How Early At The Airport

[WhoDaresWins]

I don't travel much and am a nervous Nellie. I get to the airport at least two hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. Am usually there even earlier as I worry about traffic. I figure I can get a bite to eat, read, shop and pass the time at leisure if I am parked and through security and have my gate staked out.

 

[JustMeUC]

You MUST check in at least 60 minutes before departure for an international flight. Otherwise you will be turned away. They have to do the no fly list thing. Otherwise you must check in 30 minutes before departure or you "may" be turned away. In reality, unless they are oversold and need your seat you will most likely be fine. BTDT

I fly A LOT... and sitting around airports more than necessary is not my idea of fun. I normally fly out of a medium size airport and arrive no more than 60 minutes beforehand if flying domestic and 90 minutes beforehand flying international. I never check luggage (even if going on a month long trip) and can be at the gate within 15 minutes of parking in almost all cases. It helps that I have elite status and get thru security a bit quicker than usual but still think that I could get thru in less than 30 minutes in almost all instances at my local airport. Other airports such as MIA I would allow an hour or more.

When returning, ask at the departure airport how early you should be there. Ask several people and average it out, LOL. Some places will take much longer than others.

 

[kumquat]

Here in the frozen north there is one rule "the smaller the airport, the more BS you have at security".

Example: Leaving Whitehorse, UT I dump my pockets into the the basket for the scanner. It contains a Bic lighter. When I pick up my stuff, the "gentleman" behind the desk informs me that all "liquids" must be in a plastic bag. He insists I take one, put the Bic lighter in it and walk through again. I comply, take the lighter out of the plastic bag and head for my plane. In the meantime, all people behind me wait. [sarcasm on/]Fortunately, they all found me and told me how much safer they felt after "security" flagged me.[sarcasm off/]

I often visit a city about 350 miles away. I drive because I can get there in about 5 hours (or less) if I bend the speed limit a bit. To fly I need to:

• leave for airport 2.5 hours before flight
• flight 1.25 hour
• get bags, rent car, other BS, 1 hour
• drive from airport to city .5 hours

Total = 5.25 hours. Cheaper to drive, and driving, I don't hate the world when I get there.

 

[walkinwood]

If you don't travel often, follow the recommendations. It is a minor inconvenience compared to the stress you'll go through if there is a long line at any of the counters/checkpoints.

Carry a book. Airports are also great people watching venues. I love the rocking chairs in Charlotte NC.

I used to travel a lot on work and always cut it to the minute. I also had priority cards that got me through lines very quickly. Now, that I dont' have any perks, I take my time and try not to get annoyed or stressed.

 

[samclem]

Here in the frozen north there is one rule "the smaller the airport, the more BS you have at security".

I fly to some small airports where the TSA screeners aren't going all the time--they open their single little line at apparently random time before the next flight. So, there they sit--all in their places and getting paid, staring at the poor saps lined up waiting to get through screening and wishing they could sit.

"Nope--you'll all wait while behind the rope."

"Why, yes, we are getting paid right now. You know, I think your bag is going to need some special attention. Step over here."

And the sheer number of those blue shirted folks! Chatting with their friends, griping, loitering around the terminal, fully 25% are actually screening passengers at any one time.