Arriving at the airport in Cheap airline travel in North America
Arrive to the airport on time (usually 2 hours ahead for domestic and 3 hours for international) as recommended by your airline and check in right away.
Many airlines have a certain time at which they will no longer check in passengers, because it will take too long for them to get through security or for their luggage to be processed/loaded onto the aircraft, perhaps up to 30 minutes before takeoff. If you are lucky, you will get booked on the next flight for free, but don't count on it. Check with your airline if you might be delayed or if you are habitually late.
Even if you check in for your flight "on time", your airline has no obligation to get you through security and onto your flight. If the airport is crowded, your flight may depart "on time" while you are in the security line. This is uncommon, but it happens. Most likely you will be offered a standby seat on the next flight, but no apology from the airline.
If the flight is overbooked, you may be "bumped." Some airlines intentionally overbook flights, anticipating no-shows. This sometimes results in having to bump passengers to the next flight. When needed, though, airlines typically look for volunteers by offering vouchers towards future flights, sometimes worth $100 or more. To be "bumped" and receive a voucher, though, you still must be present at the gate and talking to the agents. If you're stuck in security or simply late, you'll be treated as a no-show.
If there is space available, some airlines do allow you to take an earlier flight if you happen to arrive early. This might be for free, a small fee, or a large fee. But it can't hurt to ask. Have your airline's reservation number handy, as you can usually make these arrangements on the phone.
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The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Cheap airline travel in North America
