Not to be at the airport 2 hours before my flight

Already been mentioned - for Bristol you need contingency time for traffic. It’s a short distance once you’re off the motorway (M5 in summer!). That short distance has taken us an hour from M5 to the airport, quickest was 25 minutes at 2.00am.

If your flight is at a quiet time, security can be very quick. If you’re parking in the long stay /park & ride silver zone, the wait for a bus can also be a while.

Bristol is my least favourite airport due to all the unknowns and contingencies that need to be allowed for.

Flights are regularly over sold - so if you don’t get through security and ready to check in for your flight and be boarded - then you’ll be left behind.

The roads approaching Bristol Airport are not big fast roads, it’s some distance from any motorway. So bear in mind that if there is any accident or traffic hold up, you can easily miss a flight. Everyone I know who uses Bristol allows more than the specified 2 hours. Even fairly local residents will stay the night before an early flight at the hotel across the road from the terminal, to remove any chance of a missed flight.

I wouldn’t risk it. Not in summer. To Europe. It’s likely to be busy, there could be long queues at security you just don’t know. But then I LOVE airports and like to have plenty time there lol

For me the risk outweighs the gain. Why would you potentially cause yourself a stressful journey if the security queue stalls, accident on motorway or ANY other reason, when all you will gain is an hour back?

what are you doing in that hour? Spending it with a loved one who you’ll never see again?

If it’s for an extra hour in bed, it’s just not worth it.

OP I fly out of Bristol regularly. I used to get there 2 hours ahead because of security queues. But they have amazing new scanners now which mean you dont have to take anything out of your bag at security. It's soooo much faster. No faffing, everyone is straight through. I've been literally 5 minutes max at security since they installed them. And its so pleasant because the staff aren't screaming out all the things you need to take out of your bag!

The airport is fine but gets very busy and hot so if you're not fussed about getting food, etc, I would personally be confident arriving approx 30 mins before my gate is due to close.

Ermmmmm I think it's you who may need a lie down, so worked up

Check when your gate closes, as ours was 50 min before departure.

I don’t know about Bristol, but I flew from Glasgow last month and security took over an hour. Aberdeen on Thursday had no queue for security at all. I suppose I’m saying it’s difficult to predict how long it will take. Such a pain isn’t it?

I fly from Bristol pretty regularly and I wouldn't cut it much tighter than 1.5 hours. I find security is usually pretty fast but every now and then it isn't, plus some of the gates are a bit of a trek from the main hub. I also always build in plenty of contingency for actually getting to the airport because the roads in the area back up badly and the actual airport site is a mess at the moment with building/roadworks, so if you aim to arrive two hours ahead you may lose some of that additional time trying to enter the building.

🤣🤣🤣

Security and border control to Europe has been a bit of a shit show since Brexit. It took us 40 mins to get through security and border control at St Pancras this morning.

We arrived at the station 1.5hrs before left and I wouldn't have wanted to have left it much later than that.

I have a daughter in law who flies regularly from Bristol Airport she always leaves the 2 hour gap.

There isn’t any passport control to leave the UK. That will be at the arrival airport.

@Tunisia2025

Are you? Oh dear

Maybe go have a little lie down?

they say 2hrs for a reason. We live a couple hours away from the airport, so leave plenty in case of delays on the way there. This time the journey was straight through so we got there 2.5hrs early. There was a delay at security and I actually started panicking it wasn't enough. In the end airport staff had to fast track us. I wouldn't risk it for the sake of an hour

Bristol security can be lengthy and slow, I wouldnt risk an hour

Yeah, I was running late and got to Brum 1.5 hours before flight the one time. The queue was right down the stairs and all the way through the airport. They were coming and getting people and taking them through the gates. I only got through because I spoke up. Not worth the risk IMO although Brum is particularly bad at times.

Actually I've just remembered my brother on law missed a flight to Ireland from Bristol by not allowing enough time hand luggage only. He said security was so slow he nearly missed the next flight as well by the time he'd gone to the desk to rebook and then got through!

I'm really confused at why this post has wound you up so much?

It’s been a few years since I’ve flown from Bristol, but yes, I’ve always got through quickly. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a hold up, or traffic on the way to the airport. I’d still allow 90 mins. But definitely longer for bigger airports like London ones - sometimes I’m through in minutes, other times it’s hours.

We flew from Bristol recently. We were really surprised at how long the walk from security to our gate was, for a small airport. Also, although security was fine for us, I have heard there can be big queues.

How are you getting there? The slowest part of the whole process for us was getting through Silver Zone parking. And what about if there are traffic hold ups?

I would definitely leave the 2 hours they advised! more of using Silver Zone. Why would you risk the cost of flight being lost for the sake of an hour?

I use Bristol quite frequently, you might get away with an hour if your pay for fast track security also have a look at the departure list at how many flights are going out at the same time.

Also, not sure if it's been mentioned, if you are a single traveller, hand luggage only, then apparently you are further up the ladder to get bumped if they have over booked. This aspect concerns me, as I have flown hand luggage only a couple of times when it's just me, so I would much rather arrive early and get checked in and issued a boarding card and know I have been allocated a seat. I can then get a coffee and relax.

It's not just the time at the airport it's factoring delays in your journey to the airport too