Manager Carol DeCouto said some tardy travellers arrived at the airport too late to be checked in for the 1 p.m. flight to New York.

"The flight leaves at 1 p.m. but last year it left at 1.15 p.m.,'' she explained on Friday. "If guests leave the hotel at the same time as they did last year, they will get to the airport late.

"For example today, we had about 100 people walk in around 12.15 and 12.30 p.m. and then they had to clear US Customs and security. We close the gate by 12.50 p.m. because we have to have a correct passenger count before the flight can leave. That takes about eight to ten minutes.

"If people are not at the departure gate by 30 minutes before the flight, we can't process them.'' Mrs. DeCouto said American Airlines had sent letters to travel agents, hotels and transportation services requesting their help in getting people to the airport on time.

The letter said the airline has had to reroute passengers who arrived late at the check-in counter on later departures.

"So please advise our customers that American Airlines requires passengers to check-in approximately two hours prior to departure and to report to the departure gate 30 minutes prior to departure in order to be accommodated on the flight,'' the advisory stated.

Mrs. DeCouto said the check-in counters opened at 5.30 a.m. for the 7.10 a.m.

flight to New York, 10.30 a.m. for the 1 p.m. flight to New York, and 11.30 a.m. for the 1.30 p.m. flight to Boston.