Getting to the Gate on Time

Have you ever run through the airport? I have and let me tell you, it is not something that I want to do any more than what I have to. I have been ushered out of line at the airport and rushed down to security because the line was so long and so slow that I was going to miss my flight. There are times when all of us are running a little further behind than what we want to be running but there are ways to shave some precious minutes off of the wait at the airport. Here are some tips that will help to get you from your car to the gate in the shortest time possible.

1. Online Check In – One thing that you should take advantage of is the online check in that many of the airlines now offer. Although you have to do this within about 24 hours of your flight it will help you to make the trip from the car down to security much faster. They have kiosks inside the airport set up for those of you that have taken advantage of online flight check in and you can also use one of the porters that are outside and will take your bags and check you in. The lines outside are generally much shorter and move a lot faster than the lines inside. Just make sure that you tip the porter for his trouble.

2. Prepare for Security – Don’t wait until you are in line at the security check point to prepare. You should walk into that line already prepared to go straight through. Some of the things that you can do to speed up the process is have your cell phone and any other objects in your pocket stored in your carry on bag, wear shoes that are easy to take on and off, be ready to take out your video camera and laptop and place them in a separate bin and have your ticket and id ready for inspection.

By keeping these two things in mind when preparing for a trip to the airport you will help to speed up the time it take you to get to the gate. This will give you extra time to sit and relax with a cup of coffee or whatever you like, or if you are running late it will help you not to miss your flight.