4 Things to Do Before Heading to the Airport

Even if you're a traveler who follows the airport's recommendation of arriving at least two hours before your flight, you may still find yourself rushing to your gate. It's impossible to predict how busy the airport will be on the day you are traveling, and sometimes arriving 2 hours before your flight still isn’t enough. You may get caught up in crowded check-in and security lines, leaving yourself little time to relax or grab a bite to eat. To help you experience a smoother travel experience, follow these steps before heading to the airport.

1. Reserve parking – Taking a cab to the Bradley Airport or parking at an on-site airport parking lot can be costly.  Reserving a parking spot at a reliable Hartford airport parking service ahead of time can help save you time, money and stress. Z Airport Parking is the most convenient and affordable off-site parking service at the airport. Located just minutes away, you can park quickly and have the service's shuttle take you from the parking lot to your terminal in a short three minutes.

2. Check flight status – While you don’t want to have to rush around the airport, you don't want to be stuck there either. To avoid driving to the airport and having to turn back around, check your flight status before you leave the house. Though it's an obvious step, it will tell you if your flight has been delayed or cancelled. Even if you checked your flight status earlier in the day and saw it was delayed, that delay could have been modified.

3. Check in online – The majority of airlines let you check in online 24 hours before your departure. All you have to do is visit the airline's website, submit your name and flight information, and print your boarding pass. You can even pre-pay for your checked baggage, which is often offered at a cheaper rate than at the airport. If you're not checking a bag, you can head straight to security when you arrive at the airport.

4. Put your ID and boarding pass in a convenient place – At the airport, you're going to have to show your ID when you check in and present your ID and boarding pass at security. Rather than having to sift through your bags when the time comes, save yourself some time by putting them in an accessible place before leaving the house.