I've flown internationally and/or domestically at least a couple of times every year since I was an infant... but I never seem to learn how to do it right. (I'm finally starting to leave a few hours in between connections, instead of assuming that 45 minutes is enough... not when the plane is 40 minutes late!!)
A few recent nightmares/lessons:
Philadelphia airport parking = missed flight to Seattle.
Charles de Gaulle EasyJet connection = missed train in Milan.
Trains in Italy = late/cancelled.
Public transportation in Paris = on strike/cancelled.
"Budget" airlines anywhere = NO BAGGAGE SERVICE, must claim & check in again, then go through security again.
Any airline coming in and out of Beirut = wailing infant in every row, no joke.
Do not get in line at any airport Burger King when you have 15 minutes of boarding left. It will take them 13 minutes to get to you (in a line of 3 people, go figure), leaving you 2 minutes to run from the food court to the end of the terminal and then stink up the whole plane with your fast food and sweat from running.
Traveling with a spouse with a Middle Eastern passport, or flying in/out of Beirut with any passport? Plan on 3 hours of buffer time... per person.
