Airlines generally recommend you arrive at the airport three hours before your flight. This gives you plenty of time to check-in, go through security and complete any immigration formalities. Airports love it too because, you know, captured audience equals spending.
However, it is possible to arrive much closer to flight departure time, especially if you have carry-on luggage only. How fine can you cut it and is it worth doing?
Arrive Last And Save Time
In his book The Only Way To Cross, John Maxtone-Graham tells various stories about the great transatlantic ocean liners of the twentieth century. There are one interesting parallel to the air travel experience today which I have never forgotten.
The specific portion says that people waited in the various queues for hours to board, while old hands knew to cut their arrival time as fine as possible, meaning they virtually went straight on board. It is not so different now.
With boarding starting 25-30 minutes before flight departure, I could arrive at the airport at 5:15am for a 5:50am boarding time. That would result in me arriving at the gate right when boarding started, cutting out the waiting time completely.
It’s Risky Business Though
However, there is a problem. What happens if there is traffic on the way to the airport? Perhaps the vehicle I am travelling in has a mechanical issue. What if, for some reason, there is a problem with airport security and there is a delay?
Overall Thoughts
Some people rather enjoy hanging out in the airport, having a drink or doing some shopping. I can’t say I’m much of a fan of the airport mall experience, so for me, the quicker I am on board my flight, the better. I usually aim to get to the airport about one hour before boarding or about an hour and a half before flight time.
What about you? Are you a frequent business traveller who is so expert you can arrive at the gate just as boarding is called? Or are you the cautious type who arrives three hours before religiously? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Erik Odiin via Unsplash.
Departures board by jeshoots via Unsplash.
Stairs image by Jannes Glas via Unsplash.
Thanks for mentioning that arriving three hours early will ensure we have the necessary time to check-in and go through security. My friends and I want to fly to a fan convention out of state next month, and I want to figure out the details of our transportation now to give me peace of mind. I’m glad I read your article because now I know what time I should book a car service for our departure!
You’re very welcome, Eileen. Thanks for the comment!
I travel a lot from Copenhagen and take the 07:20 morning flight to Oslo, the metro arrives at 06:50. And then I still have time to pop in the lounge to grab a quick snack, because they do not serve free food on the plane.
But as you said, I will only do this because I know the airport and the flight leaves every hour, so I could take the next flight if something happens.
That is pretty amazing that you arrive at 06:50 for a 07:20 flight AND still have time to go to the lounge to get a quick snack. I’m very impressed by this! Glad you agree though, that you know the airport and that there is a backup plan if you miss the flight. Thanks for the comment!
It also depends if you are checking luggage (or waiting to gate check). For USA domestic check-ins, the minimum time is usually 30 minutes prior to the flight when checking a bag, 1-hour for international check-in. Once in a while because of a transit delay I have to cut it really close and sometimes the counter agent will expedite my luggage, but 30 minutes before departure is usually a hard cut-off. I’ve had to take a later flight when I have been too close and had luggage that I had to check that wouldn’t make it through a TSA scan. Also every once in a while I have to go through a hand search of my carry-on because of a finicky TSA x-ray agent. Take all of these factors into consideration if you want to cut it close! I’ve checked into an international flight arriving 1:30 minutes before departure, but I knew that I had expedited security and was bringing only carry-on luggage…still had to stop at the counter to get my ticket stamped for “fast-pass” security.
Yes, it’s often 30 minutes or 45 minutes elsewhere when checking in a bag, and they want you there earlier because of the usual queues. You make another good point – the random security searches. While sometimes they don’t take very long, if you’ve actually made some mistake with some liquid in the depths of your bag, it could take somewhat longer and more so if others are ahead of you being searched, as they only have so many agents. I usually arrive at the airport 1 hour and 30 minutes before departure time just to be on the safe side. That’s my limit really. Thanks for the comment!
I suppose that a lot depends on how comfortable you are with the prospect of missing your flight. Personally, I’d almost always rather be early, but that’s just me.
Quite true. I’d probably be very comfortable with that on a route with an hourly service and with a flexible business class ticket in hand. At the start of a four leg trip in discount economy, probably not so much. Good point!
Seems to me that planning to arrive at the START of the boarding process is still wasting a fair bit of time.
Hahaha! Well, that’s about as fine as I’d be willing to cut it. I imagine you could get there another 20 minutes later and arrive at the end of boarding, but I’m not sure how great that would be for a person’s nerves! Thanks for the comment!