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Brits get to airport hours before they need to - but millions admit theyve missed flight

New research has shown many Brits hate the thought of missing the flight to their holiday so much they arrive at the airport hours earlier than they need to

[Many Brits arrive at the airport hours earlier than they need to]

Many Brits arrive at the airport hours earlier than they need to

Theres nothing worse than stressing at the airport, running around trying to get your last holiday bits and bobs while desperately trying to be at the gate on time.

And while its sometimes unavoidable due to unexpected hold-ups, new research has found that many Brits will go out of their way to avoid the rush - arriving hours earlier than they actually need to.

Most airlines recommend getting to the terminal two or three hours before takeoff depending on your destination, but taxi company Veezu has found that one in three of us will get there four or more hours early.

But at the other end of the scale, 2% are comfortable arriving an hour before their flight, and 1% will cut it even finer and arrive less than 60 minutes before theyre due to be in the air.

When it came to which gender was more stressed about the airport experience, women came out on top, with a quarter (24%) of women admitting they arrive early to avoid the stress, compared to 20% of men.

Veezus new research also looked at some of the most common airport mishaps, with having to pay for extra baggage the biggest thing to catch Brits out (15%).

[Two women looking fed up at the airport]

However, millions also miss the flight(Image: Getty Images)

Other common issues include going to the wrong terminal (10%), forgetting to check in online (8%), and forgetting your passport (5%).

Perhaps the most annoying and costly of all airport mishaps, the data reveals a staggering six million Brits have missed a flight.

Interestingly, theres a clear North/South divide, with those living down south far more likely to not make the plane.

Bad traffic is the most common reason (41%), but 31% of those who had missed a flight said it was because they simply lost track of time in the airport. Just under a quarter blamed it on oversleeping and 17% said it was down to delays at security.

And the data shows that Brits love getting a taxi to the airport, with 28% saying thats their ideal mode of transport.

Sally Krouma, a spokesperson at Veezu, says: Getting a taxi to the airport is a great way to kick-start your holiday. There is enough stress on the day when youre trying to do last-minute packing and get everyone out the door on time, and knowing someone can drop you right in front of the airport is just one less thing to worry about.

If youre driving or have a loved one dropping you off, its vital to know your route and to be aware of any roadworks. Its tempting to leave airport travel to the last minute as there are so many things to plan with holidays, but getting it wrong can throw your whole trip into chaos.

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