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Original poster

Airport arrival time

78 replies

LG123 · 19/02/2025 11:39

I'm flying a lot this year... I usually get to the aiport 45mins-1hr before if travelling solo 2-3hrs with the kids. I hate sitting around an airport for hours, I use fast track security too.

What time do you all get to the airport for domestic and short haul? My riskiest was 25mins before a flight with BA from London to Glasgow!

OP posts:
Maya2025 · 19/02/2025 22:09

Always two hours which can be hit or miss.

CanOfMangoTango · 19/02/2025 22:43

My shortest was 25 minutes at Inverness for a domestic flight but it's a glorified shed, you can see the plane from security. I still had time to grab something to eat before boarding 😂

Most flights i try to get there 3 hours before tbh if it's somewhere biggish like Birmingham or Manchester. I've had a few close calls with long queues at security and I'd rather not have the stress.

Bristol we usually get fast track and if no check in luggage we'll do an hour beforehand.

CanOfMangoTango · 19/02/2025 22:44

Exeter is my new local airport - any intel on what that's like?

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Flying Holidays
DancingCactusFlower · 19/02/2025 22:52

Fly lots from Edinburgh and it depends on many things. Mainly time of day and luggage. Last week did an early domestic flight and got off bus 50 mins before takeoff, hand luggage only, and pretty much got through security and straight onto plane. Flying back from Gatwick with faulty security scanner was another story.

ValentineValentineV · 19/02/2025 23:03

I’ve recently switched back to 2.5 hours after a couple of hairy scary 2 hour almost disasters due to massive check queues (thank you TUI).

JennyTals · 19/02/2025 23:44

I allow 2 hours

Waitingfordoggo · 19/02/2025 23:46

2 hours ideal for me but unfortunately my OH prefers 3 hours which is just overkill.

StarlightLady · 20/02/2025 06:56

I always seem to depart from the last gate! I fly long haul as part of my job. I aim to be at Heathrow 3.5 hours before; contingency planning for delays getting to the airport. I’ve lounge access and my preference is to take a morning flight and stay in an airport hotel the night before. Although that is not always possible.

For European flights l am to arrive 2.5 hours before, but when the new rules for the EU come in (what could possibly go wrong😀?) l will treat European flights the same as long haul.

biscuitsandbooks · 20/02/2025 07:03

2-3 hours before departure is ideal. I'd rather sit in the airport somewhere and have breakfast or lunch than be stressing about making it through security etc. on time.

Mingenious · 20/02/2025 07:10

Ah hour before short haul, 2 hours before long, but we always check in online and only ever travel with hand luggage.

MermaidMummy06 · 20/02/2025 07:14

Depends on the flight & if I know the airport. Were flying to a country we don't know or speak the language next month. We'll be at our home airport 3 hours early.(With DC) as we know one blip and the only road in is blocked. The foreign airport we're heading home from, we'll end up maybe 4 hours early if all goes well as it's a maze to get there.

Itsfiiiine · 20/02/2025 07:17

Last time I flew I arrived 1 hour before my flight. But I'm a 5 minute drive to the airport and check the live security queues to make sure they're not long. That gave me enough time to grab a coffee too.

Shayisgreat · 20/02/2025 07:19

Alone 1 hour before flight time, with my child 2 hours before flight time. Except Dublin airport terminal 1 which is always 2 hours.

Once when I was in Knock Airport in Ireland - it's tiny and has only 3 gates - I was there 45 mins before my flight. I assumed the people in the security queue were all there for the same flight as me. One man in front of me was there for a flight that was leaving 4 HOURS later. Madness.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 20/02/2025 07:27

We fly from Gatwick, 2-3 hours for us. I hate the anxiety of being late. Gatwick is big, last time we had a bus to our plane, took bloody ages to get there. We went to the gate as soon as it came up and got on the bus straight away.

Our kids are grown, it’s just us so sitting having a coffee is no real hardship.

LittleRedRidingHoody · 20/02/2025 07:34

To be fair I fly a lot and although I'm very 'type A must be at the airport with 2h before a short haul/3h before a long haul' I'm starting to question myself as in the last 25/30 flights I've taken I've pretty much walked through security/bag drop and spent forever wandering round the shops (a horrific and far too regular experience for my bank account 😂) ~ I just feel like the one time I chance it there'll be a ridiculous queue and I'll miss my flight!

25 minutes is madness though! Im assuming that's before gate closes, and not before the actual flight?

reluctantbrit · 20/02/2025 07:37

I'd rather give myself time for a meal / drinks at the airport than turn up sweaty and stressed for the flight.

This. We plan at least 2 hours, 2.5 at Heathrow. But we also have a ASD/ADHD teen who can't handle stress or rushing. We just factor the price of a coffee and a sandwich etc into the holiday costs.

I love London City but the change that you can now leave all your liquids in the handluggage is causing problems. We flew after Christmas and 2/3 of all handluggage was pulled and checked. It took us nearly 20 minutes to get my bag back.

