Heading to New Zealand, I had a 10-hour layover in Los Angeles. I took advantage of my business-class perks and spent a chunk of the time between flights in the airport's Star Alliance Lounge.
It was the first time I've been in an airport lounge, so naturally I passed time by sipping prosecco, slurping ramen, and relaxing on the outside patio.
While I took advantage of the space, I didn't realize a representative for each airline was stationed in the lounge. That rep announced upcoming flights and let passengers know when each flight was beginning its boarding process.
I was on Air New Zealand's only flight out of Los Angeles for the day, and since I'm a nervous flyer, I walked over to my gate more than 45 minutes before boarding started.
It was a waste of time. I should've stayed in the lounge until the very last second when the Air New Zealand representative announced my flight was boarding.
Next time, I'll stay in the lounge, grab a final bite to eat, and wait until I hear my flight's boarding announcement from the lounge representative.