gate and couldn’t board. The lovely United rep rebooked us for the next morning and gave us a voucher for a hotel with a shuttle, although she wasn’t obligated to do so. We had a few hours of sleep and caught a very early flight home the next morning. I am forever grateful to that gate agent!
I had an hour to get from one flight to another at Heathrow. When I got off the plane I was handed an orange card. I had to take a bus, a tram, 2 elevators and go through 2 security check points. My orange card barely got me to the gate in time. However my checked bag had no orange card. It did not arrive with me. It took 2 days for it to arrive. New rule you need more than an hour between flights if you have checked luggage.
If you have mobility issues of ANY kind, even minor ones, opt for a wheelchair. It will only cost you a tip but those pushers practically sprint through the crowded corridors. I was traveling with someone with a bad back and insisted she get a wheelchair. Turned out to be the best idea because we were at ORD arriving at gate one and our departure was at the total opposite end of the terminal - a 30 minute walk at a normal pace. We would have never made it!
Just a comment about airline apps. They are not always correct. Recently I had an airline change the gate and departure time and that info that was never updated on the app. This seemed crazy to me. It’s their app and the information should be updated as soon as a change is made.
Don’t just rely on the app. Check the boards at the airport or ask the gate agent for updated info.
For domestic flights, I like to arrive at the airport two hours before departure time. But for me, arrival means entering the terminal doors, not getting to the airport and needing to park the car or take an air train to the terminal.
more quick tips
Most flights are regular. Use an app like FlightAware to check previous flights of that same itinerary. Call the airport to find out baggage check times and cut off.
If your bags can’t fly, you have options still. Most airports have some sort of postal or even shipping option. Especially international airports often have a DHL ask you can ship your bags back home or to your destination usually overnight if you’re willing to pay.
They are extremely limited in the United States but some international airports here in nearly all international airports worldwide except curb to gate concierge services.
these services are often expensive, but every time I’ve used them I have had no problem and they can often be booked for every leg of your trip. They escort or guide you from the curb through security to your gate carry your bags take care of travel issues and make sure everything goes smoothly. many even offer transport from your house or Hotel as well.
return your rental the night before and use your Hotel’s shuttle or transport service.
Don’t check baggage unless you’re skiing, scuba-ing, bicycling … you get the idea. A carryon plus a personal item should hold everything you need.
I very nearly missed a flight when the airline changed the departure time twice. I wish I had known to change my push notifications ahead of time. Luckily I was close to the airport so I was barely able to make my flight. Lesson learned.
I missed a flight by misreading my flight information and showed up for my departure based on my arrival time! Embarrassing.