I was flustered, upset, and getting angry, as my husband and I were needing to board as our flight that left in 20 minutes from that time.
This is the first piece of advice I give to any of my infrequent-traveler friends.
You simply cannot put yourself into this situation. And, in the unlikely event something takes up your time and you find yourself thus, you have to be prepared to miss the flight and take the consequences. Prepared, mentally, in advance.
Not how it should be but definitely how it IS.
I'm aiming for three hours early, whenever possible. And I'm always prepared to miss the flight.
Wasting lots of my free time but there is
no other choice right now.