Airport travel has gotten complicated with all the conflicting advice flying around. Half the internet tells you to show up three hours early, the other half says ninety minutes is fine. I’ve been on both sides of that argument and lost once — missed a connection in Denver because I thought an hour layover was “plenty of time.” It wasn’t.
So here’s what I’ve actually learned from flying more times than I’d like to admit.
1. Know Your Airport Before You Get There
This sounds obvious but I skipped this step for years. Big mistake. Airports like Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta or O’Hare in Chicago are genuinely massive. We’re talking multiple terminals connected by trains and shuttles. Most airports have interactive maps on their websites now, and spending five minutes looking at one the night before can save you twenty minutes of confused wandering when you land. I always check where my gate is relative to where I’m arriving, especially during layovers. Probably should have led with this, honestly, because it’s the one thing that changed how I travel the most.
2. Check In Online the Moment You Can
Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. I literally have calendar reminders set for this. Southwest, Delta, United — they all have apps that handle it in about thirty seconds. The real benefit isn’t just skipping the counter line, though that’s nice. It’s that you get to see your seat assignment early, and on airlines like Southwest where seating is open, checking in right at that 24-hour mark can mean the difference between a window seat and the middle seat next to the lavatory. Ask me how I know.
3. Get Through Security Without Being That Person
Look, nobody enjoys the security line. But you can make it way less painful. Wear shoes you can slip off. Skip the belt if your pants will cooperate. Have your liquids — anything over 3.4 ounces gets tossed, no exceptions unless it’s medication or baby stuff — already in a clear bag and easy to pull out. I keep a dedicated quart-size bag packed in my carry-on at all times so I never have to think about it. The people who hold up the line are the ones who forgot about the water bottle at the bottom of their bag. Don’t be them. I’ve been them. It’s not fun.
4. Food, Charging, and Killing Time
Some airports are genuinely enjoyable places to hang out. Singapore Changi has a butterfly garden and a rooftop pool, which is kind of absurd in the best way. That’s what makes Changi endearing — it doesn’t feel like an airport at all. Most domestic airports aren’t quite that exciting, but they’ve gotten a lot better. Real restaurants, decent coffee, sometimes even local spots worth trying. My one firm rule: charge your phone before you leave home and bring a portable battery. Nothing worse than a dead phone when you need your boarding pass or want to kill a two-hour delay with a podcast. I learned that one the hard way at LaGuardia, sitting on the floor next to the one available outlet like it was 2007.
5. Stay on Top of Changes
Flight schedules shift constantly. Gates change. Delays pop up. I check my airline’s app obsessively — maybe too much, honestly — but I’d rather glance at my phone ten times than find out my gate moved to the other end of the terminal five minutes before boarding. The departure boards in the terminal are helpful too, but the app usually updates faster. Set up notifications if your airline offers them. I once had a gate change three times in an hour at JFK and only knew because the app pinged me each time.
Flying doesn’t have to be a stressful mess. Most of it comes down to a little preparation and not assuming everything will go perfectly, because it won’t. But when you’ve got your check-in done, your gate mapped out, and your phone charged, the whole thing feels a lot more manageable. Safe travels out there.
