This You Tube video, entitled "Stupidly Long Unnecessary Queue at Heathrow Airport," illustrates the issue I'm writing about. Like many of my articles, this was prompted by a question posed in a post on fodors.com. What time should she leave her Paris hotel to catch a flight departing Paris CDG at 10:20 a.m. The advice came back — depart your hotel at 6 a.m. She replied, asking whether it would be safe to leave at 7 a.m.? Answer: NO!!!
Here's my personal approach, knowing that others prefer to live dangerously! I strategize to minimize stress when I travel. When planning my departure time, I take into account everything that can go wrong — including traffic jams, unfamiliarity with the airport and its procedures, and long lines for check-in, baggage drop-off, security, and passport control. I assume the worst scenario and take that into account when planning my departure time.
Some tips for dealing with logistical stress.
(1) Leave yourself plenty of time! I don't mind waiting at the front of a line when I'm early, but I hate waiting at the back of a line when I'm late.
(2) Consider the option of public transportation during rush hour. I often take BART to the San Francisco airport to avoid a drive over the Bay Bridge during rush hour, especially if there won't be enough passengers in the car to use the carpool lanes.
(3) Checked baggage and running late? Use the skycaps outside the terminal doors. MUCH shorter lines, and even if you tip $1 or more per bag, that's a small amount to pay to eliminate stress.
(4) Fly in Business Class or First. You'll enjoy much shorter check-in lines and have priority access through the security lines.
(5) Get Global Entry which includes TSA Pre-Check. The latter gets you into a shorter, quicker line and spares you the inconvenience of taking off your shoes and jackets and removing your laptops and bag of liquids from your carry on. Global Entry saves you from queueing at US Immigration on your return and gets you into an expedited Customs line.
(6) Airport lounges typically provide a haven of sanity when you do get there early and have time to burn. Instead of grabbing a bolted-down seat by the gate, head to your airline's lounge (or use a Priority Pass Lounge). Many credit cards provide lounge access. American Express Platinum gets the cardmember free access into a Delta lounge (or into an Amex Centurion Lounge at a number of airports). There are credit cards that provide American and United lounge access ... and a Priority Pass Select card.
(7) VIP airport services can also save you time and stress where available. At Paris Charles De Gaulle (which the original question was about), you can get both a departure service (meet-and-greet curbside; fast-track through check-in, immigration, and security; lounge access; and escort to the boarding gate) and arrival service (meet-and-greet at the gate; fast-track through immigration and customs, assistance with luggage, and escort to your waiting limo).
copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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