Short of a bomb threat, what would you do to make a plane?

We’ve all been there, and most of us will even admit it. Some days you just cut it a little close getting to the airport. (And sometimes it’s not even your fault.)

The question is, what do you do to increase your chances of making your flight when you are really running late?

One woman in Florida went a little too far last week. Her boss was running late, and she called and e-mailed Miami International Airport claiming a bomb was onboard an American Airlines plane, hoping it would delay the plane enough for him to make it.

Police searched the plane, which was delayed, and found nothing. Later they traced the email to the woman’s computer and she was arrested. (No word in the story as to whether or not he made the plane.)

I sent the story to some clients, who universally (tongue-in-check, one would hope) thought this was a fine idea. But seriously, there are other ways, and other ways of going beyond the call, to help when you are running late.

Having a boarding pass in advance always helps, and having carry-on luggage only will help more. If checking your luggage is only a matter of something like a bottle of shampoo or wine, considering leaving the item in question home.

If you’re at the airport in line while the check-in cutoff approaches, and that line isn’t moving, you can consider, nicely, trying to flag down an airline employee for help. Sometimes they will help you move to the front. But for karma reasons if nothing else, I don’t suggest trying this regularly.

Sometimes too, paying extra for curbside check-in means a shorter line. Although if it’s close to baggage cutoff time, a big tip won’t hurt.

And for anyone with checked luggage, a travel companion can be a big help. Once, traveling with a friend in Maui, a traffic jam made for a near baggage cut-off time arrival at the airport. But I was able to drop her with both of our suitcases at the curb before returning the rental car. Since we both had advance boarding passes, she got both bags checked in under her name, and I was able to drop off the car and meet her at the security line with time to spare.

In another case, a out-of-town business client was running late, and an administrative assistant from the company she was visiting volunteered to call her a cab, AND to drop off her rental car. Then the assistant took a cab back to the office. Not sure this was exactly legal as far as the rental contract, but it worked. (And I only heard about it after the fact.)

I’ve had clients call and ask if I could call the airline to hold the plane. Unfortunately, that’s generally not possible. But in my experience airlines are often, but not always, more patient with first class and business class travelers. And with their highest status frequent fliers.

And being a VIP doesn’t hurt. Former Governor Gray Davis tells a story of meeting his wife, then a flight attendant, when PSA held a flight for him from Sacramento when he was the Chief of Staff to Governor Jerry Brown. Apparently he behaved like a jerk, but ran into her on again on his second flight, apologized, and asked her on a date.

But since most of us don’t have the ability to get the kind of special treatment from an airline, any suggestions or stories from readers would be appreciated. What’s the closest you’ve come to almost missing a plane? Or what’s the best idea you’ve had that helped you make a plane you knew you were going to miss? If the latter was illegal, be sure to comment as “anonymous.”

(Photo by tray on flickr.com/creative commons)

Tagged as: airline bomb threat, American Airlines, baggage cutoff, being late for a flight, check-in cutoff, woman arrested for trying to help boss make plane