New research by taxi firm Veezu has found that one in three Brits arrives at the airport four or more hours before their flight to avoid travel stress, yet six million have still missed a flight.
Early arrivals and last-minute dashes
Most airlines advise passengers to reach the terminal two or three hours before departure, depending on their destination. However, Veezu discovered that one in three people turns up four or more hours early.
At the opposite extreme, 2% are comfortable arriving just an hour before their flight, while 1% cut it even closer, arriving less than 60 minutes before take-off.
Gender differences and common blunders
Women appear more anxious about the airport experience, with a quarter (24%) admitting they arrive early to keep stress at bay, compared to 20% of men.
Veezu's research also highlighted the most frequent airport blunders. Being charged for excess baggage is the biggest pitfall for Britons (15%). Other common mishaps include heading to the wrong terminal (10%), neglecting to check in online (8%), and forgetting a passport (5%).
Missed flights and regional divide
The data reveals that six million Britons have missed a flight entirely. A North/South divide exists, with those in the South considerably more likely to miss their flight.
Heavy traffic ranks as the most frequent culprit (41%), while 31% of those who missed a flight attributed it to losing track of time in the airport. Just under a quarter blamed oversleeping, and 17% pointed to lengthy delays at security.
Preferred transport and advice
Brits overwhelmingly favour taking a taxi to the airport, with 28% identifying it as their preferred mode of transport.
Sally Krouma, a spokesperson at Veezu, said: "Getting a taxi to the airport is a great way to kick-start your holiday. There is enough stress on the day when you're trying to do last-minute packing and get everyone out the door on time, and knowing someone can drop you right in front of the airport is just one less thing to worry about. If you're driving or have a loved one dropping you off, it's vital to know your route and to be aware of any roadworks. It's tempting to leave airport travel to the last minute as there are so many things to plan with holidays, but getting it wrong can throw your whole trip into chaos."
