The phrase “time is gold” couldn’t be truer than when traveling. Most os us cannot afford flying in private jets. As such,  we cannot avoid the increasingly annoying and frustrating long lines and security checks at the airports.  However, there are ways through which you can save precious minutes to ensure that you don’t miss your flight, right from the “comfort of your home.”

The best part? These only take a couple of minutes, and you don’t need to worry about long lines and “grumpy and overworked” airline staff to check your flight status.

What could be more frustrating than to rush all the way to the airport only to find out that your flight has already been canceled? Before you head out the door, ensure you check if your flight is delayed or canceled. That way, you can make arrangements to have yourself rescheduled without having to fight your way through the many frustrated travelers to be able to get on the next flight out.

Check the airport parking situation

Today, most airports provide updates and status on the parking situation at any given time. Taking a few minutes to check the airport’s parking situation will give you an idea whether it is better for you to drive yourself or have someone else drop you off at the airport to avoid missing your flight.

Check-in online

Most major airlines now make it possible for you check-in your flight, choose your seat, and print your boarding pass as early as 48 hours before your actual trip. Therefore, you can easily skip this horrendously long line and make your way straight on into customs.

 Become a TSA member

One of the most frustrating parts of traveling is going through customs and immigrations. So frustrating that the Transportation Security Administration came up with a membership program that helps qualified travelers to whiz their way through customs and immigrations. Right now, this is only available within the U.S.

 Weigh your luggage

One of the common mistakes travelers make is failing to “take the time to weigh their luggage”. Learning that your luggage is overweight right when you’re at the airport would leave you no choice but to pay a hefty fee to have your luggage checked-in. It also can be quite embarrassing since you can easily cause the other travelers behind you to wait even more.

 Confirm your hotel and car rental reservations

Another common mistake travelers make is focusing too much on preparing for their flight that they don’t pay much attention to their other reservations, including their hotel and car rentals. Ensure you make a call before you leave to confirm that your reservations are good. It’s also important to inform them of any changes to your flight reservation. Specifically, inform them of “delays” or “cancellation”  to avoid any unwanted penalties.