Avoid hassle by arriving early

Summer is peak time for air travel, as the crowds at the airports will remind you. This summer, we are expecting airports to be more crowded than anytime in the past five years.

Avoid the frustration and disappointment of missing a flight, or the cost and inconvenience of having to reschedule one: Get to the airport early.

The airlines and airports recommend checking in at the ticket counter at least one hour before flight time for domestic flights, two hours before an international flight. This allows for ticket and baggage check-in, as well as time for passing through security. The airlines need time to get your luggage onto the plane, so arriving early means your bags are much more likely to be on the same flight you take.

If your airline allows, save time by reserving your seats and printing your boarding passes at home or the office.

Allowing extra time can save you from being bumped on an overbooked flight, or if you’re already at the gate you can volunteer to be bumped if your travel plans are flexible. If you check in late, you might be bumped whether you like it or not. If you don’t check in by the required time, you may not be allowed to board even if your flight hasn’t left the gate and there are empty seats.

The return portion of your trip can require even more time than your departure.

Unfamiliar routes to the airport, confusing rental-car return areas and airport layouts, and different security procedures can add time to getting to the gate.

Bottom line: Contact your airline and learn how early they suggest you get to the airport, and then build in some extra time. Allow yourself the luxury of sitting back at the gate and watching other passengers run through the airport.