by Ann E. Smith

Created on: April 25, 2009

Your heart is racing as you run through the terminal. Your shoulder bag feels overly heavy. You cannot move any faster. But, alas you have missed your flight.

Sadly, you are not alone. Thousands of people miss their planes each day, sharing your misery. But why do people miss their flights?

Below are the top ten excuses people usually have for missing a plane. Some are valid reasons; others are merely a result of poor planning.

1) Traffic was bad.

Yes, you got stuck in traffic and missed your flight. Unless there was a freak pile-up on the highway, you better leave a bit earlier next time.

2) You lost your itinerary.

So maybe the dog did not eat it, but you lost your itinerary! In a mad dash to go online and reprint it, after looking for that envelope for several minutes, you got behind schedule.

3) The lines were long in security.

This excuse is often a valid one, as it can take longer these days to get through security. But, this is something you can try to plan for, especially at major airports that often list current wait times.

4) You have missed a connecting flight, as your first plane was delayed.

This one is totally beyond your control. Oftentimes, you and others miss a plane as it was a connecting flight, but your first plane was way behind schedule.

5) Your spouse took too long packing.

This one can cause someone to get in the marital doghouse. Packing the night before a flight is always a good idea.

6) There were delays for international checkin.

For domestic flights, you can often use self-service to check in for flights, but not so for international ones. Be prepared to spend some time waiting in line to get your baggage checked in when traveling abroad.

7) Your flight unexpectedly changed terminals.

There is nothing worse than running late, only to arrive at the wrong terminal because your flight has changed to a different one. This one can only be prevented by getting to the airport with plenty of time to spare.

8) You lost track of time, and did not hear the boarding calls at the nearby bar.

Many airports feature bars, and sometimes people stop by to kills the time or their nerves over flying. That can be a problem if you get too carried away or distracted.

9) There was nowhere to park.

Airport parking can be challenging, especially at large airports. Again, build in time for this process.

10) It took too long to turn in the rental car.

Many business travelers especially drop off rental cars prior to catching a flight. Be sure to build in an appropriate amount of time to take care of this process you have a rental car.

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