Not to be at the airport 2 hours before my flight

No, the gate is the final bit after you've already done all that bit. Once the gate is closed, if you aren't in the queue then you aren't getting on the plane

This^^

2 hours minimum. Sometimes the security queues can take up to 45 mins, depending on the time of day. Better to chill out in the departures lounge than be stressed that you’ll miss your flight.

Same here. Flew to Toulouse from Bristol with Ryanair 3 weeks ago. We were there 2 hours before and still had to run to the gate (gates close 30 mins before take-off). Security took forever and it's a long walk to the gates. We were hoping to grab some breakfast but had to forget that idea and grabbed a sandwich for the flight.

Don't risk it would be my advice.

I fly a lot. One hour gives you no margin for error at all. Unwise, I'd say....

Just arrive two hours before and work/read/drink/whatever

Oh, don't get me wrong, the PA announcement was perfectly professional - it just felt very pointed in the moment 😅

Although DH and I agreed that having to wait for the original departure slot was oddly vindicating. After everyone watched us shuffle to our seats and then three(!) separate PA announcements about how early they had completed boarding, having to wait for ages highlighted that we weren't actually late 😂

You could do this at Norwich airport. Much longer and security wouldn’t be open yet!

Ultimately flights are cheap because of lower service levels. So the security queue could be long, seats are small etc. If you want a speedy service you pay £££.

No an hour isn’t enough - you don’t know what the security queues will be like regardless of size/location of airport….. just take another hour out of your life fgs!

Gawd I'm reading this after we booked to go from Bristol in October and I have airport anxiety anyway! From what I remember living around those parts 20 odd years ago - the A38 has always been the ultimate random factor in that one crash, or a couple of tractors and you're fooked.

We usually have the battle of me with "being early for everything uber anxiety" vs DH from a family of ridiculously frequent flies who pride themselves on turning up to the airport as late as possible to start a holiday with.

And then DH goes into airport dad speed run mode leaving me with the kids struggling with their luggage as he zooms off into the dust.

Think I'll need a holiday to get over the holiday.

It really depends on factors outside your control.
Security lines might be long, gate might be a long walk from the departures.
I think an hour is cutting it fine. My mum missed a flight as security were preoccupied with something and it took her ages to get through.

I’ve recently flown from Bristol to Europe. The airport was really busy and security took longer than any other airport I’ve flown through recently (it was a late afternoon/evening flight so it’s not just the morning flights that are an issue).

I definitely wouldn’t want to risk only leaving an hour to get through (we were also flying with only hand luggage and with EasyJet).

Not worth risking it, I got to Gatwick 3 hours early recently and had to run to my gate, other times I’ve been through in 40 minutes.

Is the gate not just the bit to drop baggage? If op kits has hand luggage then it won’t matter what time they close the gate?

but yes, as others have said, security can be slow

Depends what time you are flying and how you are getting there. Bristol is stupidly busy between 6am and 8am as all the airlines need their planes in the air and working from first thing. So queues getting to the airport are not uncommon at 4am (as all the airport staff are arriving too.)

I believe it now has the new scanners working though, and last time I used it the queue for security was quite quick.

But do you want to risk it? One traffic or public transport delay on the way to the airport and you are going to be very stressed if you are cutting it fine.

Depends on how you are planning to get to the airport, and what time your flight is and what time of year. If you live next door to the airport and are walking (or are staying in the hotel on site and wondering what time you need to get up), and are flying off-season, an hour will be enough. I fly from Bristol quite frequently, but hate it during the summer because all of exact timings go haywire as they have many many more flights than normal to cater for holidays which also means more people to get through the system. I have also encountered closed roads when driving (unplanned, car crash on rural roads) and delayed trains to BTM when going by train. I tend to leave at least 2h30 but it's not just for hanging around at the airport: it gets me wiggle room anywhere on the journey. I am usually flying for work, though, and missing the plane would usually mean missing the meeting I am flying in for so it's worth making sure that doesn't happen.

It is an avoidable and silly risk to take, but if you have enough flexibility to accommodate a rescheduled flight, financially and practically, then for it. Let us know how it goes!

It's not! I regularly fly from Bristol and security can be horrendous. Also the gates close 30-40 mins before the flight time.

I would allow 90 minutes for Bristol.

I would urge you to arrive there two hours beforehand. An hour is pushing it and you could well miss your flight. You forget also that the departure gate closes around 30 minutes or so prior to departure and if you are late they will not let you onboard.

Well everyone is saying it won't be but go for it, the risk is you miss your flight.

I have never been two hours early. I like to have more than an hour, unless there's something up. You can check the length of the lines online and expected queuing durations.

You can see the queue status on X. Follow at Bristolairport.

It amazes me how some get so wound up by some threads. If everyone was to read the initial post to start with the poster was asking the question if an hour was enough.

Poster I personally don’t think an hour is enough just in case there are any kind of hold ups along the way.

Have a great Flight.

He's learned a harsh and expensive lesson. He only seems to learn the hard way unfortunately 😔