in time vs. on time

Question

I know that both of these are usually translated as "a tiempo." For example, I know that "Llegué justo a tiempo" means "I got there just in time." But what do we do in situations such as the following?

• I didn't arrive on time at the gate, but I did arrive in time because the flight was delayed.

"On time" means "at the prearranged time," while "in time" means "early enough."

Answer 1

Heidita said:

In Spain: retrasado/puntual

Quería rescatar este hilo para puntualizar:

En España , en cuanto a la hora de llegada de un avión se dice:

Retrasado / a su hora ( no es tan corriente ver lo de puntual, no se me ocurrió el otro día)

Answer 2

James Santiago said:

Llegamos al cine a la hora prevista, y con tiempo para ver los avances.

¿Está bien?

A mí me suena perfecta.

Answer 3

Ah, very nice! "Con tiempo" fits really well here.

Usando tu sugerencia, pruebo a traducir mi segundo ejemplo.

Llegamos al cine a la hora prevista, y con tiempo para ver los avances.

¿Está bien'

Answer 4

No llegué a la puerta de embarque en punto/a la hora prevista, pero llegué con tiempo, porque el vuelo se había retrasado.

Answer 5

..llegamos a la hora prevista.

...llegamos puntuales.

Answer 6

OK, then how would we translate this?

• We arrived at the theater on time, and were in time for the previews.

The "on time" here suggests that there was a prearranged time by which they were supposed to arrive (maybe they were meeting someone there).

Answer 7

Gracias a los dos.

Estoy segura de que ni ni tampoco se ve mucho. Je je.

Answer 8

In Spain: retrasado/puntual

Answer 9

Natasha said:

What do they say in Spanish on the flight departure / arrival screens in airports? In English: on time, delayed

I have seen "Demorado" and "A Tiempo."

Answer 10

What do they say in Spanish on the flight departure / arrival screens in airports? In English: on time, delayed

Answer 11

Sugerencia:

Llegué tarde a la puerta de embarque pero aún a tiempo ya que el vuelo iba retrasado.