Here's Why You Should Always Get the Earlier Flight Home
If you don't believe the vibes, believe the numbers.
Whether we're leaving for a national holiday like Thanksgiving or a much-deserved personal getaway, we often feel like we must milk the PTO days and stretch our time away as much as possible. Suddenly, all we can think about is getting out of town and, as far as possible, from our routine.
But here's the hard truth: Catching the earlier flight home is actually a better idea. For starters, take a look at the numbers. According to the TSA, December 1 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving) was the busiest day to date, with 3.087 million people screened in one day across US airports.
In short, airports were packed with people trying to get home. If you think you wouldn't really mind that, think again. Packed airports mean longer security lines, busier bars and restaurants, and, if flying internationally, much more crowded customs to return to the country.
According to a recent study, 70% of Americans feel stressed during the holidays. Add that to the aforementioned downsides of a busy airport, and you've got the perfect recipe for getting overwhelmed, especially if you're a person who enjoys "winding down" before catching a flight.
Catching the earlier flight home also puts you in a much better position should you have to deal with travel disruptions. With an extra day before getting back to work and routine, you have more flexibility and, therefore, less stress in the unlucky scenario that your flight gets either delayed or canceled.
In a similar perspective, it's also a matter of vibes. Catching the earlier flight home allows you to ease back into your regular life and routine without suffering the sudden shock of being brought back into reality. Personally, I love coming back from a trip on a Saturday night: I get back, unpack, and relax, and the day after, I have the whole Sunday to do my laundry and achieve a mental state of zen before the week starts again.
Though it took me some time to realize it, catching the earlier flight home is a win-win. But it's never too late to learn! And one thing is for sure: From now on, you'll never catch me on a Sunday night flight.
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