If you are flying further than the eu, how early are you supposed to be at the airport

[Lardlizard]

Is it 2 or 3 hours before the flight departs

Frequent long haul flier here. The recommended time is 3 hours. For those saying no idea why the difference re domestic it's because the plane is bigger (800 on an a380 compared to 160 on a EU/domestic 737) queues for everything will longer and boarding usually starts 40-60 mins before the plane is due to leave. In some airports the transit between security and gates can be up to 20 minutes. It just adds on extra time to account for potential queues and delays.

Also bag drop can often close 90 mins before the flight which could leave things tight

Also I would say that commuter traffic around Gatwick would kick off at 6pm so better to leave at 5 anyway. Go to bed an hour earlier and chill with a coffee and breakfast rather than stressing at the sign of a traffic jam!

Tbh a ks for the advice
I’ll book the taxi for the earlier time then
Your right it’s not worse being rushed or stressed
It’s not like 5am is the end of the world

Gatwick said 3 hours for France

Usually three hours. They don't hang about and usually board quite early due to the sheer amount of people.

All depends. At our local airport Girona, as long as i get on the end of the queue to get on the plane I'm fine, so 30 mins max . On line check in and hand luggage.
At Heathrow at least 3 hours

I always aim for 4-5 hours before. We are lucky enough to fly first, and so get to enjoy the Emirates lounge, and time passes quickly in there. Even if we weren’t in the lounge, I would rather be atthe the airport twiddling my thumbs rather than getting stressed in a traffic jam. I have seen news reports of people jumping out of cars and trying to walk to the airport when there is an accident/jam just outside.

Depends on the airport. I fly somewhere most weeks and already know my main airports - in some, you can just walk through security and gates are all close together, I some, it's likely the security takes for ever, passport control 2x forver and you need walk-train-shuttle-walk and go through an extra security scan at the gate.

In any case I have never needed as long as the airlines recommend. Would spend half my life at airports if I showed up 3-4 hours before flight.