topic Re: Airport Travel Question in Community Chat

Airport Travel Question

TeezNu — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 21:40:24 GMT

After hearing horror stories about the very long wait lines, missed flights, etc., would I be less likely to encounter these problems if I book flights very early in the morning, very late at night, or even in the middle of the night? It has been over 15 years since I have flown. Thanks.

Re: Airport Travel Question

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 21:52:23 GMT

I don't know which airport you will be flying out of, and that may affect the answers that you get.

Early morning travlers tend to be more your business travelers.

Mid-morning tend to be vacationers.

If I had a choice, I would go with the late night flight.

Whatever you decide, be sure to get there 3 - 4 before scheduled departure.

Just in case anything unforseen happens.

I would rather spend hours sitting in front of my gate, because I arrived too early, than have to run through the airport, because I didn't get there soon enough.

Re: Airport Travel Question

Love my grandkids — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 21:53:54 GMT

I fly once a year between SEATAC and LAX. I always book early a.m. flights. This year my flight leaves at 5 a.m. You couldn't pay me to take late flights. I see on the news that the lines at SEATAC are not that bad and normally early a.m. the longest I think I was ever in line was maybe 15 minutes.

Wish you the best of luck!

Re: Airport Travel Question

Helen852 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 22:06:33 GMT

Within the last week travelled from Buffalo NY to Las Vegas. Left Buffalo in the morning at 7:30, no lines ... return flight left at 5:45PM, again, no lines at all.

We have TSA Pre Check, but in LV they didn't have it at the departing gate, but still no lines at all.

Also, some airports won't allow check in more than 3 hours prior to departing. Check with the airports website before departing.

Re: Airport Travel Question

riley1 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 22:11:48 GMT

Depends on where you are leaving from/going. I usually try and get an early am flight out - not that the security lines at LaGuardia are any shorter. Now that summer is here if you have a connecting flight, you run the risk of thunderstorms holding up the incoming flight on a later flight.

I don't know if there is an easy answer as there are many factors to consider.

Re: Airport Travel Question

hopi — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 22:12:47 GMT

Earlier you fly the more empty the airport is, also cleaner, less delays.

Also purchase the pre board pass and sometimes you get a tsa clearance and you fly thru.

Re: Airport Travel Question

Tantallum — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 22:18:32 GMT

The TSA problems that lead to the crazy long waits a few weeks ago have largely resolved. So it's back to normal which still means some waits, but it's not making the news anymore.

If you have the option, it's always better to book early morning flights. The plane you take in the evening has been flying around the country all day and the later your flight, the greater the chance an earlier delay will have domino effect on your flight. If you take an early morning flight, the plane is either already at the gate from the night before or is coming from just one other place; only one other chance to get delayed!

Re: Airport Travel Question

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 22:33:02 GMT

My daughter travels quite often. As we are here now she is at the airport (Orlando, can you believe) on her way back to Colorado.

She said she walked past all of the long lines by something she did a long time ago. It has something to do with pre-registering. She said it isn't cheap and they take your fingerprints and other identifications but you get to skip the long lines.

Her male friend she sometimes travels with said he doesn't want the government intrusion and didn't sign up for it.

I assume people who travel a lot for work know what it is. I don't travel a lot and since my fingerprints, etc are already on record, I will probably sign up for it because I gave up worrying about government intrusion when I worked at the Pentagon! Ha!

You might look into it.

Re: Airport Travel Question

Carriestp — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 22:54:50 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 wrote:

I assume people who travel a lot for work know what it is.

TSA Pre√

https://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck

Re: Airport Travel Question

K9buddy — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 01:23:01 GMT

Dfinitely travel early AM. The later the flight, the more chance of delays. Look into getting tsa pre check to eliminate waiting in long lines.

Re: Airport Travel Question

lulu2 — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 01:35:52 GMT

We usually fly out of Newark. Week days, early morning is often chaos with business people. The lines are shorter late morning and early afternoon. After 5 is hectic again with business people returning home or leaving for early morning meetings.

Summer is always hectic.

Re: Airport Travel Question

K9buddy — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 02:29:48 GMT

For me, the flight delays that occur later in the day is much more annoying than having to go through long security lines.

Re: Airport Travel Question

bonnielu — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 03:07:12 GMT

I fly early in the morning. I also get there early. So far no long lines. I also check my bags and carry on just a small tote bag to put in my cell and reading material (of course ID and some necessary items)

I have not done Precheck as yet. I have no fingerprints and have not gotten around to get the Id thing done.

Re: Airport Travel Question

sassenach1 — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 03:12:10 GMT

Frequent flyer and business traveler here. I am on at least four flights a week. Early morning and early evening flights are generally full of us business travlers. Mid day is generally leisure travlelers. Go to TSA website to read and follow rules. Be prepared and make sure you are completely ready to go through security. I am actually rarely delayed, not to say it hasn't happened. I am loyal to Southwest and they are excellent.

Re: Airport Travel Question

TeezNu — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 03:14:14 GMT

Thanks everyone, for the very helpful info and advice.

I would be flying out of DFW to LAX, or to Maui.

Re: Airport Travel Question

Stray — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 11:50:26 GMT

It depends where you are flying to and from. I fly out of either NJ or NY....I am there early and have never had a problem with long lines. I also have global access and fly international mostly.

Re: Airport Travel Question

BabyYoda — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:05:17 GMT

I agree with others to get the earliest flight out. They leave on time. Later in the day is when flights get delayed.

Re: Airport Travel Question

RetRN — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:26:31 GMT

Definitely early AM. I hope you have a safe trip and a wonderful time.

Re: Airport Travel Question

World Traveler — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:33:02 GMT

Earliest possible flight of the day.

TSA Pre Check in the States - $85, good for five years

internationally, Global Entry - $100, good for five years

Re: Airport Travel Question

muttmom — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:58:35 GMT

We fly out of LaGuardia or Newark and usually book morning flights. They are sometimes delayed because they originate from smaller airports in the Northeast. A few times our flight was cancelled and we were bumped to stand-by on the next flight. Because flights from these airports tend to be filled, stand-by can mean a long wait.

A lot of international flights are PM flights. In May we had one to Paris. The security line was about 2 hours long.

Wednesday my husband had a noon flight. Security took 15 minutes and his flight left on time.

You just never know.