What sort of air traveller are you?

Well, I work for an airline, and believe me, it's get to the airport early! And there are a number of reasons, obviously there is to cover for unforseen events (traffic jams etc.), then I'm kind of funny, I like for my luggage to get there as well, if you show up 20 min before the flight and your gate is a way away from the counter, you can't expect your luggage to be screened, sorted, and delivered to the plane before they have to push back. A huge time saver BTW, print your boarding pass ahead of time from home if your airline permits it. In the US, you can print it up to 24 hours ahead, you get better choices on seats that way as well.

 

That is how I plan it too. Even my folks taught me "better an hour early than 5 minutes late"

Some folks like to eat at airports, not sure why when you consider the cost and iffy quality. Some folks like to sit in a bar and booze, that's a no-no for air travel, and I'm a boozer myself

I like to sit at the gate, laptop out, and get work out of the way. The nature of my work, frequently I have project issues that demand last-minute revisions

Once, I was *very* tired waiting for a flight at Vancouver, and told the nice lady at the gate I was tired, would probably be napping, and to please wake me when boarding started. She did indeed wake me when boarding started

Not sure what to say about your missus. I think I would have just stuffed her into an overhead bin for the duration of the flight. Maybe that explains why I'm happily single

 

Early, always. Actually, i usually download a movie the night before and plan to get to the airport with enough time to watch it on my laptop before they start boarding

And let me tell you... missing a flight is absolutely no fun. When i was younger, we had a family vacation somewhere (can't remember where) and something got screwed up with the tickets and hotel and such... in the end, it turned out our tickets were for the day before the day we wanted to leave - We got to the airport, went to check in, and the lady behind the counter said "I'm sorry sir, but these tickets are for yesterday" That was the day my dad swore off buying tickets online...

 

For business travel, I'll be the early person (usually 1-2 hours before departure). I like to chill at the airport pub with some warm food and cold beer (as permitted). If TV available, I'll try to catch up some sport updates or world news update. I'll also try to do some work on laptop and reply some emails on the blackberry.

When travel with family, I'll probably will be a on-time person (with a few mins to spare). Most time, I will try to push an early arrival.

 

I like to be at the gate about an hour before departure. However, as others have said, when traveling with my family, it's a whole other ballgame. I have to be their alarm clock and be "on them" to make sure we get to the airport with time to spare.

The only time I ever missed a flight was on our honeymoon (yes it's true). We were in Hawaii and for the first time in my million miles of flying, I relied on my memory instead of my printed itinerary as to when the plane was departing to come back home. I was so sure of the departure time that I stupidly didn't bother to double check the itinerary. I guess I was in such bliss that my brain wasn't operating properly. My wife didn't think it was that funny, especially when we had to pay extra for the next flight out. We laugh about it now, sort of.

 

Early. Fortunately, my current husband (the Keeper) is in agreement on this. Travel is easy for us.

We avoid flying whenever possible, but having mismatched travel schedulers is not one of our stresses.

 

Quite true, that. I've only ever missed one flight and that was a military flight out to a school I needed to attend in Utah (PLDC for those who care). It wasn't my fault though, I was massively hung-over.

 

You must have heard about what happened to me on Sunday. It was so blazingly hot, I had no choice but to guzzle barley pop

 

I'm the early type (but I consider 30 mins prior to boarding to be early). I like to read and watch people.

My wife was apparently raised in a bizzaro universe where it is preferable to be late.

On one of our last international flights together (we are still married, but don't fly united) we arrived and checked in at the airport 45 mins before departure. This was too long for she-who-must so she bundled herself and one of the kids out to a taxi to find something else to do. She returned 60 mins later (I and the other kid had boarded our plane long ago) and serenely took her seat. She and the kid had gone for a "short harbour cruise" on a vehicular ferry.

Crap. We can still take car trips together, barely.

 

When I was flying every week I was able to charge my meal expense at the airport to my employer.

Then it was off to the First Class/Frequent Flier lounge for some free drinks.

 

Yes, I'm allowed either a per diem or I just eat wherever I please and save receipts.

The thing about airport eating is that it's way overpriced, and the quality is generally iffy at best

 

Yes, but at least you can buy food in airports now. The relatively recent proliferation of food courts is a great idea. We're a ways yet from fine dining, but it still beats airline food. And you're lucky to get that these days. Those of us in baggage class don't even get peanuts thrown at us any more.

 

I just wanted to share my BEST experience ever eating at an airport.... Portland, Oregon! There is a pizza place there... not only do they have several pies available (fresh and hot) that you can order slices from, the price is actually reasonable!!! I forget what we paid, but two slices and some soda was what I'd expect to pay if I got it in town or something. (I think it was $3 or less per slice). And it was actually quite tasty, not like those single-serve box pizzas.

 

I hate flying!!! But I do it because there are places I want to get to. They want you there 90 minutes early for domestic flights, and 2 hours for international, and I allow an extra 30 minutes for traffic delays unless I am at a hotel near an airport, in which case I arrive at the suggested times.

I've missed plenty of flights, but only ever due to connections: the flight I am on arrives late.

Airport food is mediocre, but when you have 3 flights in a day, it's that or nothing. Often the Mexican place has a decent veggie burrito, and the Subways or Quiznos is always an acceptable meal. Sometimes an airport has nothing I can eat and I do without. Airlines used to offer veggie meals if requested in advance, but few do anymore. And with very few exceptions, airport food is better than airline food. Outbound, I pack a sandwich, but on the return trip, or the second day of a two-day trip, that's not an option.

I have learned the hard way that when changing airlines (as often happens when flying international from a small city like Fargo or Spokane) it's 50/50 whether my bags will make the connection, even when there's plenty of time. So if I'm going on a programmed tour (e.g. inn-to-inn hiking in Scotland) it's best to leave in the afternoon and spend the night in my international departure city, and then arrive at my destination a day before the tour starts.

And I will NEVER fly Northworst. When neither the management nor the ticket agents give a damn whether you get where you're going, and with a 50/50 record of misdirected baggage, you're better off buying a lottery ticket than a ticket to fly with them.

 

Wow. I don't know what lotteries you've got out there in the west, but if the odds are better than 50/50, I want in!

BTW, I totally agree with you about NW; I don't think I've ever had a pleasant experience flying with them.

 

When changing airlines, stay with one in the same alliance ie. Skyteam, Oneworld, etc. your luggage will be checked through to the final destination, no hassle.
I fly NWA 99%+ of the time (duh, MSP), I have NEVER had any problems and believe me, I fly ALOT, like 1 to 2 trips a week on average, both domestic and international and never had a piece of mishandled luggage ever, nor have I ever had any damage to my luggage. As for mishandled luggage, I have it on very good authority that it is in the range of 1.3 to 1.4 pieces per 100,000.

 

I just can't believe this. I don't travel a lot (I've probably made 50 round trips in my life) and I've had my luggage lost ~5 times. So, on 100 one-way "legs," I've had luggage lost 5% of the time. Compare this to your number that is ~0.001%. Basically, you're saying that my luggage is lost 5000 times more often than "normal." It's worth pointing out that my travel habits are in no way extreme and, as I pointed out earlier in this thread, I usually get to the airport at least 1.5 hours early.

 

I've probably made 300 round trips. My luggage was lost 2x. Both on a round tip to St Louis. That's right, coming and going on the same trip. TWA deserved to go out of business.