How early do you get to the airport?

[madoka]

Reading this story about a snowflake mother lying and complaining about missing her flight got me wondering.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/mom-boy-cancer-missed-flight-says-airline-not-humane-003252600.html

How early do you guys get to the airport?

I typically will do two hours in advance for domestic and three for international, which I believe are the TSA recommended times.

 

[purbeast0]

2 hours for international, 90 minutes for national. It also depends if I'm checking stuff in, which is pretty much always when traveling since my fins won't fit in a carry on.

 

[K1052]

1 hr before boarding for domestic, 2 hours for international. Sometimes more if the particular airport has something I want (food, lounge, etc).

 

[Ns1]

depends on a lot of factors - what airline, what airport, what flight service class, what travel season.

I've gone as little as 45 minutes as long as 3+ hours.

 

[RockinZ28]

Depends on a lot of things. Travel day/time of year, which airport, checked bags, do I have 1st class/priority etc. Usually aim for an hour or less if I have the priority stuff. 1.5-2 if not. Unless it's somewhere like LAX where the lines can be massive even with things operating without issue.

And do they have a Priority Pass lounge? I'd arrive at SFO like 3 hours early just to chill at theirs, unlimited free booze and food.

 

[dud]

Typically 2 hours ...

 

[BudAshes]

At the Flagstaff airport I show up 20 min before the flight. It's great. Security takes 5 minutes and I take off 30 minutes after I arrive at the airport. Downside is the only place they fly to is basically Phoenix but from Phoenix I can get a direct flight pretty much anywhere I want to go.

 

[Red Storm]

3 hours for international and 2 for domestic.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Hours. Especially if they have an awesome lounge like an Centurion lounge where I can go eat and get hammered. If I'm flying first I'm definitely getting there early too to get all of the lounge amenities.

 

[Ns1]

Hours. Especially if they have an awesome lounge like an Centurion lounge where I can go eat and get hammered. If I'm flying first I'm definitely getting there early too to get all of the lounge amenities.

At some lounges they offer massages. You get 10 minutes free w/ Emirates B Class and 30 minutes with First Class.

There is something wonderful about getting smashed on Moet, getting a massage, and then bypassing the pleb class to board the plane.

 

[shortylickens]

two days.

anything less would be uncivilized.

 

[IronWing]

Local airport is small so 60 to 75 minutes works. Bigger airport = two hours.

 

[Svnla]

A big "depend" on many factors such as which airport, time line (as in what time of the day and what date/month of the year).

I do travel a lot and all I can say is it is a lot easier for you and your stress level to be early than cut it too close.

When I was back to the US this year and landed in IAH (Houston), I was very surprised to see the line at CBP was very short (less than 10) and I was able to use the automated machine to check myself, in and out about 5 minutes. It was the shortest time I ever spent at an international CBP in person at checkpoint when you have to meet them to declare some goods.

One more thing, it also depends on if you have anything to declare. Don't let me start about how long it takes to deal with US CBP <sad panda>.

 

[Genx87]

https://www.theonion.com/dad-suggests-arriving-at-airport-14-hours-early-1819573933

Depends on airline and which airport. Delta out of MSP Term 1 usually 90 minutes. Sun Country out of MSP Term 2? 1 hour. Other airports I usually arrive 2 hours early because I am not familiar with their traffic loads.

 

[Red Storm]

On a related note, I would definitely recommend TSA Pre-Check for those thinking about it. The process is so much faster and more efficient. Shorter lines, keeping your shoes on, laptop can stay in your bag, quick walk through a metal detector and you're done.

https://www.theonion.com/dad-suggests-arriving-at-airport-14-hours-early-1819573933

LOL that is totally my dad.

 

[dullard]

For a small airport at a non-busy time, I often park and walk right through TSA and onto the plane. No waiting needed. For a busy airport, with lots of traffic on the way to the airport, at a busy TSA time, I try for a minimum of being at the airport 2 hours before the boarding time.

I really despise the misconception that you need to be at your first airport early for an international flight. That is true only if your first airport IS the international airport. If your first airport is just to get you to the international airport, the extra hour is not needed in any way, shape, or form.

 

[Red Storm]

For a small airport at a non-busy time, I often park and walk right through TSA and onto the plane. No waiting needed. For a busy airport, with lots of traffic on the way to the airport, at a busy TSA time, I try for a minimum of being at the airport 2 hours before the boarding time.

