Is It Really Necessary To Be At The Airport Two Hours Early?

     Do you really have to be at the airport at least two hours in advanced?  Most of the time, this is not the case.  Most people can arrive at the airport an hour early and still make their flight but be warned, this is a very risky proposition.  There are just too many things can go wrong, and cause you to miss that flight.  For instance, TSA is progressively getting more and more strict with their regulations and will continue to do so.  Thus, it will consistently take longer and longer to get through that gauntlet, that we call an airport security line.  One can circumvent these lines and annoying hassles with the express passes that most airports offer, but can you truly justify spending a hundred dollars to cut twenty minutes out of your wait?  Also, many airline companies have a tendency to reroute planes to gates that are completely on the other side of the airport.  This will make it more difficult to catch your plane in a tight situation.  In fact, this has happened to me the last two times that I have flown out of Dallas.  Of course, lets not forget about the unforeseen troubles that can arise.  Forgotten id's will most certainly create some difficulty making that flight in time.  How about the great equalizer in life, traffic.  One time, I was leaving Atlanta on a picturesque Saturday morning and hit the construction zone from hell!  I was traveling down I-75 with ease and was excited that me and my wife were going to arrive with plenty of time to spare.  That is, until I came over a hill and saw the sea of glowing red lights.  The road construction team took this majestic super high way from six lanes to one in a mile of space.  I started to get impatient after waiting half an hour to get a quarter of a mile.  So I had to do something quick.  I was not going to miss that plane and spend one more night at my In laws!  Just kidding guys.  I actually love my in laws but anyway,  I got off the interstate and zig zaged through that city as fast as I could.  I knew that if I headed east, I would eventually catch I-20 and this could get us to the promised land.  So once we found this alternative road, I cranked that Chevy Impala rental car as fast as it would go.  I was incredibly impressed that I was able to reach speeds in excess of a 145 mph in a rental vehicle.  So as I pushed this car to the limit and did my best Jeff Gordon imitation when it came to passing the car that I encountered, I was able to just make that flight back to Denver.  My wife and me were quite literally, the last passengers to board that flight.  Now if I did not give myself a two hour window, I would never have been able to make that flight.  Thus, it's just like my mother always told me, " you are an adult and can make decisions for yourself".  So I should not preach to you about cutting it too close, and the very expensive repercussions that can come from it; like paying for a new ticket at premium prices, an unexpected hotel room, more meals out, another night with the in laws, just to name a few.  Personally, I would much rather kick back and relax an the airport, enjoying a vente mocha latte and a good book, than stressing over the chances of missing a flight.  But everyone has their own priorities. So this holiday season make sure to consider these pitfalls before you leave for that flight.

     In case you are wondering, I have flown over sixty six times and have never missed a flight!  knock on wood!