Getting to the airport can be stressful—but it doesn't have to be.
If you've ever missed a flight, or cut it too close for comfort, you know all too well the feeling of time standing still while waiting in the security line before rushing to your gate like $1 million was on the line. In order to avoid being late for any flights in the future, follow these tips.
1. RESEARCH YOUR ROUTE.
If you already know the route you need to take to get to your chosen airport, be sure to research what it's going to be like before heading out the door. Visit the Michigan Department of Transportation website, where there are live cameras showing traffic on popular roads and highways. This can be a great way to see in real time what your route looks like—along with researching if there's any ongoing construction to be aware of—and if any adjustments might need to be made.
2. BOOK YOUR RIDE AHEAD OF TIME.
If you're relying on ridesharing, taxi or a car service to get you to the airport in time for a flight, do yourself a favor and book the ride ahead of time. When it comes to Lyft, you can book a ride up to 30 days in advance, while the Uber booking window is up to 90 days ahead of time. Whichever service you choose, be sure to double check your information to ensure your ride is still able to arrive at your desired pickup time. And of course, always have a plan B in place.
3. DOWNLOAD YOUR AIRLINE'S APP.
Give yourself more control by downloading your chosen airline's mobile app! Not only do these apps allow you to stay informed with push notifications on delays, cancellations, gate changes and more, they also allow you to check-in to your flight on your smartphone. This in turn provides you with your boarding pass and allows you to skip the check-in line completely, assuming you're traveling with a carry-on bag or checked other luggage curbside. Another perk? You can often change your seat or make upgrades without having to see the gate agent.
4. CHECK SECURITY WAIT TIMES.
Did you know that TSA has an app with a feature allowing you to see approximate wait times for security lines at your chosen airport? Simply choose your airport, a day of the week and time window, and voila! This insight, which calculates how busy the airport is likely to be on your specific day and time of travel based on historical data, can help you plan ahead to get to the airport in a timely manner.
5. DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
Whether it's packing, paying your luggage fees or taking care of any "small" tasks at home you think will only take you a few minutes, it's best not to leave any last-minute to-dos hanging out there. You never know what kind of snags you may run into and how long those snags will take to smooth out. As the old saying goes, "Better safe than sorry!"
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
