Seriously, SWA 2hrs before the flight?

[keishashadow]

I recently had a double-connection flight to Palm Springs and got to Park & Fly 1:05 before my flight. When I reached for my wallet at the counter (this usually takes about 5 minutes from the time I pull up to the time I get off the shuttle at the airport door)...my wallet wasn't in my purse. I about keeled over right there. I dashed back to the car, called and woke up my husband (it was 5am), told him to get our DS8 up, find my wallet (I knew it had fallen out when I switched purses and be ready to jump in the car as soon as pulled up. He did all that, I raced back to the airport, right to the door so I could jump out (and DH could drive my car back home). During the drive I'd already ascertained that there were NO flight options for me that day - it would be the next day at the earliest before I could get out, meaning I'd miss the first day of the TED Conference.

When I got to the kiosk, it was 5:34, 26 minutes before my flight was supposed to depart - the flight was closed. My chin immediately began quivering...I just couldn't believe it. Thank goodness I was flying United because they know me. A counter agent walked over and asked where I was going and tagged my bag anyway. Luckily the security line wasn't too long and it moved quickly - and I wasn't even the last one on the plane. BUT MAN, that is TOO MUCH STRESS!!!

i have nightmares about this sort of scenario...you were lucky it worked out.

 

[Tara]

i have nightmares about this sort of scenario...you were lucky it worked out.

EXACTLY. And relying on luck in travel will bite you in the backside, for sure!

 

[lanand3]

The way I see it is if you are talking about wanting to get to the airport 90 minutes prior instead of 2 hours,you are only talking about a 30 minute difference.I would much prefer to give myself that extra 30 minutes in case of delays.You never know when there could be security delays,etc. and to spend an extra 30 minutes at home/hotel is not worth the stress if something happens.I have flown out of both Albany and Hartford and even though I usually end up waiting at the gate,the 1 time there was an unusually long line checking in and then security took FOREVER I was so thankful I planned for delays because otherwise I might have missed my flight.

 

[dort]

You're lucky, then! Amazingly, I've only had these waits for work flights on early mornings, usually Mondays. I've never had such a wait for a vacation flight, and I haven't seen the line so long that they had to block the escalator since they finished the remodel that extended the queue to the right of the checkpoint. It isn't uncommon for the line to reach down the sky bridge, though.

Its mornings like those that I sorely miss Clear!

(I'm in Troy, too!)

Hey Neighbor We try to leave on Sundays the earliest flight. We have a 6:35 am flight on May 9. I always make my DH leave early.

 

[pjs755]

Thank you everyone for the input. My plan was always to aim for 2 hours as they asked but if it was REALLY necessary I would have aimed for 2.5. I-91 can be unpredictable, and we have to stop for lunch. Thanks again, by this time tomorrow we'll be at the Poly for the first time.

Paul

 

[dort]

Thank you everyone for the input. My plan was always to aim for 2 hours as they asked but if it was REALLY necessary I would have aimed for 2.5. I-91 can be unpredictable, and we have to stop for lunch. Thanks again, by this time tomorrow we'll be at the Poly for the first time.

Paul

Have a great trip