15 Tips to Make Airline Connections Smoother

The top way to make a smooth connection is to book nonstop flights or flights that stop but continue on without changing planes. No matter how it's done, direct is always the best route.

Some travelers book flights on two separate airlines to get lower fares. Resist the temptation, because if the first carrier has a delay and cancellation, your connection could be ruined -- and it could cost you a lot more in the end.

Some hubs are better than others. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the ones with the most delays include Philadelphia International, Dallas/Fort Worth International,​ Boston Logan International, JFK, George Bush Intercontinental, Denver International, LaGuardia, Chicago O'Hare,  Newark-Liberty International and ​San Francisco International.

It takes only one disaster -- weather or a mechanical issue, for example -- to cause a flight delay or cancellation. And no matter what the cause, if you miss that last flight of the day, you will probably be staying at your location overnight and fighting with other passengers. 

When you're in a rush, every second counts. When booking your flight, choose a seat in the front part of the plane, and make sure it's an aisle seat so you can make a quick getaway if necessary. If a seat isn't available online, try asking the gate agent to make a seat change.

These days, anyone can print a boarding pass in the comfort of their home. They can also download a mobile boarding pass on their smartphones. So why waste time at the airport checking in via skycaps, kiosks, or ticketing agents? Plus, if you need to make changes, it’s less crowded at customer service counters or gates past airport security.

When booking a connecting flight, it is worth stating the obvious. One time I was flying from New Orleans to Baltimore with a connection at Houston Intercontinental. I should have checked closer at the times,  because after I booked the flight, I noticed I only had a half hour connection time in Houston -- which is a huge airport. But by then, it was too late. So when booking a flight, make sure you have at least an hour to connect on domestic flights and two hours for international ones.

There are some connections that actually force you to leave security and recheck in at another terminal. If you’ve checked luggage, it means that you will be wasting precious minutes waiting for your bags and rechecking them. Plus it can be harder for airlines to accommodate a passenger since they may not be able to guarantee that their luggage will arrive at the same time. And forget about seeing your checked luggage if you are booked on a connecting flight with a tight connection.

Make sure your travel app has an airport map function. A great airport app is GateGuru, which covers all the major U.S. airports. That map can come in handy in case you have to run to catch your next flight.

Have documents like passports and boarding passes easily accessible. You don't want to waste precious minutes during a tight connection looking for your boarding documents.

From the time you board a flight to the time you deplane, the gate to your next flight may have changed. If the flight attendants don't do a gate check announcement upon landing, go to the nearest flight monitor display to ensure that you end up at the right gate.

If you know your flight connection will be tight, ask for help from the flight attendant. They may be able to move you up or help clear the aisles if you have to make that run.

Let's say the worst has happened -- you have missed your connection and it was the last flight of the day. And if the delay was due to something outside of the airline's control, they don't have to pay for a hotel. You're booked for a very early flight, so you have two choices: pony up for a hotel at or very near the airport, or suck it up and sleep in the airport.

After I used the kiosk in New Orleans to check in for my flight, I then went to the ticket counter to speak with an agent. I explained my predicament, and he was able to mark my passenger record to let them know I would have a tight connection and would need a cart to get to a connecting flight. He also gave me a seat toward the front of the plane, which saved precious minutes.

Most airlines, along with services like FlightView, have text message services that give you flight status alerts. A bonus with this is if you are running late, they have the ability to automatically rebook you on a later flight. If you choose not to use the text service, at least make sure you have your airline on speed dial to call them in case the worst happens.