WHEN TO ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT

If you have ever missed a flight, or just made it on board in the nick of time, you know how inconvenient and upsetting it can be. Although you can’t control delays due to weather or mechanical failures, you can control how much peace of mind you give yourself before your flight takes off.

MAKING GOOD TIME BEGINS AT HOME

Arriving at your gate on time begins before you even leave your home. You need to pack. You need to make sure you have all your documents in order. You need to make sure all your affairs are set up at home, whether that means hiring a pet sitter or making sure the lights are off. You especially want to make sure that when you walk out of your front door, you don’t have to make a U-turn at any point because you forgot something important.
It’s a good idea to begin packing for any trip a couple days before your flight departs. This way, you can get a leg up on all the things you need to prepare, and create a cushion of time in case you need to make any last-minute adjustments. You will also need to consider whether you are parking your car in the daily garage, getting dropped off by family or friends, or hiring a taxi-driving service. Making sure you allow for the appropriate amount of time is vital, especially if your transportation is in someone else’s hands.

CHECK IN & SECURITY CHECK

Generally, it is good practice to arrive at the airport 2 hours before your scheduled flight. It rarely takes this long to get to your gate; however, you’ve already invested hundreds of dollars and a considerable amount of time to make your trip. Why take any chances? Arriving early will give you more time to relax, get something to eat, and just feel prepared, after you’ve gone through the check in and security process.

Once at the airport, the first step is to check your bags and get your boarding pass. Once this is done, you will need to find your gate number, and then follow signs to your security check-point. Depending on the time of day you arrive, and how busy the airport is, the line for the security check can be fairly long. But it is the TSA agents’ job to ensure that people move through the line as quick and efficiently as possible.

Once you’ve passed the security check, you are free to roam around, use the restroom, get something to eat, or just find a seat near your gate. Ultimately, arriving early helps give you that peace of mind you need right before you ascend to 45,000 feet.

Sunset Airport Transportation provides premier airport transportation services to the Panama City Beach area.