Results: Since 9-11 and subsequently, security at airports has been increased. When travelling within the US it is now suggested you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure in order to be "processed". Is this necessary or just inefficiency?
Published on 11/19/2023
When travelling by plane I always like to arrive early at the airport and usually find myself checked in and luggage gone with at least an hour to spare. This time can be used in different ways but rarely are they productive, inexpensive and stress free. We are told this extra time is required to keep us safe. But does it?
The best laid plans etc.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
The extra time at the airport is supposed to improve passenger safety. Sometimes delays are for other reasons. Have you ever experienced delays for any of these reasons? How did it/they make you feel at the time (comments please)?
My plane was delayed so that they could attach an extra engine to the wing (cheapest and quickest way to transport them apparently). The maintenance people got it attached with less than 5 minutes to spare before the international flight got cancelled.
6%
138 votes
A 3 generation Muslim family indirectly caused a delay because the check-in clerk couldn't figure out "Why there were so many people in the same family called Mohamed." I won't name the airline but you are welcome to guess.
6%
136 votes
The pilot needed a nap (this happened in Canada and we were quite OK with that).
3%
68 votes
The last flight from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario to Toronto on a Friday afternoon. Fog bound. Our connecting plane from Thunder Bay couldn't land and passed inches above the roof as it continued on to Toronto. Nobody wanted to spend the weekend in The Soo so we rented a car and drove above the speed limit to Sudbury and flew home from there. We made it with minutes to spare.
3%
72 votes
Other (please specify)
4%
81 votes
Not Applicable
81%
1785 votes
- No.
- No.
- Nope my flights have gone without delays.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 5.05% | 25 | |
| My flight was delayed and 12 hours later they canceled the flight | 0.20% | 1 |
| couldn't get disabled help for hours | 0.20% | 1 |
| A 6 hour delay because it was raining in Vancouver. RAINING. Like it ALWAYS does. And they didn’t so much as provide even a partial refund. | 0.20% | 1 |
| There was a technical difficulty, some equipment was not transmitting, so they had everyone get off the plane for 2 hours and then we missed out connecting flight. They only gave us a $50 refund for all 4 of us. | 0.20% | 1 |
| got stuck in N.J over night because of a very bad storm in cleveland ohio where i live never again. | 0.20% | 1 |
| connecting flight not on time | 0.20% | 1 |
| Delayed due to fact that the plane needed deicing | 0.20% | 1 |
| Plane was available but no crew to fly it. | 0.20% | 1 |
| wrong size of plane for passengers registered | 0.20% | 1 |
| snow storm after landing and had to get another flight to finish trip | 0.20% | 1 |
| pilots chair needed a screw | 0.20% | 1 |
| Engine problems | 0.20% | 1 |
| pilot didn't show up | 0.20% | 1 |
| just the delays due to weather et | 0.20% | 1 |
| who knows; weather | 0.20% | 1 |
| There was a tornado between where I was and where I was going. I was happy to be delayed. | 0.20% | 1 |
| no plane | 0.20% | 1 |
| Not enough crew members | 0.20% | 1 |
| Ice on the wings. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Plane had a “battery problem”, and we had to wait two hours until they changed to a new one. | 0.20% | 1 |
| The planes air-conditioning was not working | 0.20% | 1 |
| Icey conditions, had to stay overnight in Arizona | 0.20% | 1 |
| bird strike | 0.20% | 1 |
| A replacement plane was in process. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Flight got cancelled for 48 hours | 0.20% | 1 |
| My plane froze in Russia coming home. Had to defrost it 3 times before we could start our journey to NY. | 0.20% | 1 |
| brakes needed fixing | 0.20% | 1 |
| Weather, plane was late arriving, had to take baggage off for no show. | 0.20% | 1 |
| the wheater. | 0.20% | 1 |
| The plane was departing from a different gate and they wasn't any anoucement. we would have missed the flight out if we hadn't checked the schedule screen. out about it by looking on the screen | 0.20% | 1 |
| They had to change a tire. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Gpt stranded for 3+ hours in Scranton, PA on a High School trip to New York City because a BUS driver hadn't had enough sleep! | 0.20% | 1 |
| Flight delayed due to refueling issues | 0.20% | 1 |
| no | 0.20% | 1 |
| Just late. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Ft. Lauderdale computers down. My non-stop took off without me. I had to settle for a "puddle-jumper" that stopped at every airport on the east coast. Took me ALL day, rather than 2 hours. | 0.20% | 1 |
| De-ice the wings | 0.20% | 1 |
| Fog in Italy. Had to be bussed from Florence to Rome. | 0.20% | 1 |
