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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Arriving at airport 2 hours prior to check in opening

158 replies

phoenix1973 · 07/04/2018 14:10

My oh insists on this....in case we get a puncture and miss our flight.
I hate it. Theres no seats so we're paying costa to rent seats.
Aibu?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 07/04/2018 14:11

So two hours on top of the expected 2 hours? Even for me as a little miss panic that seems OTT!

RepealMay25th · 07/04/2018 14:11

I'm with him. And there are seats everywhere in an airport! OR just have a pint like most people do?

RepealMay25th · 07/04/2018 14:12

Oh, read it wrong. Don't you check in online anyway? Why does it matter what time check in opens? 2 hours before flight is the right amount of time.

SoyDora · 07/04/2018 14:13

I fly a lot and have never even got there 2 hours before departure time, let alone 2 hours before check in opens!

BIWI · 07/04/2018 14:13

You can pay to go into some of the lounges. Or certain credit cards also get you in for free - worth checking that out.

I'm not quite as bad as your OH, but I get very anxious about missing a flight, so would always rather be there early.

purplecorkheart · 07/04/2018 14:14

Haha and I thought I liked to be early at the airport. Is there a nearby airport hotel that you could walk to/take shuttle to when you park and have a coffee. Never heard of having to rent chairs to sit down at the airport, talk about charging for everything!

WillowWept · 07/04/2018 14:14

This would drive me mad!

90 mins before flight departure is about the earliest I can bear.

Itsallpropaganda · 07/04/2018 14:15

RepealMay25th OP said two hours before check in opens, so that's probably 4-5 hours pre flight. We fly loads and have yet to miss a flight despite only arriving a couple of hours before take off.

Glug44 · 07/04/2018 14:15

Depends on the airport. Heathrow / Birmingham is pretty good. Stansted not so much.

chickywoo · 07/04/2018 14:16

I like to do this too ( maybe an hour before though) mainly to ensure we are first to check in and get seats together!!
But is frustrating waiting around but better than being panicky rushy and standing in a long queue to check in !

SoyDora · 07/04/2018 14:16

90 mins before flight departure is about the earliest I can bear

Same here. In fact we usually aim for an hour Shock. Means we can generally go through and board straight away. I used to fly maybe 20 times a year, although more like 3-4 times since we’ve had children, and never missed a flight yet.

SoyDora · 07/04/2018 14:17

We always check in online though.

maskingtape · 07/04/2018 14:18

I'm usually pretty early. I don't want to sit down at the airport anyway as I'll be sat for hours on the plane.

Zaphodsotherhead · 07/04/2018 14:18

I do this too. I'd rather be killing time at the airport than sitting at home on eggshells in case the car doesn't start.

It's all part of the holiday, isn't it? Drinking overpriced coffee and watching other people?

Taffeta · 07/04/2018 14:19

We usually get there early and have a leisurely breakfast somewhere nice.

HyenaHappy · 07/04/2018 14:19

I’m with your OH. I live a good 4-5 hours from Heathrow where we tend to fly from. I always leave aaaaages to get there. I loathe rushing so pitching up at Costas and chilling out is far better for me than being frantic while stuck in a traffic jam or something.

DextroDependant · 07/04/2018 14:19

Well I thought you HAD yo be there 2 hours before you fly and always aim to have 20-30 mins leeway on top of that but 2 hours before check in seems a tad extreme!!

MargaretCavendish · 07/04/2018 14:20

DH and I disagree on this - I always want to cut it finer than him - but he's never suggested getting there two hours before check-in opens; isn't that five hours before the flight?! Is there any possibility of going somewhere near the airport beforehand (I know they're not normally in areas awash with possibilities) so that he can feel less anxious in the knowledge that you're quite close?

Incidentally, we did get a puncture one of the most recent times I was flying (DH was taking me to the airport) and it didn't take two/three hours to sort! Can neither of you change a tyre?

Buxtonstill · 07/04/2018 14:20

I get to the airport 4/5 hours ahead of the flight. Nice bit of duty free shopping, then relax in the Emirates Lounge. When you are served excellent cuisine and fine champagne, the time passes very quickly!

WillowWept · 07/04/2018 14:21

soy

Yes me too! It depends a bit on departure airport and destination because some you know you're going to be held up at check in/security and some flights board earlier than others etc.

MargaretCavendish · 07/04/2018 14:21

I'm usually pretty early. I don't want to sit down at the airport anyway as I'll be sat for hours on the plane.

So what do you do, if not sit down? Can you really divert yourself for hours in the airport shops?

witchofzog · 07/04/2018 14:22

I am with your dh. I would prefer to be early and have some leisurely time in the departure lounge than be in a huge queue at security worrying later on. It depends which airport though. East Midlands queues can be huge at security first thing. Birmingham and Doncaster have always been fine for me. Manchester was fab last time too though this may not be the norm.

Depending on your budget you could always pay for one of the lounges for the free drinks, food and magazines. Or if money is tighter do what I do and buy a meal deal and snacks from Boots and a magazine from WHsmith and sit at one of the gates. You can eat, drink read and watch the planes take off

WillowWept · 07/04/2018 14:24

buxtonstill

"excellent cuisine" is rather overstating the school dinner options available in any emirates lounge I've ever been in Grin

KatharinaRosalie · 07/04/2018 14:25

Well I thought you HAD yo be there 2 hours before you fly - you really don't. You have to be there before check in/luggage drop closes, if you need them. Otherwise before the boarding closes.

beecrazy · 07/04/2018 14:25

We got there 2.5 hours before an early flight last summer at Gatwick. Check in and security were in melt down. It was absolutely manic and very few staff around. We'd booked in on line so only had to do bag drop and security. If the plane hadnt been delayed we would have missed it. Paranoid now!