When it came to flying, I was someone who would do anything to save money. I spent months looking for a cheap flight, booking on discounted flights, and putting in multiple layovers that took up hours of travel time.
This worked for me – until it didn’t.
Once I started traveling with children, every extra minute of the trip felt unbearable. And I started to realize that I wasn’t actually saving money. Poor communications have led to missed flights. The delay meant losing valuable vacation days. We spent hundreds on airport food and last minute snacks. We paid for hotel rooms we didn’t know how to use.
Air travel is becoming increasingly difficult. Airplanes are full, delays are frequent, and travel generally feels unpredictable.
This past week, especially the airports of major cities in New York, have been under pressure. TSA staffing shortages have caused major delays and missed flights at Newark and JFK, and the incident at LaGuardia earlier last week added to the backlog, turning an already stressful experience into chaos.
I still love a good thing – but I don’t want to give up the comfort and convenience of getting it
When I had to fly to California for work during this delay, it was an attempt to convince myself that somehow I would be the exception – that I could book a cheap flight out of town and everything would be fine.
Instead, I relied on one method of travel that saved me hours of time and headaches: I skipped the big city airport and booked a flight out of White Plains.
The Westchester County Airport is one of the best kept secrets in the New York area
The Westchester County Airport is located approximately five miles east of White Plains and approximately 30 miles north of New York City. The airport handles more than 2.3 million passengers annually, which may sound like a lot, but it’s a fraction of the traffic that goes through the region’s largest airport, which handles tens of millions each year.
The writer flies out of the White Gardens when he can. Courtesy of the author
At HPN, there is only one small, three-level terminal with six gates, however only four can be used at a time due to site limitations. There is a gift shop, lounge and one restaurant.
Sure, small airports don’t offer huge food courts, endless dining options, or endless shopping – but you don’t need endless amenities when you’re waiting.
Small airports are relatively easy to navigate. With fewer gates and passengers, lines move quickly – from check-in to security to boarding. There is less traffic on the access roads, and once you arrive, everything is within walking distance. Lags are still possible, but the overall experience seems predictable and much less overwhelming than at the big hubs.
My flight was smooth from start to finish
I got up at 3:30 am to make the 6:30 am flight. It was a 24 minute drive from my home in Nyack, NY – and, as predicted, there was no traffic. I arrived to find the entrance more crowded than usual. However, the call looked manageable – not more than an hour – and no one seemed to be worried about missing their flight. Luckily, I had a car full of lights on where to go, so I went online and jumped straight to security.
The morning of my flight, Newark and JFK had temporarily suspended reporting of wait times on their website and warned customers that wait times may be “longer than normal.” At HPN, there were probably a dozen people in front of me. I cracked the security in less than 10 minutes.
The writer took food from the airport. Courtesy of the author
After making it through security, I got in line at the airport’s only store, the “Pre-Flight Pantry and Provisions,” which offers an amazing selection of hot and cold sandwiches, salads, snacks, drinks, candy, and even essentials like medicine and magazines.
The coffee line was longer than the security line
I grabbed a coffee, easily found a comfortable chair near the store, and started working on my laptop.
As the morning progressed and the ride began, it definitely got busier. But when I looked up 40 minutes later to see full seats and people waiting in line to board my flight, the mood remained calm and happy.
I could only imagine what it looked like at the larger airport across town.