Make a Last Minute Check:  It’s always wise to go online a few hours before your flight and check for equipment problems and weather conditions that may delay or cancel your flight.

Arrive Early:  Remember Murphy’s Law: If something can go wrong, it will. Anything can happen. My best advice is to arrive at least one-and-a-half to two hours early. Presently, I’m writing this article during a layover at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. This morning I flew out of Indianapolis where we concluded a seminar last night.  I intentionally left early. Boy, am I glad I did! This morning there was an accident on I-70 in Indianapolis that had two miles of traffic backed up. I was at the end of the line. Thankfully I’d left with enough time to make my flight. In these days with flights being cancelled with short notice, rental car companies with off-site locations, and long lines, it pays to arrive early. You can still make you time count. I do a lot of work and reading in airports.

Ask for Better Seats: This can be especially helpful if you’re large or on a long flight. I prefer the bulkhead seats. These are seats with a wall, rather than another chair in front of them. Usually bulkheads provide more leg room. Many airlines hold their bulkhead seats to the last minute in case they need them for handicapped passengers. Consider going to the gate agent about an hour before your flight and see if one is available. Or, ask for an exit row seat. These seats usually provide more leg room, too. And, if nothing else is available, ask for an aisle seat. Seasoned fliers usually prefer aisle seats because they allow one to stand up and move around easier than with a window or center seat.

Pay Attention When Making Connections: Big airports in major cities can be confusing for the occasional flyer. When you’re making a connection it’s wise to double check. Ask the gate agent as you de-board which gate your connection flight is leaving from. Then check one of the overhead screens. Be sure you get the same info from both sources. Sometimes gates change. It’s a sickening feeling to rush through an airport only to arrive at the wrong gate as you look through the window to see your airplane pushing back from another concourse. 

Carry the Airline’s “800” Number: If your flight is cancelled, one thing is for sure: Everybody is going to rush to the gate agent to rebook. If you aren’t at the front of the line, having the airline’s toll-free ticketing phone number can be very helpful. Sometimes you can rebook on the next flight out with a simple phone call.

Pick a Favorite Airline:  Loyalty has its rewards. If you plan to fly a lot, it may be wise to select a single carrier for most of your flights. Check you long-term schedule and find an airline that goes most of the places you plan to go. Then, try to fly with them as often as possible. Frequent flyers get more than points. When a customer gains “status” with an airline they break their necks to keep that passenger happy. Re-bookings are easier. You may be allowed to pre-board. When flights are oversold, the best customers are the last to be bumped. And, if coach is sold out, some airlines give free first class upgrades to their best passengers.