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We've got a 6.30 am flight to Malta on Friday, do we really need to be there for 4 .30?
Does the clock even go that low?
Yes and yes.
Even better if you are going business class. Worth getting there as early as you can in that case
Depends on the airport & other flights, and how many security belts are running. You could be through in 20 minutes, it could take 90. I reckon getting there 90 mins before is safe, but I've had some surprises when there are long queues.
We once turned up 12 minutes before a flight to Shetland.
Probably not a good idea cutting it that close.
Check-in online first?
Checking in online helps but then you've got the randomness of security as above.
don't forget with a 6.30am flight the gate will close at about 6am. It took me over an hour to get through security at Bristol airport once !!
They reason they say 2 hours is so that people will aim for 2 hours and if they are late they can still get in.
You can check in online 24 hours before, it seems to save some time.
Check-in desks close a certain time before the flight - half an hour often for long haul, dunno about short haul, but I think it's about the same. Only once was that late for a short flight, the lovely lady at the Finnair desk in Helsinki Vantaa encouraged me as I sprinted flat out through the terminal building 🙂
Even if I've checked in online I tend to make 90 mins before the flight the closest I'll cut it these days, it only takes the wrong profile family to be ahead of you in the security line to throw things into chaos. It also depends on the airport and the Terminal, Gatwick south has raised it's game a bit lately, Stansted remains a nightmare, City you can cut it finer, and Heathrow? unless it's terminal one or five, allow two full hours, and three for terminal three.
Many times when travelling with an ex-Boss we were always the last onboard - as in, for a shorthaul he'd be aiming at arriving in the short-stay car park no earlier than 30 mins before... And this was LHR too.
9/11 put paid to that.
If it's a really early flight, then getting up 30 mins earlier makes no difference IMO.
Airlines will start booting people off the flight at about 20 minutes prior to the scheduled time of departure.
Having been that guy running through the airport about to miss his flight i always aim to get there early now and chill out with a coffee or something in the lounge 🙂 - beats stressing in queues
With on-line check-in I usually get there an hour before I fly (get there = walking through the doors of the terminal, not starting to park)
I fly a lot though so know where the gate is etc, no bags to drop etc
I aim for two hours. If I have a long drive to get to the airport then I aim for three. Better to chill for longer in the airport than to get stressed in traffic and possibly miss the flight.
In September 2001 - less than a week after 9/11 - nearly (a) ran out of diesel on the way from Olot to Barcelona and (b) missed the flight to boot by not realising my chosen route would take over 2 hours. Not doing that again
Oh there was another one - Gibraltar.. whilst sprinting through the terminal that time I overtook the flight crew on their way to the plane.. 🙂
If you can expense fasttrack you can cut it fine. I leave from just outside chester at 06:30 and catch the 08:00 to Dublin from Manchester, and that includes a starbucks breakfast. The shortcut through duty free saves me at least 5 minutes 🙂
I do a fair amount of early flights from Glasgow, usually park 0615 for flight between 0700 and 0715. Works fine unless school Hols !
Get to security 45 mins before, board on final call
On a budget airline I'd be getting to check in at last 90 mins before, the chances are there will be long queues for check in and security, the airport and airline will be quite lightly staffed and there are quite a few early flights.
Even on scheduled flights, eg BA, at airports I know to be efficient and with hand baggage only, I check in online and arrive 60 mins before. They days of being able to rock up really late and breeze through are past even in business class.
djglover - Member
Get to security 45 mins before, board on final call
Depends entirely on the airport, operator and destination.
Local airport arrive 1hr-45mins before flight, drop bag. Hit security when they are unloading the incoming flight before they turn it round for you. Approach security with everything out of your pockets in a jacket or bag and laptop etc in hand.
If you don't know the score at the airport aim to arrive 2hrs early which gives you time to sort parking, find the right terminal and deal with checkin/bag drop. Worst was early morning at Liverpool where we arrived 2hrs early and then queued through checkin/bag drop straight into the security queue making it to the gate with 10 mins before hitting the bus to the sleazyjet plane parking area which must be somewhere near warrington.
Everything is a lot better once they have your bags as they will not want to unload but the cheaper the airline the more chance it will happen.
About an hour to an hour an a half, 45 minutes if I'm pushing it. Does my nut when you go in a group and people want to turn up more than 2 hours to a flight, especially early flights. I hate early and late flights actually between 11am and 1pm is the best time to fly.
Also add a bit of extra time if it's a big airport, nothing worse running about wondering where your gate is when the flights due to leave in 5 minutes! or even getting stuck in a queue at security!