Steven and I are the type to get to the airport with time to spare. We don’t mind having an hour (or more!) to kill before our flight. We like the peace of mind of knowing we are there on time, especially since we usually fly out of a big airport (Chicago ORD) and sometimes have to deal with traffic to get there (and a whole lot of other stupid ORD stuff I won’t even mention).
And sometimes with flight delays we sit there a long time. We deal, though!
Steven sent an article (pdf here) this week from The Atlantic about people who are “purposeful late arrivers” to the airport because they like the thrill of it! WHUT. These people time their arrival as closely as possible so they are the last person on the plane. They’d rather run through the airport because they think they are going to miss their flight (and they sometimes do), than wait around.
Interestingly, a psychiatrist interviewed for the article said both styles (arriving super early or purposefully late) are different ways of dealing with the same issue – air travel anxiety:
One person is hyper-efficient and overprepared, and another is someone who doesn’t manage their anxiety that way. It’s not that late people don’t find the airport as stressful as early people do, in other words, but that their coping mechanisms indicate a fundamentally different approach to the negative parts of life.
And of course, there was some discussion of Type A and Type B personalities*, but, snooze, we’ve all heard enough of that! So, which are you (poll below)?
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*An interesting part of the article is people dealing with a travel mate who is WAY different than them. So they leave at different times to take the same flight together! That made me realize I’m lucky Steven and I are on the same page. We do know people who don’t understand why we want to get to the airport a bit earlier. That’s just how we are! This does seem like something people like to “talk” (aka argue) a bit about. Just do what works for you, folks!
In general being late gives me such anxiety that I get places super early. But after flying so much, I got used to know which airports I could get to a little later. But never late enough to risk missing my flight
Those small airports you can get to a bit later are so lovely!!!!!!
Yes! I love Portland (Maine) because I can leave my house an hour before my flight and be totally fine
I’m just early to things in general…I do not like to be late, or worry about being late. I can’t even imagine purposely getting the the airport as late as possible! Very interesting that they are both ways of dealing with the same sort of anxiety. Sort of like procrastinators and people who get things done well on time, I guess. I know I often get stuff done because I don’t want the feeling of it hanging over my head.
I am like you too – always err on the side of early 😉 It’s hard for me to be late!
The article does say this is a way of procrastinating getting to the airport, and the procrastination being part of that anxiety.
Gawd, getting things off my to-do list (and hanging over my head, like you said) is one of the main anxieties in my life! Being so busy right now at work is actually making that a little less horrible (mostly) because I just can’t worry about things and have gut reactions anymore.
I cannot imagine the stress and anxiety I would have to be late to the airport. Even just regular domestic flights, I want to be there two hours ahead of time. I’d much rather spend the hour before my flight right by the gate and not rushing through the airport! No thank you!
Same same same. I get my rush in other ways!!! Or rather, I deal with my anxiety by preparing!
I am super early. I could not stand being any other way – and that’s why traveling is usually pretty relaxing for me, because I’m at the airport in plenty of time! Unless my connecting flight is late…
Oh man, connecting flights are stressful! Even if everything goes smoothly, you’re still wondering if there will be a hiccup! (or is that just me?!)
Oh man, I consider the TSA-recommended two hour early arrival to be a command, not a suggestion, haha. I can’t imagine intentionally arriving late! I’d much rather kill time in the airport than at home. Over the past few trips, I’ve found my anxiety levels have gone way down after I’ve gotten through security and to my gate, so the sooner that can happen, the better!
Ha, I consider if that way too.
And see – that’s why it’s worth it for you – it helps your anxiety once you are in and waiting! Waiting at ORD kind of sucks cause it’s so busy, but whatevs.
Being a late arriver seems weird to me because there is never any overhead bin space at that point. Having TSA Pre has made me a little more chill when getting to the airport, but I still get there with plenty of time to spare. (I like to read at the gate.) If we’re traveling internationally, we sometimes get lounge access, so then I like to arrive early and take advantage of that space!
Right? That is one of the most stressful things about flying for me – the damn bin space wars. I hate checking (because I hate waiting for the bag and the chance it might get lost), but when I have to, there is much more ease of getting on the plane WHENEVER. Ugh Flying.