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Original poster

What time would you get to the airport?

32 replies

applesooo · 28/03/2023 10:26

Our flight is at 5.55am
There are 6 other flights departing at 6am and 6.05 am
What time would you head there for?

OP posts:
fruitbrewhaha · 28/03/2023 10:29

Depends on if you are flying long haul or short? DO you need to check in luggage? Which airport?

Normally short haul I aim for two hours before. But I factor in some extra time for travel and so then up a little earlier but can then have a nice breakfast at the airport. Or though might at that time buy something to take onto the plane to eat.

KatherineJaneway · 28/03/2023 10:31

Long haul or short haul?

I usually give it plenty of time. With a flight that early, I'd probably book a hotel next to the airport.

Original poster
applesooo · 28/03/2023 10:32

5 hour flight
We have luggage to drop off at bag drop
We already have checked in and printed boarding passes

OP posts:

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Original poster
applesooo · 28/03/2023 10:33

Flying from Newcastle tomorrow

OP posts:
YouFilthyAnimal · 28/03/2023 10:34

I always get to the airport 3 hours before

If you’re too early you just get a drink and relax, if you don’t and you’re too late you potentially miss your flight - it’s a no brainer for me

BarbaraofSeville · 28/03/2023 10:38

Newcastle, I'd aim to get there about 4 to 4.30 am, but would also allow slack in the time to get to the airport and park the car if relevant as that can take longer than you think, if you need to get a shuttle bus, or there's overnight roadworks.

I wouldn't expect bag drop or security to take that long, but I'd want time to spare to get a coffee and either breakfast or to buy something to eat on the plane. After all, you can always catch up on sleep on the flight.

GoodChat · 28/03/2023 10:41

I'd aim for about 4

maddy68 · 28/03/2023 10:44

You need at least 2 hours. With a luggage drop. Make it part of your holiday. Have a meal and drink and wander around the shops

Bournetilly · 28/03/2023 11:18

I’d get there at 3am.

PuttingDownRoots · 28/03/2023 11:21

15mins before bag drop or security opens. But have a travel fudge factor of at least 30 mins.

And have an airport Hotel for an early morning flight if travel is more than 2hrs

KatherineJaneway · 28/03/2023 16:31

I'd get there 3 hours in advance. I like to know I am not rushed and stressed and I then have a drink and relax while waiting for the gate announcement.

NameChangingIsMySuperPower · 28/03/2023 21:05

Short haul I usually go for arriving at the car park 2 hours 15 mins before. We do airport valet so you don't have to find a space but just hand the key over. Then that gives us 15 mins to get into airport and find the bag drop.

When we have an early flight then the airport is usually about 40 - 45 mins away. So we leave an hour before, just in case something happens en route! Luckily it never has, so we end up being there a bit early, but bag drop is usually open so it's not an issue. Even with easy jet who say they don't open bad drop till 2 hours before the flight... it's usually open earlier!

MarchMadness23 · 28/03/2023 21:09

I'd aim for 3:30 and add an extra 45 - 1 hr on the journey time. But I live SE & the trip to heathrow can be 25 minutes or all bloody day.

userxx · 28/03/2023 21:17

If you've checked in online then I'd arrive an hour and a half before. It won't be crazy busy like summer months.

Housefullofcatsandkids · 28/03/2023 21:19

I'd aim for whenever bag drop opens which is usually 2 hours before

Bamboux · 28/03/2023 21:21

So bizarre that you know how many other flights are going at the same time! But good research.

TheChosenTwo · 28/03/2023 21:24

I’d aim to be at check in for 4.
And factor in maybe an extra 15 minutes for the drive plus don’t forget parking and the bus (unless you’ve booked valet which I’m guessing you haven’t otherwise you’d already know what time you were going to get there!), it’s early enough that there won’t be traffic.

lljkk · 28/03/2023 21:32

I'm assuming Newcastle is about same size of Brum.
I wouldn't arrive before 4:25am. 455 seems too a little risky, though.
So... 435? 440?

i always end up with enormous amounts of dead boring time in airports.

LlynTegid · 28/03/2023 21:33

About 4.30.

Enjoy your trip.

OneCup · 28/03/2023 21:49

What airline is it? Some queues are longer than others. Having said that NCL is generally quiet and things move reasonably fast at security checks.

cocksstrideintheevening · 28/03/2023 21:50

3am. Can't be doing with stress.

saraclara · 28/03/2023 22:03

I remember when airlines used to say two hours before. Now it's three, and I can see why. Queues are much longer than they used to be.

And yes, it's a good idea to see how many other flights depart around the same time. It's a good indicator of how long the queues will be. If there are half a dozen within 15 minutes or so, yes, the queues will probably be long. The worst queues I've been in were early morning. You'd think that would be an unpopular time, but it's not. Not with airlines, anyway.

lljkk · 28/03/2023 22:32

let us know what you did, OP, and whether you barely made it or how long you sat around with nothing to do

Original poster
applesooo · 03/04/2023 13:11

Well we arrived at the airport at 3.45 am and had bag drop and security done by 3.55 am
So 10 mins altogether
It was so fast

OP posts:
FusionChefGeoff · 03/04/2023 13:16

Always the way! If you'd have chanced it there would have been huge queues Grin

Have a great holiday

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