If they are not paging me for a flight then I have left the lounge too early (international flights).

For domestic, I have arrived as they were closing the aircraft door twice (straight from taxi to gate), got on both times.

I remember in the late 80s doing a weekly day trip to EDI from LHR, in the days of the old BA Shuttle and British Midland's competing service. My meeting started at 11 so I would aim for the 8am. Check in time was 10 minutes prior to departure at the gate, which was post (the very light touch) security of the era. I figured I could leave home at 7, park in the short stay T1 car park, walk to the gate, see whether BA or BD was the next flight (their gates were pretty well opposite each other) and safely get the 8am (or, IIRC, BD's 8:10). Only once did I miss the flight and that was because I forgot to set my alarm...

^^ This is kind of like when you read a study that says "Workers lose BILLIONS every year in lost productivity because they're stuck in traffic". No they don't. If they didn't have a long commute they would sleep in a bit longer or have an extra cup of coffee. Those 2,000 hours, saved 30 or 40 minutes at a time don't add up as if they were consecutive hours. And, like you, I miss one flight and the cost can be horrendous in time and money.

My personal strategy is to get there early. If I'm early I can sit in the lounge and do exactly what I would do if I stayed at home and came to the airport later: Nothing! But if there is traffic or a flat tire or whatever I'm not stressed because I have a time buffer.

I learned my lesson at JFK on a Delta Flight. The flight was delayed from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. So I went to the lounge and waited. Went to the gate at exactly 6:00 PM. Delta had changed the delay from 6:30 to 6:00. I stood there and watched my flight push back from the gate. Delta said they had been trying to find me. I was in the FC lounge and they don't make announcements in the lounge. Got to my destination a day late.

Sounds like the poster is flying economy

I usually do fly economy, but like many people on FT, I've got the lounge thing covered in most cases.

Is that a problem?

Optimizing airport arrival times
 

With economy you probably do have to board early, to get overhead bin space and keep people from taking your seat (I have had several people take my seat or put a child there). With Business or First class you're less likely to have these problems.

In the past 10 years arriving with sufficient time at the airport means I have never missed a flight, a meeting or cost me a single cent. I can productively fill the time waiting at the airport.

The only time I'm cutting it close it when I don't have an option. I've done enough running through airports to know that I don't care for the experience.

What I also don't care for is the last-minute Larry pleading to go ahead of me at security or check-in because he can't get his sorry butt to the airport in time. Sorry pal, I arrived early, you didn't. I don't give a damn whether you catch your flight because I've got plenty of time to catch mine.

On a perfect day I will have timed so that check-in, security, immigration (if applicable), quick fag, off to the gate and straight onto the aircraft is done in one seamless move.

At my home airport that usually means I'll breeze through the doors at STA -45 minutes.

Never missed a flight because I was late.

I don't really like hanging around in airports, or should I say shopping malls with aircraft parked outside?, and don't fancy sitting in an airline seat any longer than absolutely necessary. Lounges? Only during a transit, haven't been to one in years at my home airport. Last person onboard? Perfect!

I think, like the poster pointed out above, it really depends on the airports and airplanes you are flying.

Even in the US, with TSA, there are posters who fly out of small enough towns that they know there won't be many people in front of them in line to: check in, go through security, and board the flight because that's the only flight - max of 49 people in front of you ever. But they also know the same thing wouldn't hold at SFO or DFW.

Same thing happens overseas. Some airports you just know you are going to have to leave plenty of time to do everything because there are lines for the lines to get in line (exaggerating but I know it's seemed that way sometimes). Others you are able to just stroll up and know that even if something goes wrong, you are fine.

I'm one that doesn't like to cut things short ever as I'm very risk averse so yes I'll be there with extra time, but good for the OP if he's figured out his risk level and is able to reduce his waiting time.

Meh... for me travel is about relaxing and enjoying myself
despite the best efforts of others to ruin my day. :D

To accomplish that I...

- pack light
- arrive extra early for flights
- leave the laptop in the office
- bring my iPad loaded with entertainment options

It is not just the destination but also the journey getting
there that is enjoyable.