Not to be at the airport 2 hours before my flight

Well it depends how much you want to risk missing your flight. It doesn't leave that much margin for error.

When I was biz travelling I used to turn up pretty late. For two reasons. One I was travelling a lot so it would have been a lot of extra hours wasted. Two because someone else would shell out if I ended up missing a flight (obviously this could not happen on a regular basis).

Now I travel mainly for personal reasons, I am less inclined to time it to the last minute. I hate being on tenterhooks wondering whether I will make it or not, and spending an extra couple of hours comfortably in an airport (lounge or coffee shop) is not a great price to pay for that.

What else would you be doing with the hour or two you saved ?

Up to you but why on earth would you risk the stress of possibly missing your flight?

Just don't post on here moaning that you missed your flight! Says two hours for a reason!

What have you got on before arriving at the airport that means you have to cut it down fine?

Security queues at Bristol can be very long and slow, even with the new scanners. You could book fast track.

Also the roads approaching the airport are often badly affected by traffic and events in the area so do allow more time than you might at first think to get to the airport.

I’ve ditched silver zone parking now after long waits for busses.

I’s always prioritise getting my flight, whether that’s for work or leisure.

We are flying from Bristol in August (and have flown from there many times before). I have booked fast track security and we’re still going to get there at least 2 hours beforehand. It can be horrendously busy.

we were stuck in a car accident before our last flight and made it to the airport with 40 mins to spare on a flight to egypt. I'm usually a 3 hour girlie, but we had no issues, the staff were lovely. I wouldn't do it through choice it was v stressful, but if you like life on the edge, it obvs can be done

1000 percent this -what is your issue not being there 2 hours before ????

An hour may very well be enough and usually will be (especially at smaller airports, I often fly from Knock and thirty minutes would be more than enough on most days!) Until that occasional time when it isn't for some unforeseen reason and you miss your flight. Why cause yourself the anxiety?

on a bad day it can take over an hour to get through security so yes if you want to catch your flight turn up 2+ hours beforehand!!! Have you never watched any of the easyJet tv programmes where it’s full of passengers moaning to easyJet they were only a minute late etc 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Why is two hours such a problem? Just follow the guidance.

Yes. Often really busy and as the first poster said, some gates can close 30-45 mins before takeoff.

I am chronically disorganised and always cutting it fine, but recently I've started to work out that actually doing everything in the way that takes the least amount of time but leaves absolutely no leeway for problems is not worth it in terms of the heightened cortisol flowing through my body. So now my aim is to avoid stress, and I try to be kind to my body by avoiding extremely stressful situations caused by poor planning. I've reframed it as an act of self-care.

In your situation, I would show myself "self-care" by trying to leave plenty of time and planning a relaxing pre-holiday coffee or meal somewhere. Rather than setting myself up to start my holiday filled with stress hormones.

We go on holiday next Monday and I've already packed the bags. Everyone will just have to make do with the dregs of their wardrobes until then. Normally I stay up half the night before the holiday desperately packing everything including the kitchen sink, but this year I've booked myself a massage and a hair cut the day before.

I fly out of Bristol every month and this time of year is very busy. I would recommend buying the fast track pass through security if time is tight. Security queues can vary depending on time of day but generally at this time of the year I make sure to be there around 2 hours beforehand just to be safe. They often open the gate 45-60 minutes before the flight departure time so I'd be nervous leaving too little time. I have had a near miss before when they had staffing issues and had no choice but to push my way through the queue which was so awkward.

I would aim for the two hours. Also, allow plenty time for travel - was once so held up getting from Cardiff to Bristol Airport that we would have missed our flight if it hadn't been massively delayed.

The problem with Bristol is the roads around it, and the security. I always tend to aim for 2.5 hours before the flight but this often is in reality 1 hour due to road closures or similar. Good luck!

Quite a few people get caught out by that - flight may be delayed but checkin times and gate closure times remain the same

Had this argument discussion with someone here a few weeks back..

I get the confusion, at many airports the gates areas don't, and indeed physically can't be closed off and the reality is at many airlines the gate staff will accept people right up until doors close a couple of minutes before scheduled departure time...(STD), regardless of warnings printed on boarding passes.

However some airports do have gate lounges they can seal at STD minus whatever, or the real nasty, pre-board by swiping people through the jetty head scanners and holding them on the jetty itself..

So either situation might apply.

I live v close to the airport. It has taken us nearly as long with parking as it's taken to get to the airport on occasion.

Some times we've been through security in ten minutes flat. Other times it's been 40mins. (Keeping in mind here that they won't let you into security with your boarding card if you turn up too late). We've done fast track through security before and found if you get stuck behind a bunch of people whose bags get pulled it can still take longer than if you don't have a fast track. It's really hit and miss. And there's always the risk it's your bag they'll pull.

It can depend on how busy the airport is too. I've been in situations where it's very busy and even walking through the terminal can take a lot longer than you anticipate because there's a family walking four abreast with their trolley suitcases in your way or because it's just so busy.

It really is hit and miss throughout.

And that doesn't even take into account heavy traffic around an airport.

Aiming for an hour before really is playing with fire.

I go too and from Bristol approx every other month, there is no chance an hour is enough.
Security is generally ok to get through quickly but only takes an anomoly in or outside the airport. Last time I went there was a ding on the roundabout outside and held me up atleast 20mins, got inside just as boarding was closing.
It's really not worth the risk or hassle for the sake of giving yourself another 60mins unless you have time and money to spare for another flight.

Recent thread.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/5359765-bristol-airport?reply=145183243

Just get your butt there for the time advised and grab a coffee. Don't be one of these idiots who were on airport documentries abusing staff because of their shit time management.

No. An hour to get through security and be at boarding before the gates close is way too risky. You might make it, but there’s a good chance you won’t.

For Bristol yes AT LEAST. Newcastle you're fine, Leeds maybe, Bristol no way. Bristol security can take forever, the furthest away gate (which I always seem to get) is about 10-15 minutes walk after that. Don't even bother trying to eat anything there it's a 40 minute wait. Not worth it, get through find your gate and chill with a coffee.

No chance!

If push it to an hour and a half tops in your position.

Walking around even a small airport takes a fair amount of time. And gates close a fair time before the take off time - easyJet is 30mins before take off.

You still will need at least twenty minutes to get through security on a good day.

Then fifteen to twenty minutes walking around the airport from drop off to gate even in a small airport.

Anything less than an hour and a half is asking to miss your flight.

I regularly travel hang luggage from only and don't hand about through security.

I’ve travelled to/from Bristol airport every year for the past decade and check-in has ranged from a 10-minute stroll to a panic-fuelled cattle shed (admittedly it was the start of May Bank Holiday).
Arriving from the South you go through some country lanes which you can’t rush, so add more to your journey time. And the car parks have shuttle bus to get to the airport.
So yes, 2 hours and then some…
I’ll find a recent MN thread and link to it.