I had it similar in Rome, they were looking for a tiny key ring, I put in a small mesh compartment, the whole bag was emptied.

BitOutOfPractice · 20/02/2025 07:40

HabitHoarder · 19/02/2025 16:21

@LadyGreySpillsTheTea yes! I am so sad that those fast checkins in Berlin are a thing of the past.

The set up at Southend is similar. I used to live nearby and fly from Amsterdam weekly into Southend. I could often be home 15 minutes before the take off time of the flight with the hour’s difference 😂

Mabiscuit · 20/02/2025 07:52

I always try to arrive 2 hours before. Last week I was running to my plane because of traffic congestion and long security lines. This has only happened to me a couple of times before but it's always been enough time for me.

notimagain · 20/02/2025 07:58

@LittleRedRidingHoody

25 minutes is madness though! Im assuming that's before gate closes, and not before the actual flight?

For info there’s not much difference between gate closure and flight departure at many airports, especially those that don’t use gate lounges.

When I was working in aviation we used to aim for aircraft doors closed no later than scheduled time of flight departure (STD) minus 3 min…At airports without gate lounges if a passenger got to the gate at STD-4 they might not be popular but they were good to board….but I’m not saying I’d recommend it…

Original poster
LG123 · 20/02/2025 09:34

LittleRedRidingHoody · 20/02/2025 07:34

To be fair I fly a lot and although I'm very 'type A must be at the airport with 2h before a short haul/3h before a long haul' I'm starting to question myself as in the last 25/30 flights I've taken I've pretty much walked through security/bag drop and spent forever wandering round the shops (a horrific and far too regular experience for my bank account 😂) ~ I just feel like the one time I chance it there'll be a ridiculous queue and I'll miss my flight!

25 minutes is madness though! Im assuming that's before gate closes, and not before the actual flight?

No no, it was 25mins before departure not gate closure - overslept! I had no bag to drop but hadn't checked in online either!

I was very fortunate, taken through security, to the gate and plane waited for me. Everyone's belts were on as I sat down. The person who booked for me had some sort of status with BA so I don't know if that made a difference.

OP posts:
Original poster
LG123 · 20/02/2025 09:37

I say waited, they didn't - the flight left on time and I don't think they'd have waited around but they seemed to know I was coming and I got to the gate about 5/10mins before departure. My gate wasn't far at all.

OP posts:
notimagain · 20/02/2025 09:44

LG123 · 20/02/2025 09:37

I say waited, they didn't - the flight left on time and I don't think they'd have waited around but they seemed to know I was coming and I got to the gate about 5/10mins before departure. My gate wasn't far at all.

That make sense...on time departures (in case anyone is confused departure is defined as the aircraft moving from the gate, e.g push back, not take-off) are a bit of holy grail when it comes to performance targets for airline station staff, sub-contractors and perhaps crew.

Expediting somebody's process through the airport might make sense in some circumstances but it would be highly unusual to say the least to actually delay a flight for one individual.

LondonPapa · 20/02/2025 10:04

notimagain · 20/02/2025 09:44

That make sense...on time departures (in case anyone is confused departure is defined as the aircraft moving from the gate, e.g push back, not take-off) are a bit of holy grail when it comes to performance targets for airline station staff, sub-contractors and perhaps crew.

Expediting somebody's process through the airport might make sense in some circumstances but it would be highly unusual to say the least to actually delay a flight for one individual.

Show quote history

With British Airways, a Premier member can have the flight delayed so they make it. Not by long but it is an unwritten perk as you're personally escorted to the airplane so if there is a delay, it is mangable.

I've had flights delayed just for me previously as well and it turned out, I was one of very few passengers. I miss those days as now it is a bit of a rush - especially with the kiddo in tow!

2chocolateoranges · 20/02/2025 10:08

I hate running late or being rushed so we always aim to arrive at the airport with 2 and a half hours to spare. I like checking in, through security, a wee nosey in duty free before getting something to eat and drink . For me that all part of my holiday.

we did arrive last summer at the airport with plenty of time but security took ages which meant we didn’t manage to get a drink to calm the nerves before going on the flight and I felt a bit unsettled the full flight.

StarlightLady · 20/02/2025 10:14

notimagain · 20/02/2025 09:44

That make sense...on time departures (in case anyone is confused departure is defined as the aircraft moving from the gate, e.g push back, not take-off) are a bit of holy grail when it comes to performance targets for airline station staff, sub-contractors and perhaps crew.

Expediting somebody's process through the airport might make sense in some circumstances but it would be highly unusual to say the least to actually delay a flight for one individual.

Show quote history

It’s a different scenario if the individual is on time at the airport but late to the gate (it happens) and has luggage in the hold. In such cases the bags should be offloaded if the passenger is to be left behind. It might be a quicker option to wait. Of course, there is a serious risk of the aircraft losing its slot.