As we’ve seen in the news lately, air travel is taking more and more of our time. Not only do we need to get to the airport early enough to park and go through the extensive security measures, now we have to count on delays in our flights. According to the Chicago Tribune, in the first half of 2007 “nearly one-quarter of all U.S. flights arrived late to their destinations, the industry’s worst on-time performance since the Bureau of Transportation Statistics began tracking such data in 1995.” And unfortunately, this problem is expected to get worse in the coming months.

So, what does that mean for you? Well, your time management skills will be put to the test while traveling in the air. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you’ll definitely experience stress during the journey if not prepared.

Many airlines are taking steps to ease their customers’ pain. From email and PDA alerts to rerouting missed connecting flights, the major carriers admit to hearing the complaints and are trying to alleviate the frustrations. However, we still have to prepare for the inevitable time crunch caused by these delays.

Some tips?

- Travel during off-peak hours

- Update yourself on the latest airport security measures

- Have all required documents available

- Pack all valuables (and communication tools) in carry-on luggage

A basic key here is planning. The waiting times after clearing security, whether on the ground or in the air, are perfect for catching up on that backlog of reading material that accumulates. Allowing an hour or two for getting through the airport at your end destination gives you some cushion time before your first meeting or activity. This way a minor flight delay will not interrupt your productivity and create additional stress.