Travel Hacks, Tips & Tricks

Are you aware that airlines overbook flights by selling more tickets than there are seats on an airplane to account for the people that are not going to show up at the airport aka no-shows? Even though you have purchased a plane ticket, it does not guarantee that you will have a seat saved for you in the plane. It is up to you to take the necessary actions to avoid not being allowed to catch your flight as scheduled. My advice is to listen to the proverb “The early bird gets the worm” and be that early bird and here is how. Check In Online as Early as Available This is not for everyone and also not for all situations but if it is available for your flight and your circumstances allow you to do it, you should definitely take advantage of it and do it as early as it is available which is usually 24 hours before your flight on the airline’s website or app. Some of the benefits are: 1.    It saves time since it allows you to bypass the check-in line at the airport.2.    It secures your seat and you get your boarding pass before stepping in to the airport.3.    It saves money by paying for bags and extras at cheaper online rates.   Arrive at Airport One Additional Hour Early The earlier you arrive at the airport to check in for your flight the better and always account for additional things that might cause delays like traffic, transportation issues, last minute emergencies and airport security lines. The safest is to assume that there will always be delays. Once you have accounted for potential delays, refer to this guide to help you know how early to arrive at the airport to make sure you are allowed to board your flight as planned: 1.    Domestic Flights: Aim to arrive 3 hours early since the general guidelines say 2 hours early.2.    International Flights: Aim to arrive 4 hours early since the general guidelines say 3 hours early. In summary, an early bird will never be left out of their own plane and will for sure get the worm. A funny story to close this article, once I arrived extra early to my gate at the Orlando International Airport for my flight to Portland, Maine and the flight before mine going to Los Angeles, California was about to start boarding and right there waiting to board was the one and only Slash the guitar player of my favorite band of my entire life, Guns N’ Roses.