I do not feel bad for people who miss their flights or trains.

[joseline]

In general it is not hard at all to be on time. People miss flights or trains because of their own poor plannings, time management and irresponsibility.

when I travel by train from one city to another city far away, I see other travellers running to catch their trains. Sometimes they manage to make it onto their trains before they leave, a lot of time they miss them and they complain and throw a fit and sometimes even cry.

i always chuckle when I witness that because I know for sure that it is their fault. When I travel and I have a train or flight to catch I make sure to leave my house early to I can arrive early. At least 3 hours early. If I have a flight at 9 AM for example and the airline recommends me to be at the airport at 7 AM I am there at 6 AM. Of course I take myself to the airport so that nobody can dictate what I can and can’t do. I don’t let relatives take me to the airport anymore. I use uber or public transport.

the only time I’ve ever missed my flights or trains was when I travelled with older relatives. But ever since I started travelling solo, I never missed my flights or trains.

so when I am at the train stations or airport and I see people running, I feel 0 sympathy for them. They most likely loiter at home and decide to leave their homes close to the time of their departures.

I am talking about flying in particular.

Really? Quote from your OP:

when I travel by train from one city to another city far away, I see other travellers running to catch their trains. Sometimes they manage to make it onto their trains before they leave, a lot of time they miss them and they complain and throw a fit and sometimes even cry.

Never mind. Back to school next week.

I don’t understand the point of this thread. You clearly think you have a unique trait. Do you want people to be disgusted by you or applaud you?

I can occasionally be seen looking frustrated as I just miss a train, and you're entirely correct that it's my fault for loitering. I can and do loiter far too long in theatres to make sure I catch the end of the show, and with the annoying train times it's often touch and go whether I can get from the west end to the railway station in time for the 22.27. If I miss it I have to suffer the inconvenience of waiting a whole half hour to the next one. But I'm happy if my minor irritation gives you pleasure, it sounds like you maybe need some joy in your life.

PS The only time I've come close to missing a flight was on a 3+ hour connection in Ethiopia. The first leg wasn't late, I just stood in a queue the entire time through the terminal and was one of the last to board. I literally didn't sit down between planes and if there had been any delay, I would have missed it. You probably should go for 5+ hour connections, just to be safe.

Bravo OP - you are the most marvellous traveller who ever existed.

Congratulations 👏🏼👏🏼🐦

I mean, I'm an overplanner and always get to the station early. Even so, there have been a few times on our Interrail trips where we have ended up sprinting between platforms to get our train, usually due to a late connection.

But if I see someone else running for a train, I'm silently cheering them on. Because I'm not a wanker.

i always chuckle when I witness that because I know for sure that it is their fault.

Yeah, the only time I've missed my train other than for previous trains running later and therefore it was my "fault" was when I gave a man CPR on the station platform until the ambulance came.

Such shitty planning on my part...

Someone on that train did laugh. And waved. I've always remembered thinking how fucking stupid they'd feel if they had a clue why I'd missed it

Well, last time I missed a plane wasn't because of poor time management ... it was because of a massive pile up on the motorway. We actually saw it happen right in front of us and were lucky not to be involved as well.

Luckily the airline was more understanding than OP and happily booked us onto a later flight for a small admin fee. (It was actually EasyJet and I'm forever thankful to the lovely & understanding lady from customer service!)

Not just this afternoon, I expect

You would have seen me running at the station the other day, because they changed the platform at the last minute. I and other passengers had all been on the 'correct' platform with plenty of time, until the change 1 minute before the train was due.
You sound unpleasantly smug, and to me it seems like you are content to waste a lot of time arriving far earlier than necessary. I say that as an early person who has only ever missed one flight and that was due to a rock fall which closed a road which no amount of forward planning would have avoided.

Ah yes, the joy of ‘picking’ a five hour ‘layover’ at Crewe.

Oh come on you have no idea what is happening with people!
I am also an ‘early person’ and rarely miss scheduled things. But life/ delays and things happen sometimes!
I often travel across London to make connections - sometimes you can make an earlier one if all goes to plan and sometimes you miss it by a few seconds- not late but would have liked to arrive 30 mins earlier if possible. So maybe stop judging everyone else?

No - your OP quite clearly includes trains. So you think it’s funny if one train is delayed causing someone to have to sprint for their connection?

Why?

Perhaps you could leave now for a long lay off en route to a galaxy far, far away?

Don’t we all enjoy a five-hour layover at Crewe, nipping between the members’ lounge and the spa? I can barely drag myself onto the train and end all the fun.

What an odd thread!

Yes of course some people leave it too late however there can be many issues which can arise at an airport which means even arriving 3 hours early wouldn't have prevented that such as security systems going down, check in system issues etc etc.

You also have no idea how late a train might be running so although leaving 8 mins between a connection is ambitious at best, leaving 1.5 hours between connections and still delayed due to another train issue can happen.

You sound very young Op. my husband often rushes to try and make earlier train after meetings in London as it get him home at 11pm not midnight if he makes it. Not bad planning, just someone hoping to be home sooner.

Any other top tips for life?

I think this thread must be rage bait other wise surely no one would be boasting about laughing at other people in distress. I’m sure that amid the few people who feel this way most are aware enough not to tell people about it.

Omg. I wish I was as clever and organised as you, OP.

🙄

No such thing as a long layover with train changes unless you want to spend all day travelling.

It seems that you have a lot of time on your hands, to waste idling away in airports, by yourself.

So. Flying.

I booked assistance. Arrived in plenty of time. Assistance forgot to come and get me despite much hoops being jumped through.

same on trains. Can’t get off at station because they forgot to tell anyone I needed a ramp.

would you care to comment?

The last two times I ran for a plane it was the airlines fault not mine.

A few weeks ago I was flying from a big international airport, was on time waiting for gate to open, got a text from airline that the gate changed. No problem walk with my preschooler to the new gate get a snack for onboard along the way because their is plenty of time. Get to the gate and get told by the staff, no sorry they changed the gate again. To the other side of the airport! Now I have to run to get there in time.

The other time we missed our connecting flight because of a 6 hour delay on our 13 hour flight. The airline desk gave us new tickets for a flight that was leaving in 20 min!

Also a lot of work travel gets booked by the companies not the people traveling. So if your meeting or event is running late you can easily end up having to run for your flight/train.