| My plane was delayed due to a medical emergency of another passengere. | 0.20% | 1 |
| I was delayed by an ice storm going to my daughters wedding | 0.20% | 1 |
| weather delay | 0.20% | 1 |
| Snow storm in Denver. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Electrical storms all along the coasts. Flight cancelled to next morning and was an hour late. | 0.20% | 1 |
| The weather, having to wait for a co-pilot and needing a "jump" and deicing the plane again | 0.20% | 1 |
| delayed because air conditioning was not working. Never did get it fixed finally took off any way after 2 hour delay. Very uncomfortable flight. | 0.20% | 1 |
| bad weather | 0.20% | 1 |
| 2 night in a row was delayed at DFW because of weather, Had to spend the nights in the airport. | 0.20% | 1 |
| weather in general, snow, rain, etc. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Waiting for late arrivals who were at the airport but had t boarded. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Flight cancelled AFTER everyone was on board, because pilot found a mechanical problem before take-off. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Weather related rerouting and delays | 0.20% | 1 |
| Needed to attach the tail wing to the plane and transport the plane to the gate | 0.20% | 1 |
| The pilot and co-pilot failed to do something and there was an investigation | 0.20% | 1 |
| no delays | 0.20% | 1 |
| plane stuck in the snow | 0.20% | 1 |
| Maintenance needed to fix 2 dents. Never fixed it. Deplaned & stayed overnight | 0.20% | 1 |
2.
2.
On one business trip through Salt Lake City airport I had a 2 hour wait between connections. I thought I would have some Mexican food. One of the sauces was labelled "El Fuego" and when I ordered it, the cafe owner said "El Fuego senor?" in a way that challenged my machismo, so I said "Si, El Fuego" It took many cervesas to try to extinguish the flames, all under the watchful eye of the cafe owner, and I was still thermally disadvantaged as I boarded the plane. (Google el fuego and you might understand why). Have you ever had a memorable experience while hanging around at an airport? Here are some from my checkered past. Have you had something similar.
I have had my own El Fuego incident with "ethnic food" at the airport.
3%
63 votes
I had the meatloaf at a Boston Market. I asked if it had port in it and was told it didn't. But it did. I ate my meal then headed to the airport. I spent the entire flight in the washroom including during the safety check and final approach (the flight attendant turned a blind eye).
6%
139 votes
An hour with nothing to do is not good for people who are afraid of flying. Dutch courage (alcoholic beverages) can lead to unruly behaviour. (examples?)
5%
119 votes
An hour with nothing to do is not good for people who are afraid of flying. My (attractive female) co-passenger was so afraid during a turbulent flight her nails dug into me and the marks were still visible hours later. Meanwhile I enjoyed the flight.
4%
85 votes
Copious alcohol consumption can lead to vomiting as my daughter discovered when the passenger in the seat next to her "decompressed" at altitude. Air Canada provided her with a towel to clean up with but would not let her change seats. Gotta love AC.
3%
55 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
28 votes
Not Applicable
82%
1807 votes
- Chatting with people. Getting one cocktail at the airport bar. Surfing on line or Facebook, or #1, reading a book.
- Read books. Browse the stores. Go for walks. Watch people, because that can be facinating.
- We talked and watched the TV screen
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 2.66% | 13 | |
| Read books. | 0.20% | 1 |
| 4 hour flight delay | 0.20% | 1 |
| Remember well the "educational" movies watched all day at the Honolulu airport waiting for a "redeye" back to California. Learned A LOT. | 0.20% | 1 |
| no | 0.20% | 1 |
| Checked by customs because a hippy was behind me. | 0.20% | 1 |
| 13 hours to wait for flight because, airport got snowed in, and it cost $8.00 for one small piece of plain pizza and another $2.50 for a very small soda. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Liver and onions before flying out of Halifax - we both REALLY regretted it during the flight.. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Had an older gentleman give me a book he had just finished reading when I expressed interest in it | 0.20% | 1 |
| none | 0.20% | 1 |
| I've had traveler's diarrhea on a flight, sinus infection on a flight and hungover on one. | 0.20% | 1 |
| Just ignored what's around me | 0.20% | 1 |
| Greeting Japanese people in Japanese | 0.20% | 1 |
| Chicago McDonald’s hamburger | 0.20% | 1 |
| Just this morning during the early hours on a flight from Las Vegas to Charlotte, a woman sat next to me and proceeded to shake out numerous lengths of cloth that were permeated with the scent of numerous spices and oils, eventually settling beneath | 0.20% | 1 |
| I flew for 3 hours with food poisoning. | 0.20% | 1 |
3.
