The Airport as Obstacle Course

April 5, 2005 — -- The great American institution known as the Obstacle Course used to be a thing military recruits experienced in basic training: scaling impossibly high wooden walls, crawling through a maze under barbed wire and maneuvering through a host of people trying to block the way. The American airport was never supposed to be like that, yet today it is, especially if you don't "know the ropes."

So how do you minimize the stress and the aggravation of the airport obstacle course? First, break the experience into the following phases and make some personal decisions about how to deal with each one: getting to the airport, dealing with baggage, dealing with your ticket and reservation on check-in, and getting through security.

Phase 1: Getting to the airport. This is a huge barrier, especially in major American cities. The cost of parking can be $20 to $30 per day and the hassle of using off-site parking is measured in lost time. Sometimes you can't find a parking place rapidly at any price.

The best method? Get to the airport without driving your car. If you live in a city that has rail service into the airport, consider using it, or one of the new door-to-door shuttle services, or just a car service, taxi or friend. The point: Decide on a method that causes the least stress and distraction.

By the way, do you have to get to the airport two hours ahead of departure all the time? No, but it's the least stressful rule of thumb, because sudden backups in security screening alone can block you from a flight, and no one at the airport will be sympathetic if you skid in the door at the last minute.

Phase 2: Baggage. Forget the bag locks (unless they're TSA-approved). Do NOT pack expensive possessions (theft from bags still occurs). And if you tend to pack a lot of stuff, use a bathroom scale to weigh your bag before heading for the airport because virtually all airlines now gleefully charge you cash on domestic flights for bags over 50 pounds.

Also, go to the Transportation Security Administration's Web site (the address is http://www.tsa.gov/public/) to find out exactly what is and isn't OK to put in your bags. And don't be shy about calling the airline for information. Basic point: Do NOT assume anything about what you can carry in either checked or carry-on baggage in the post-9/11 world. Make sure you know. Then, use curbside check-in (for domestic flights only) when you can and tip those folks nicely. They make things easier.