Airport Travel Question

TeezNu · ‎03-10-2010

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.

“There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.” —Jackie French Koller

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

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.

Love my grandkids · ‎11-24-2013

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!

Helen852 · ‎03-11-2010

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.

Helen852

riley1 · ‎03-10-2010

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.

hopi · ‎03-09-2010

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.

Tantallum · ‎02-16-2011

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!

Annabellethecat66 · ‎03-12-2010

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.