A pilot has shared some advice to travellers about a  boarding pass mistake that is easy to make.

Airports can be a thrilling place as you check-in for your flight, browse through the shops and maybe grab a bite before jetting off. However, navigating these transport hubs also demands organisation from travellers and adherence to security protocols. Often, you may leave plenty of time to get to your gate, but this time can go quickly.

A pilot and US army veteran said he was recently waiting on stand-by and was left in a situation with two passengers who appeared baffled after missing their flight time. The pilot, better known as Perch Point on TikTok where he shares advice, said: "Just a friendly reminder that time of departure of a flight is not the time that you should be walking up to scan your boarding pass to get on the flight."

He noted that if your flight is a 2:05pm, the doors are likely to close are 1:50pm. The pilot shared that often people think it only takes a few minutes to scan their boarding pass and get on their flight, so they turn up to the gate at the time listed on the boarding pass, causing them to be late.

"Depature time is not scan boarding pass time," he said. The pilot went onto explain that some passengers were "taking photographs of him" and furious despite him not being at fault.

"Unfortunately today I came across a situation in which I was waiting on stand-by for the flight and there [were] two passengers that were not there. Now, the departure time was 2.35 - the flight had already been a little bit delayed - and it was 2.34 and there were two of us on stand-by and there were two passengers that had not shown up yet.

"The gate agent had made three announcements trying to find these passengers and two of the announcements included the full names of the passengers letting them know that this flight is leaving."

Two minutes after the announcement, the two pilots were assigned the seats of the passengers who were late. The pilot added: "As I was walking down the jet bridge, the two passengers showed up and they were like, 'What the heck'."

The pilot noted that as he got on the flight, he realised he was sat by family members of the late passengers.

He added: "I quickly noticed that this led to the passenger that was sitting just across from me, taking photos of me, to send to the family member that was still up at the airport. The passenger who missed the flight was making phone calls to the families on board that it was only 2:34 and the time said 2:35."

Unfortunately, the flight was ready to go and they were too late. He added that the gate agent was able to reassign the passengers to another flight shortly afterward.

The pilot added: "I was able to have a decent conversation with the gentlemen who was looking for his family member, who was obviously pretty frustrated, about that time is the time we are trying to get out of there, that's not the time they should be showing up to be checking in."

One individual pointed out: "No idea why they put the departure time. I don't care what time the plane takes off, I care about when boarding starts."

"Damn, that awkward," commented another. "We should not have to be explaining this," insisted another. "It's crazy how people don't know this," added one other.

A gate agent shared: "As a gate agent, you'd be suprised by how many times this happens. Boarding ends 15 minutes before departure. We make many announcements, including calling your name over the concourse."

Another noted: "And the damily will swear that the late people's seats were given to you because you're a pilot flying non-rev instead of the fact they were late."

RyanAir reports that you should be at the boarding gate at the latest 30 minutes before your flight is scheduled to depart. "This is to prevent a delay to the flight and all other passengers who have boarded on time," the airline says.