3.
When my father in law passed away, my wife went over to Scotland for the funeral. The flight connected in Toronto and London on the way to Glasgow. When she arrived in London she expected to collect her luggage and go through customs. Instead she followed an arrow as directed and found herself in line for boarding the next flight. She never did go through customs and somehow her luggage was in Glasgow when she arrived. We have no idea how this could happen. Do you?
We have had the opposite happen - delayed in customs for reasons unknown.
5%
107 votes
We have missed a flight due to delays at customs
6%
126 votes
Hate to include this - we have been racially profiled at customs.
4%
85 votes
My wife packs my suitcase. The customs officer thought my suitcase was packed too neat and asked "Did you pack your own suitcase?" I confessed it was my wife who did it and he smiled and waved me through.
6%
121 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
27 votes
Not Applicable
82%
1809 votes
- Sort of.
- No.
- No.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 3.00% | 14 | |
| When I flew the redeye from California back to Michigan when my Dad died, my luggage got "lost." Since traveled in blue jeans and a sweatshirt, had to go shopping and get a dress appropriate for a memorial service. | 0.21% | 1 |
| I thought the luggage was automatically put on next flight! | 0.21% | 1 |
| Very similar episode from New York to London to Glasgow for a tour of Scotland. | 0.21% | 1 |
| my daughter got hurt at the waiting area before getting on plane we were delayed by an hour but the plan waited for us. Very nice people | 0.21% | 1 |
| . I had packed a curling iron & a travel alarm as well as a change of clothes. Unfortunately the curling iron and clock resembled a cartoon bomb when x-rayed. I had to | 0.21% | 1 |
| Some expedited customs after a cruise put us in a special line. We were IN Canada but had US customs/immigration people there, so we did not have to go thru customs in the states when we arrived. Special room, fast lines. Maybe it was just for americ | 0.21% | 1 |
| none | 0.21% | 1 |
| The luggage usually is sent directly to the final destination | 0.21% | 1 |
| Flying from Germany to LAX and was laid over in Eastern Canada. I went through customs and another security check and was waiting at the correct gate a security officer came over and explained I was not properly inspected and had to go thru it again. | 0.21% | 1 |
| I did miss going thru customs, too, my first flight abroad. | 0.21% | 1 |
| I’ve actually had that happen on a train through Europe. I’m thinking because you don’t exit the security area? | 0.21% | 1 |
| If all countries were part of the EU at the time, only one customs clearing would have been necessary. | 0.21% | 1 |
| We were travelling from Vancouver to Honolulu. The last time I checked Honolulu was in the US. We have Nexus cards and never bring our passports when travelling to the US. Air Canada was not going to let us board without a passport. | 0.21% | 1 |
4.
4.
The inspiration for this survey was a recent incident at Toronto Airport where an employee directed passengers through the wrong door and fights were delayed for hours as a result. How would you have reacted? Here is the article: https://www.cp24.com/news/operations-at-pearson-airport-disrupted-for-several-hours-after-arriving-passengers-used-wrong-door-1.6637630
I would have found the incident hilarious.
4%
98 votes
I would have found the incident hilarious for about an hour.
8%
167 votes
I would have started panicking thinking something else had happened.
12%
255 votes
I would have had empathy for the poor staff member who caused this chaos.
11%
232 votes
I would have had empathy for the poor staff member who caused this chaos but not for the other staff member who repeated the mess the very next day.
12%
269 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
27 votes
Not Applicable
63%
1385 votes
- My luggage was lost on the way home, but it was delivered 5 days later to my home.
- I haven't had a big screw up at the airport.
- Onboard a small prop plane during a BAD thunderstorm, we narrowly missed getting squashed by a commuter jet at my hometown airport--which did NOT have a control tower.
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.43% | 15 | |
| MAD! | 0.10% | 1 |
| would have been really upset for the delay | 0.10% | 1 |
| I would have been pretty angry ! | 0.10% | 1 |
| loathe Pearson Airport so would not have been impressed ---try to avoid it when possible but most of the flights we want go through it. | 0.10% | 1 |
| training could be improved | 0.10% | 1 |
| I would have been annoyed by delay | 0.10% | 1 |
| I would’ve been furious and emailing the airline for a refund | 0.10% | 1 |
| I would have been raging. | 0.10% | 1 |
| Are you kidding? I would be furious !!! | 0.10% | 1 |
| I would try to be understanding but I know I would be annoyed. | 0.10% | 1 |
| I would have been quite aggravated after the first hour of delay. | 0.10% | 1 |
| I expect these things at airports. | 0.10% | 1 |
COMMENTS