I have recently been researching flights for an upcoming vacation, and I thought I’d share some things that I look for when booking a flight. Seasoned business travelers will probably already know these, but some newer travelers might not think about these things when booking their flights.

I always look for an early flight because it allows for more time to get rebooked on another flight if the first one is delayed … but not too early! If you book an early-morning flight, around 5 a.m., you might think you’ll need less time to get through security because there will be fewer people. I have learned that if you’re counting on TSA PreCheck to speed through security, you’ll be disappointed to find that some don’t open until 5 a.m., so you’re stuck standing in that long line anyway. I try to look for a 7 a.m. flight instead of 5 a.m., but make sure you check the hours at your local airport because some open earlier. At Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, for example, different terminals have different hours for TSA PreCheck.

When traveling in winter months, I try to avoid layovers in northern states that may have winter storms. It only takes one long night sitting on the floor with a phone charging in an outlet next to Garrett’s Popcorn at Chicago O’Hare to learn it might not be a good layover in December or January. Maybe opt for the stop in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport instead. But if you do find yourself stuck at O’Hare next to Garrett’s Popcorn, make sure you try the Chicago Mix; it’s half cheddar and half caramel, and it’s almost worth getting stuck there to enjoy some. (I am thankful that editor in chief Kim Inlander introduced me to it years ago.)

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I prefer to book direct flights, but that’s not always possible. Always check the connection time. When I am looking for flights, I often see an alert that says “Please note connection time.” This is a red flag that tells you the connection time might only be 30–45 minutes. Unless you enjoy stressing out about missing your connection and sprinting through the airport, I recommend NEVER booking a flight with less than an hour connection time. If you absolutely cannot avoid a short connection time, pay the extra money to select a seat close to the front, because if you’re all the way at the back of the plane, you’re probably not going to make that connection.

— Tracey Cullen, art director