Flight attendant warns Brits about flight times this summer amidst travel chaos

A flight attendant has warned Brits to reconsider when they travel, as ongoing chaos is expected to last during the summer holidays.

Cabin crew member Kristie Koerbel has said that earlier flight times and leaving more time between connecting flights could be key to keeping your travel stress to a minimum.

Due to the amounts of pressure airport staff are under and the increasingly common sight of mammoth queues for security and check-in, timing your arrival right is more important than ever.

While airlines offer guidance on when to arrive for your flight, the moment you book your holiday could actually be key.

Travellers are advised to lengthen their layover when travelling (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"Always fly direct," Kristie wrote in the New York Times. "That way, if you are delayed, you don’t need to worry about making your next flight."

However a direct flight isn't always possible - but according to Kristie, you'll want to leave at least a few hours even if that leaves you hanging around at the airport.

She advised: "If you can’t avoid connecting, don’t book the shortest layover, because you’ll be building in stress and the possibility of missing your flight.

"A one-hour layover is not enough anymore. Thirty minutes, not a chance. In most cases, three hours is safe."

The air travel situation is very different now than before the pandemic (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Another tip she shared was to try and book a flight as early in the day as possible; this is supposedly when the least amount of flights tend to be cancelled.
Off the back of the Easter holidays and half-term, during which massive waits and cancellations plagued airports including Gatwick, Manchester and Heathrow, even the most confident of fliers would be forgiven for being slightly apprehensive this summer.

If you're due to fly this summer, we've got guides on how to check if your flight is cancelled as well as your refund rights if you're affected.

When it comes to arrival times, advice to turn up three hours before your flight departs was issued at the end of Spring by Manchester Airport.

Queues at airports are likely to be a feature when the schools holidays start (Ioannis Alexopoulos/LNP)

This subsequently led to huge queues building up at the travel hub in the mornings.

When it comes to the "earliest time" which airlines allow you to arrive at the airport, this can vary depending on whether you're flying a short-haul or long-haul journey.

Have you been affected by travel chaos? Let us know at webtravel@reachplc.com.