My motto when traveling is to expect the unexpected. Perhaps I am over sensitive to things that may go wrong. Over the years, I have taken a lot of flights (solo, family, and as a group leader). I have seen a lot of mishaps. It is rare to fly without at least one delay.

Most travel delays are unavoidable. But I try to mitigate anything I can control. This means, getting to the airport early. It gives a cushion for highway closures and emergency traffic delays. I have time for airport parking and shuttle delay. My bags are checked before cut off times. And if there are delays at security, I am fine to wait in line.

If there are no issues, I have time for a cup of coffee and a croissant. I can people watch or read at the gate. Once, I have cleared the independent travel and security hurdles, the trip is out of my hands.

Another strategy is to fly early in the day. There is more likelihood of being rebooked on a later flight if there are more remaining options available. I also like to know the flight schedules of code share partners.

Even when I have cleared all the hurdles and am sitting contentedly at the gate, there are subtle signs of potential delay. If your flight is scheduled to board and there is no plane…there may be a delay. Using a simple online tracker like flight aware can tell you the location of your plane. If it is still in flight, you may as well settle in with another cup of coffee.

Sometimes, your plane is at the gate and you have no crew. We sat for hours once waiting on a co-pilot. On one trip, I had a plane and a crew but no food showed up for the international flight causing a multi hour delay.

Perhaps worst of all, you are sometimes boarded and then informed you are delayed due to maintenance. Overhead compartments won’t close. Computers need to be reset and tested. Fuel needs to be added and removed. Wings must be de-iced. I actually had a plane jump started before take off! The pilot said not to worry that “we didn’t need a battery in the air.”.

When I only had a few precious days for vacation and a very tight work schedule that did not allow room for delays, flying stressed me out. Travel day was sure to induce raging anxiety. These days, I have more time. A delay would be annoying, but not a catastrophe. I am trying to mellow. Change is hard. Unfortunately for my husband, the early to the airport rule isn’t going away anytime soon