AN airline expert has revealed some vital airport tricks to avoid missing your flight – and what to do if it happens.
Arriving at the gate too late can be a stressful, and costly, error and could ruin your holiday before it even begins.
From rebooking transport to rearranging hotel stays, you could end up shelling out thousands in extra fees and charges.
Or, even worse, you could find yourself missing out on the trip of a lifetime by just seconds.
Fortunately, András Radó from Wizz Air has shared some top tips for holidaymakers to make sure this never happens.
First of all, he urged passengers to check in online up to several days ahead of their departure.
This can save you from hours of delays queuing for the check-in desk, especially during peak times.
Not only that, but if you’ve got an early flight to catch it could mean an extra hour or so in bed which is always a relief.
Once you’ve check in, you should make sure to download your boarding pass onto your phone, again ahead of time.
That way you don’t have any danger of losing it and delaying yourself at the gate.
You can always keep a paper copy too but it’s best to have a digital backup.
On the day itself, try and turn up to the airport in good time – three hours before take-off is a “good rule of thumb” according to András.
Make sure to plan your route in advance and take account of any traffic and keep an eye out for news on your flight time.
Next, András urged: “It may sound simple, but time can pass by very quickly if you are distracted by shopping in duty-free or having a pre-flight meal.
“Regularly check the time and flight information boards to see when your gate is announced.”
Finally, make sure to head to your gate as soon as it is announced.
Most gates have seating areas and you can always wait while the boarding queue ticks down but you don’t want to be sprinting for the gate as the final call rings out.
However, if the worst happens and you do miss your flight, not all hope is lost.
András advised getting in touch with your airline, who may be able to rebook you on a later flight, as well as checking with your insurer to see if it can be covered.
Also notify any hotels or connecting transport to reschedule and locate your baggage as soon as you can so you know you have it ready to go.
Once that’s done, get comfy and settle in for the wait, potentially booking an airport hotel if needed.