I really despise the misconception that you need to be at your first airport early for an international flight. That is true only if your first airport IS the international airport. If your first airport is just to get you to the international airport, the extra hour is not needed in any way, shape, or form.

I think since a lot of people live in/near major cities that do have international airports, it holds true. I never heard the saying as "the first airport" it was just "get to the airport early".

 

[dullard]

I think since a lot of people live in/near major cities that do have international airports, it holds true. I never heard the saying as "the first airport" it was just "get to the airport early".

As I use two small airports regularly, I detest friends/family/coworkers who insist that we get to the airport 2 hours early for international flights. Then we sit there for 2+ hours, wasting precious time. It is compounded by the fact that it usually means getting up at 3 AM just to be able to sit around waiting for the airport to open up for the day.

 

[pete6032]

75-90 for domestic.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Only been on a plane a few times but the rule of thumb here is about 1 hour, in case there's some kind of delay, like either on the road or at the airport that stops you from getting to the gate on time. Typically you'll spend a good 50 minutes waiting and ready but just a precaution. The flights I took were always super early when there's not a single soul in the airport other than the people for that one flight though. For a day flight when there's more flights going on I'd probably go a bit earlier like 90 minutes. If it's a big airport like Pearson then I'd probably do 2 hours.

 

[Ns1]

I really despise the misconception that you need to be at your first airport early for an international flight. That is true only if your first airport IS the international airport. If your first airport is just to get you to the international airport, the extra hour is not needed in any way, shape, or form.

that's because the first flight is then a domestic flight and not an international flight. seriously do people not know this?

 

[Exterous]

Depends on a lot of factors. Anywhere from 30min to 2 hours. That said I have gotten to the airport earlier than that in hopes of standing by for an earlier flight and I have also gotten there earlier than intended because the roads were not as bad as I feared

I really despise the misconception that you need to be at your first airport early for an international flight. That is true only if your first airport IS the international airport. If your first airport is just to get you to the international airport, the extra hour is not needed in any way, shape, or form.

Thats not entirely true. You may end up dealing with passport and\or alliance partner issues with your second flight at your first airport. Due to a bad travel change information pass between United and Lufthansa (As it was explained to me) I was able to print boarding passes for my entire trip via United and a United code share on Lufthansa but when the agent went to enter my passport verification in the system it was rejected because Lufthansa was not aware that I was going to be on their plane. I ended up standing at the desk for an hour and a half, mostly due to a lengthy conference call by the gate agent with the United and Lufthansa desk to fix the issue. If I had gotten to the airport at my normal domestic departure time I would not have made the flight (it was not clear they could fix the issue or what seat they would stick me in so I was reluctant to take my first flight without a solution) and my 45min connection would not have allowed enough time to fix this then.

I have also spent additional time finding someone who knows how to correctly interline baggage which is less likely to come up on a domestic itinerary although not worth a full hour.

 

[ch33zw1z]

A couple hours. I'd rather have time to wait, instead of running g through the airport.

 

[Exterous]

So I actually read the story this morning and that doesn't sound very believable. FLL terminals are tiny with the largest having around 20 gates with the smallest a mere 9. The larger terminals have two security lines so that combined with the small terminals sizes means security is generally quite fast although security wait times are not the airlines fault. Now Spirit does fly from different terminals so its possible they needed to walk from 3 to 4 or something but that is maybe a half mile from the farthest point to the farthest point so there is no way they would have walked 'at least a mile' to the gate unless they showed up at a completely wrong terminal. Airlines and airports are very clear you need to be at the gate 15 minutes prior to departure as planes leave gates for everything from operations requirements (AA and their D0) to gate\take off slot requirements. Also - they packed their caner meds in the checked bag??

It sounds like a lot of rookie mistakes were made and its unfortunate but that doesn't mean its the airline's fault you missed the flight. They booked her on a new flight to make the rescheduled appointment and gave her some travel vouchers. Seems reasonable to me but maybe I'm just a little callous from seeing everyone yelling at gate agents about how they need special treatment, people with their ESAs or the Southwest Miracle Flights

 

[K1052]

Yeah, they don't really sound like seasoned travelers. I use FLL a few times a year and there is no way it took 2 hours to get through security and to the gate even if it was in the other Spirit concourse since they are connected airside. While I feel for their overall situation seems pretty clear they made some mistakes.