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Airline Tips #5

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Advantages of getting to the Airport early

Arriving early helps you to get the better seats and make it though security to the gate check-in.

Airlines also have minimum time requirements to get your luggage on your flight. Getting there early will mean your luggage will make it on the same flight as you.

You have time so you can relax and watch others run through the airport.

This could save you from getting bumped on an overbooked flight.

Getting to the airport early means you can volunteer to be bumped if you like the Airline’s deal and aren’t in a big hurry. The Airlines offer premiums, such as free travel vouchers, to those who volunteer to be bumped.

Arriving late may mean you are bumped whether you like it or not.

How early should you get to the Airport

Follow the instructions included with your ticket.

U.S. Airlines recommend that you should plan on arriving early on both ends of your flight. At least one-hour before departure on domestic and two hours before departure on international flights. Some Airlines recommend arriving even earlier.

The tighter security measures adopted after the hijackings of four commercial passenger jets and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 1,1 2001, mean it will take passengers more time to make it through airport security. These new security measures also brought an end to all curbside and off-airport check-in at U.S. airports causing an increase at check-in counter lines. Because of this, most U.S. Airlines now recommend that passengers arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure on domestic and at least three hours before departure on international flights.

Note that most Airlines consider you to have arrived at the airport when you reach the check-in counter area and not just reached the airport property. If you are bringing your car, allow additional time to park the car and reach the terminal building. You should also allow for longer check-in lines during periods of peak travel.

The advance arrival time required may vary depending on the airport you use. Some airports handle an incredible volume of traffic and are so physically large that they may require an even earlier arrival time.

During peak travel season or periods of heightened security alert, you should contact the Airline directly for instructions concerning your arrival at the airport. Many airlines will have updated information available on their web sites and toll free phone numbers. You might also check out the web site of both your arrival and destination airport. Security measures or other conditions may have changed since your ticket was issued and those changes may make it necessary for you to arrive earlier than originally recommended.

Please be aware that Airlines have recommended arrival times and stricter REQUIRED arrival times. All Airlines do REQUIRE that you arrive at the check-in counter, the flight's departure gate and even onboard and in your assigned seat a prescribed amount of time before the flight's scheduled departure time. The amount of the advance arrival time required varies depending on the Airline you are using. Most Airlines' conditions of carriage state that with many of their tickets, failure to arrive at the check-in counter, the flight's departure gate and your assigned seat a prescribed amount of time before the flight's scheduled departure time may cause you to be denied boarding and cause you to forfeit any refund or other compensation due for the unused ticket even if you have advance seat assignments and advance boarding passes.

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