Getting to the airport

[Echobelly]

We have a flight on Sunday morning, not super early, but early enough to have to have an early alarm (IMO). I say we should be there just over 2 hours before (c6.30) as it's still Easter hols and security might be a logjam. DH suggests getting there nearer 7. I personally prefer to have error time so if it's quick, you get about an hour to mooch, buy snacks and relax before heading for the gates. Plus I know DH is a total stress monster if the security queues are bad, and I'd rather have an hour in departure lounge than 30-40 mins of stressed out DH. I guess he just wants to motor through to the gates. What approach do you have to arriving at the airport - and is it different from you other half's?

Which airport? International / domestic?

I go for earlier.

Also depends where you’re flying from and who with.

Luton was a bloody nightmare with TUI but stanstead with jet2 we whizzed through.

Depends where the flight is to - domestic is much less time than long haul. DH is a nightmare to travel with - more than once we've joined separate security queues!

Earlier, always earlier. I hate rushing for planes, and anything short of an hour’s mooching in departures is rushing for me!

Always arrive two hours before the flight, or three hours before if it's long haul. I do this regardless of whether it's in the school holidays or not.

We both prefer to get to the airport early; I much prefer to sit about at an airport knowing I’m there, rather than sit at home worrying about what is going to hold us up.

Early definitely. You never know if there's going to be traffic, road accidents, busy security etc. Much rather be there and relax with a book / wander round shops than be stressed and rushing

Def earlier
I'd have stayed in a hotel the night before if it was that early a flight but I'm horrible in the mornings

We always aim to arrive 2 hours prior but build an hour contingency into our journey as well - normally driving 100 miles or so to get to the airport.

Arriving at the airport 2 hours before your flight for an early Ryanair flight at Stansted doesn't always give you chance to get something to eat once you've checked bags and got through security ime.

Stansted, European flight. He's still leaning to 7, which gives us 1 and a quarter hours to get to gate, assuming we get there on time :/

7am at Stansted is like the seventh circle of hell Crowds of grumpy people who've had to get up way too early to be civilised!

1 hr and a quarter to gate closing would be pushing it, 1 hr and a quarter to flight time is just way too risky. Remember some gates at stanstead require you to get the monorail there.. Where are you parking? Have you counted that in your timings?

So your flight is 8.15? I'd be planning on getting to the airport for 6ish.

You never know what the security queues are going to be like. At Manchester (our regular airport) we have walked straight in and been through in under 10 minutes, and we've also queued for nearly 2 hours.

Like PP I would rather be through security and settled with a drink and my kindle than rushing to the gate worried that they might shut it in my face.

Two hours minimum for an early morning flight over Easter - and even more so if you are flying EasyJet or RyanAir. I’ve queued for an hour to check in with EJ before... not fun and definitely not worth missing a flight for an extra 30 mins in bed.

Are you just taking hand luggage?

I would definitely leave 2 hours from arrival at airport to flight time if you have hold bags. If you've done online check in & cabin bags only then 90 mins probably okay.

I'm a lot more cautious than I used to be as security queues do seem to have got worse in recent years and very hard to predict how bad they will be

2 hours for stanstead.

The queues are always horrendous at that time the morning.

Triple check your bag for liquids or you could have an extra 20 mins go wait for your hand luggage.

Stansted is hell-ish at that time of the morning!! Queues are never ending. Stick to your guns, the earlier the better.

The whole fun of travelling early is the breakfast at the airport! Our flight this Thursday is. 6.25am departure, so I have booked the car meet and greet for 4am.

I always allow two hours for Stansted at that time and that is with the fast track Security it is absolutely peak time like others have said. The queues for bag drop can be massive so you’re quite possibly looking at more than half an hour before you even hit security.

2 hours for standsted. at least half an hour more if you have luggage.
if you fly with a budget airline you have a looooooong way to walk past security. and the security is not to be underestimated.

I live close to Stansted, during holidays it is hell - took us nearly 2 hours to get through at 5pm one Friday last May - non school holidays.

Parking can also be a nightmare, if you are parking at mid stay the wait for buses can be hideous. Lots and lots of flights out for Ryanair between 5 and 8 am so security is rammed.

Earlier, definitely. Better to have to kill some time at the airport than to be stressed if time gets tight.

Stanstead get there early and leave ample ample time . So aim for 2 hours and factor in delays getting the bus from parking to the terminal

and if you are desperate for time, short term parking is only for up to 5 days. retrieving the car after that is so expensive that abandoning the car and buying a new one is almost the cheaper option...

I always allow at least 2 hours

I’d much rather mooch around an airport than stress about missing my flight

I prefer too early, especially after the flight to Canada where bad traffic made us the last to arrive - still before checkin closed - and we got bumped from the flight as they'd overbooked and not enough seats left for the whole party.