PTN Blog

With this holiday season promising to be the busiest travel season ever, you’ll want to do everything you can to minimize delays. And you’d be surprised just how much you can do on your own to cut down your travel time:

Booking your travel

1. If possible, book non-stop flights, or at least flights with only a stop, not a plane change. Every stop is an opportunity for a delay, and plane changes open the door for missing your connecting flight completely.
2. If you have to change planes, make sure there’s at least an hour in between your arrival and the departure of your connecting flight. You may be tempted by a shorter layover, but if your first flight is delayed and causes you to miss your connecting flight, you’ve lost a lot more than 15-2o minutes.
3. Avoid the largest hub airports, like New York JFK, Los Angeles LAX and Chicago O’Hare. These airports operate at a much higher percentage of total capacity all the time, and the increased long-distance travel during the holiday season taxes them even more. Smaller airports typically have more “slack” room in their facilities.
4. Consider flying to a nearby airport and driving to your destination from there - it may be faster (and cheaper). Try Orange County instead of LAX or Oakland instead of San Francisco. Philadelphia is less than 2 hours drive from New York, and Hartford is just a little over 2 hours.
5. Avoid peak travel times. Traveling early in the morning will avoid congestion and reduce the risk of your flight being impacted by assumulated delays throughout the day.
6. Enroll in your car rental’s club program, and consider joining the premium program. With most premium programs, you can skip the desk entirely - just show your driver’s license and pick up your keys. You’ll also have instant return — just leave the keys in the ignition, grab your bags and go!
7. If you’re going to be taking a shuttle instead of renting a car or using a taxi, research it and book it ahead of time. Costs and schedules vary greatly between providers.
8. Do a little research. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics provides information on the most delayed airports to fly into and out of (Atlanta tops both lists), most delayed carriers and most delayed specific flights.

Preparing for the trip

9. Check in online. Many airlines now allow you to check in online up to 24 hours in advance of your flight. If you’re not checking luggage, this will save you a trip to the counter. Even if you are, it will shave some time off at the airport, plus give you a better position in line on airlines that do open seating, like Southwest.
10. Be sure your carry-on is within the size requirements. For most airlines, it’s 45 linear inches (add the length, width and height together).
11. If you’re packing a lot of stuff, consider using two bags instead of one large one. You’re allowed two pieces of luggage, but a single piece that’s overweight (usually 50 lbs.) will slow you down at the counter, as you’ll have to pay the oversize luggage fee.
12. Bags with stable rollers will really speed you up in the airport. The typical rectangular luggage with four wheels on the bottom and a little clip-on pull strap is not stable (just watch people around the airport dealing with those constantly falling over). Stable rolling luggage typically has two wheels and a firm handle.
13. Be sure that everything in your carry-on is allowable. Besides the obvious (no knives or other sharp metal objects), if you haven’t traveled recently, you may not know about the new regulations regarding liquids, gels and aerosols:
    - All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed.
    - All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. That’s important — if you don’t have it in a quart-size, zip-top bag, you’re not taking your shampoo, hand lotion, etc., on the plane.
    See the TSA list of permitted and prohibited items for more details. Really. Look it over - it will save you a lot of hassle.
14. Check your flight status. No point in rushing to the airport if your flight is two hours late. However, be careful. If it’s delayed because of weather, those delays can sometimes disappear in an instant. I missed a flight once - I was in the airport and they said it was a 2-hour delay, so I went to eat in the restaurant. When I got to the gate, they said that the weather had cleared and the plane was gone!
15. Load your cell phone with the numbers for your airline, car rental company, hotel and any local hosts who are expecting you.
16. Print your travel confirmation and itinerary, plus a map to your first destination and those phone numbers (cell phones can get lost or go dead).
17. Dress for the security checkpoint. Don’t wear any metal - belt buckles, underwire bras, heavy jewelry, body piercings, clothing with metal buttons or studs, etc. Also, wear shoes that are easy-off, easy-on. Everyone has to take off their shoes — even sandals.
18. Take something to do during any dead time you have — a book, MP3 player, games for the kids, etc. It won’t get you there any sooner, but it will make the time go faster.
19. Carry cash — at least $50. Most taxis don’t take credit cards, and there are any number of situations in which cash will come in handy.
20. Leave early! Arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight. You may be able to (or need to) adjust that up or down depending on the airport, the time of day, your luggage, etc.

At the airport

21. If time is tight, curbside check-in is well worth the few dollars tip to the skycap.
22. Have your picture ID handy (I usually keep mine in my pocket until I get to the gate).
23. Get through security before stopping to eat or buy snacks or drinks to carry on. Oh, and bottled water can’t be carried through security — you’ll have to chug it or throw it out.
24. Stay near the gate. If there are any changes in your flight status, they’ll announce it at the gate, but not throughout the whole airport, and that can cause you to miss a flight (see above).
25. If you do get stuck, be nice, but be persistent. Airlines can re-route you, and contrary to their first reaction, if you have to stay overnight, they can provide lodging on a limited basis. A lot of it us up to employee discretion, though, so be friendly, tell them your story, but don’t take “no” for an answer, and you may find someone willing and able to help.

For more tips, see TSA Traveler’s Information and FAA Passenger Information.

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