If you have a 1000 am flight from Gatwick....

[Neddevine]

Would you arrive at the airport at 6 am or 7 am?

Travelling by airport coach so these are the options. Check in desk opens at 7 am.

6am

Fly from Gatwick regularly and would get there for 7am unless flying long haul in which case 6am .

It depends short haul or long haul? Check in luggage?

7am if those are the options and short haul. But I tend to aim for 90 mins as am always hand luggage and pay for fast track.

Short haul 7am. I fly regularly from there, never arrive more than 2h before and still manage to eat in wetherspoons before hand

6am, because I'm a worry guts and like to be there early rather than later.

I wouldn't get there before 7 - I usually get to the airport parking about 2.5-3 hours before a flight, by the time I get into the airport it's usually 2-2.5 hours before.

This is for flights that I need to check baggage into.

Hate waiting around so I just do checked bags and straight through security then straight to the gate. Tend to stop at a Boots / WHSmith along the way for a meal deal but that's about it.

If no checked bags then I normally get to the parking for 2 hours before, into the air port about 90 mins before.

7am will be plenty of time.

7am. I didn’t know anyone got to the airport more than 3 hours beforehand

7am. Got to the airport (Gatwick too!) today 2hrs before take off and was fine

Thanks all. 7 am just feels a bit tight if the bus was delayed for any reason but 6 am feels way too early!

So was going to go for the earlier bus to avoid any stress. But now still not decided!!

8am

Out of your options 7am, I would arrive at 7.30am.

Where are you coming from? If it’s a long distance, then I’d go earlier as there’s more chance of a delay.

But also - check in 24 hours before your flight, then all you’re doing is dropping your bag off. These days, generally you print off your own baggage tag and it’s fairly quick to drop the bags off. Security at Gatwick has been quicker recently, too, as - depending which lane you go through - often you don’t have to take stuff out of your bag.

Overall, though, if you’ve done the day-before check-in, 3 hours before your flight should be more than enough.

I'd always go earlier if you're going to be stressed out about it. You only need to be there 3 hours beforehand for long haul and that's plenty. Id also be worried about the roads etc with the bus. If it was the train the Gatwick express is super quick but the bus is an unknown quantity

How far are you travelling (in UK)?

I’d arrive at 7. Even if you were 30 mins late on the bus you’d have loads of time.

7 am as that's still a full hour before you really need to be there (assuming short haul). And I'm a worry wart.

Bus is from Oxford. Travelling to Latvia.

Have done online check-in. But I know it still takes time to bag drop etc. Im sure 3 hours is enough time!

Deleted because everyone else is saying 7, and I do have a habit of being too early for almost everything!

I usually get to the airport 2 hours early for a European destination and 3 hours early for a long haul. If it is an expensive flight I would allow extra time in case of anything unforeseen. This week I arrived at Luton Airport 2 hours before the flight and didn’t make it because they had problems.

7am is more than enough time for short haul. I would have aimed for 8am and two hours before has always been plenty of time for me. Even if the 7am bus is delayed by an hour you will be fine.

7 - still gives you an hour wiggle room for delays. Though at 5-6am from Oxford there shouldn’t be any traffic.

This.

For the difference of just one hour, I would go for 6 am. If you’re late, you miss your flight, and it’s on you to rearrange a new flight (or just not go)

Not an option for OP...

This is a good point - you will be arriving before rush hour traffic starts, so traffic issues even less likely