Let's say you're taking a domestic flight from your city and it departs at 10AM.
What time do YOU show up for the flight so that you get checked in, drop off luggage, and make it through security. So, yes you are checking a bag.
I ask because someone was a bit peeved when DH and I were checking in at Delta a few weeks ago and I was reallllllllllly surprised at when his flight departed (not DH, another customer). I'll tell you when his flight departed and what time it was after I get some consensus.
ETA: It was 10:06AM and his flight was 10AM.
I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP. He was really like "HOW could the plane leave without ME?!?"
I'd aim to be there at 8:45, or 20 minutes before baggage cutoff, whichever is longer. Flights board so early nowadays! Also, all three of my local airports are shitshows.
But it really depends. I'm going to get there earlier for a popular flight at a popular time than for a 6 am flight from an obscure terminal. Also, I show up earlier if I know I need to eat at the airport.
Small airport that's not busy? Maybe an hour to 1:15 before. A big airport that could be really busy? 2 hours. I would MUCH rather get there early and sit around than even for a SECOND think that I might miss my flight. I'm that kind of person.
My local airport about an hour to 45 minutes early. I've been substantially later though (like 10 minutes early) and it wasn't even remotely a big deal.
Depends on the airport and where and when I am flying. Domestic, I'm AT the airport, walking in at least 1.5 hours before the flight is to board (not leave).
Depends on the airport. I've gotten stuck in the security lines in San Antonio, Houston and Detroit. Cancun, we got pulled out of security line to make our flight. Big airports=2 hours especially for early, likely full flights outbound. Regional smaller airports, I might do 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The short times you guys are giving is making me anxious! I arrive 2.5 hours early for domestic flights if I'm checking a bag. So I would aim to arrive at the airport at 7:30 for a 10am flight. EVERYTHING always takes longer than I think it should. And I am *very glad* to have plenty of time and end up reading a magazine at the gate, rather than running around stressed that I'm late.
With checking bags- usually at least 2 hours early. Sometimes we fly through checkin and security, sometimes the lines are so long that I'm truly afraid we'll miss our flight. I will say- we fly out of BWI and it's actually usually pretty efficient. But I just don't chance it. experiences in OTHER airports always make me get there really early.
It depends on which airport I am flying out of and what the potential traffic situation is. I usually aim to get to the airport an hour to an hour and a half before the flight, but if I am driving I allow an extra half hour more than I think I need cause who knows what traffic will be like.
I leave my house 2 hours before my flight departs which gives me about 70 minutes at the airport. If I'm not checking bags I may reduce that. I do have pre-check and status so I don't have to deal with many lines, but I do have to take a train to get to my terminal. I usually have enough time to get to the terminal, fill up my water bottle, and get to my gate at least 10-15 minutes before it starts boarding.
I aim to pull into the parking lot 2 hours before a domestic flight leaves. My nearby airports have hellish parking that takes a good half hour to park and then board a shuttle to get to the terminal. That way I'm getting in line to check my bag about 1.5 hours before the flight, which has always been plenty of time to check the bag, get through security, buy a drink, etc.
I love airports and I hate being late. I'm always insanely early. For a 10am flight, I'd aim to get there around 8:30 (and knowing how my "aiming" works, it would probably be closer to 8).
This might explain why I usually have a few drinks in me by the time we board ...
I love airports and I hate being late. I'm always insanely early. For a 10am flight, I'd aim to get there around 8:30 (and knowing how my "aiming" works, it would probably be closer to 8).
This might explain why I usually have a few drinks in me by the time we board …
Well, if I'm alone, I try to get there between 8:45-9. If I'm actually there by 9, I consider that a win. Generally I print boarding passes at home/work so I can skip that step.
If DH is with me, 8:30 at the absolute latest and even then he's freaking out. Probably with good reason though - we've had to speed walk/run for more than a couple of flights when I'm in tow. But I've never missed a flight yet!
Do you guys who get to the airport super early also select longer connections?
Coming home after an international flight, yes. I hate standing in line for customs and worrying about missing my connection. (ETA: This is one of the joys of not living in a major metro with a hub airline.)
Otherwise, 50-ish minutes is usually okay, though I don't mind a little longer if I'm traveling with my daughter so she can stretch her legs a bit.
Absolutely no later than 8:30. Preferably closer to 8.
H almost missed his flight out of Calgary the other day. He got to the airport 1.5 hours ahead of time because he had to check a bag for a change(which SHOULD have been plenty of time) and didn't make it to the gate until only 10 minutes before they closed the doors. He was sweating bullets thinking he wouldn't make it.
We aim for 1.5-2 hours early. I always stress about missing a flight, especially if it's somewhere that doesn't have multiple flights from my airport.
Same here. I feel like it can be a real crap shoot when flying from Atlanta. Some times, the security line is really short. But other times, it's miles long.
I love airports and I hate being late. I'm always insanely early. For a 10am flight, I'd aim to get there around 8:30 (and knowing how my "aiming" works, it would probably be closer to 8).
This might explain why I usually have a few drinks in me by the time we board ...
This is me, as well. I will happily sit around post security and eat breakfast/lunch/whatever.