Do you fly often??

[inmyshoos]

Shameless post here for traffic!!
UK flight from small airport to Gatwick. Have checked in online. Only cabin baggage.
How early do I have to be at airport?
Tia

I'd say 1.5 hrs before with only hand luggage.

Internal flight, then theoretically around an hour before, but agree with PP that 90 mins is better as you still have to get through security. I wouldn't leave it any later, personally.

Ok thanks. It's early morn8ng and a friend is giving me a lift so don't want to go an earlier than I need to.
Airport is around 50 mins away, flight is 7am so we need to be leaving just before 5am I think. Ouch!! I owe her one!

I fly regularly, monthly. I always aim to get there 2 hours before the flight. The gate closes 30 minutes before the flight and opens 30 minutes before that (roughly). So that gives 1 hour to comfortably get through security and then get a drink etc and wait for the gate to be announced. When it's announced you can go straight to the gate and be near the front of the line. Sometimes if the security line is long it can take up to 30/40 minutes. Sometimes it's 5 minutes but it's better to be there earlier to not risk getting through late if it's busy.

As early as possible.

Twice this year I've queued for 45 mins plus at security. All was fine in the end, but there weren't lots of worried people in the queue who'd arrived an hour before as they had hand luggage only and had checked in online. Maybe not too bad if flying from a small airport.

OP, I would leave at 4.15 just in case something happens en-route to the airport. I fly often, every few weeks, and thats the part of the journey I always make an extra allowance for.

If you're prepared to be ready at security, an hour will be fine. If the queue doesn't move quickly enough flag down an official and they'll get you to the front.

I fly a couple of times a month internslky and never srfibr nire thsn an hour early - still leavrs tine for coffee/breakfast. I've never had to jump the queue but have seen plenty do it

Depends how small the small airport is tbh.

I have been through some where you can literally turn up walk straight through security and get on the plane. Others you have to queue just to get through security then wait to find out which gate etc.

90 minutes sounds safe

I fly weekly Heathrow to Manchester early morning flight. Now get priority channel for security but didn't when I started. One hour at airport should be fine, allow 75 minutes if you want more time to relax.

Depends which airport. On Monday I arrived exactly an hour before the flight was due, walked straight through security and was just sat in the lounge for the rest of the time. It should tell you on your boarding pass /app.

I'd generally go for one hour, but I'm always prepared to pay for fast track security if it's busy.