In a message dated 5/27/2003 4:53:43 AM Central Standard Time,=20 ejames@xxxxxxxxx writes: > =E2=80=A2 Fly from a smaller airport. Bennett flies out of the Monterey, C= alif.,=20 > airport and connects in San Francisco to avoid hassles. "I'd rather=20 > originate in a smaller airport because I can show up 30 minutes before the= =20 > flight," he says. Airport officials might tell you differently, he says,=20 > but it's still possible to arrive, check in and board a half hour before=20 > departure in some places. "In San Francisco, you just don't know what=20 > you're going to run up against. Could be long lines. Could be traffic." >=20 > =E2=80=A2 Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport. "The biggest= hassle=20 > now is getting to the plane. Once you get there, there are very few hassle= s=20 > anymore," says former travel industry executive Thom Nulty. Getting to the= =20 > gate early is especially important now because more flights are taking off= =20 > on time. >=20 Is it me are these two somewhat contradictory? I love the folks who take th= e=20 first paragraph to heart and show up at the counter 15 prior to departure. =20 Why is this funny to me? Our counters close 20 prior. Folks will make phon= e=20 calls, bang on doors, try to clear security with no boarding pass, all becau= se=20 they think the airplane should wait for them. Guess what? We will leave th= e=20 gate 10 early if everyone that checked in is on board. We like on time, don= 't=20 be late. (Unless of course you lose a standby pump in Fort Wayne and leave=20 four hours late.) Jim Jim Hann Waterski J-41 Captain Lambert-St. Louis Airport (STL/KSTL)