Never Be Late to a Flight in Denver

Denver is dry. That's true on may levels but especially in atmospheric humidity. It's summer which is the most humid time of the year here and I'm evaporating. I managed to finish my work here two days early and got myself on an earlier flight out. The airport is supposed to be 30 minutes from downtown, you can ask anybody. But if you are driving less than 10 miles an hour over the speed limit you won't get here in less than 45 minutes. Then if you have to return a car it's another 15 minutes by shuttle to the terminal, then a train in the terminal and there's a hold up at every turn. For a domestic flight, try to be here at least an hour and a half before, two if you want to be safe.

If you do miss your flight it's no big deal. If you are going to, say, St. Louis. There are more flights from Denver to St. Louis every day, than there are flights to anywhere on the west coast. Dallas is a favourite too. There are two flights to LAX and I just missed one. There are no flights to San Francisco.
The next flight to LA is seven hours from now and it's not worth it to take the train back to the terminal entrance. At least I found a seat by a power outlet so I can work on my thesis and blog. You can forget about WiFi at this airport.

I'm sad to say I've missed plenty of flights in my life. (never my own fault of course.) But it was never as bad as in Denver. In California there's always another nearby airport or at least enough flights to where you are going that it is not a big deal. Even if there isn't, going to town and staying another night can be inexpensive and interesting. Going from Denver Airport to downtown is a train, a 45 minute cab ride and then there's a risk that there might not be a place to stay. Not worth the risk in my opinion.