Why Travelers Are Showing Up Absurdly Early for Flights And What Experts Say About It

If it feels like everyone is suddenly arriving at the airport hours before boarding—even for short flights—you’re not imagining it. A new class of anxious travelers has emerged: the gate campers. These are the folks who shuffle through security at dawn for an afternoon flight and then hunker down at the gate like they’re claiming beachfront real estate. And if you’ve recently found yourself triple-checking your boarding pass and heading to the airport “just in case,” you might be one of them. The Rise of the Gate Camper Take Mary Vogel, a librarian from Glenview, Illinois. For her upcoming...