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AIBU?

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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:
SoyDora · 08/04/2018 08:19

I used to fly a lot from Coventry airport, which was basically just a small wooden building with some chairs, and a runway. Got there 45 mins before departure usually!

JennyJames · 08/04/2018 08:19

We only live 10 mins from the airport

I suspect that’s one reason for some of the variations.

If I lived 10 mins from an airport, I’d leave it much later.

DH was posted to Germany for a few years, while I lived in the South West. I used to catch a 4.30pm flight from Stansted. If I missed the flight, that meant I couldn’t see him that weekend and it would be another 3-6 weeks before seeing him again.

It also involved a lot of motorway travel, around the M25.

So, I’d set out at 9.30am and get there, usually, by 12 noon. I’d park up, wander up to the terminal, get through security, get lunch, surf my iPad, relaxed knowing I was there and ready to go.

Once I got held up for 2hrs on the M25. Still made my flight.

I guess it’s all risk appetite, isn’t it? I’d be far more prepared to miss a flight for work than I was for a 36hr hook up with DH!

daisychain01 · 08/04/2018 08:19

Why does it matter what time check in opens? 2 hours before flight is the right amount of time

Even if you checkin online, you still need to drop luggage off whch can only be done when the checkin desks are open for your flight. The benefit of checking in online is organise things like seating arrangements and of course generating your boarding passes.

2 hours in advance of checkin desks opening isn't that much, especially if it's difficult to predict journey time from home to airport.

There are two types of lounges, both of which can be pay-for on a visit by visit basis

  • airline lounges operated by BA, American Airlines for example have lounges at the main UK airports. They cost about £22-35 per person or free for business class - great if you have several hours to kill. They are normally better equipped than airport lounges.
  • airport lounges operated by the airports themselves, not by qany specific airlines. Free if business class or around £25 a visit pp.

Best lounge by far is Heathrow T5 - and their arrivals lounge is great for a shower and facial after long haul flight!

Best oversees lounge is Malta La Valette - in fact Malta's airport is beautiful and the staff have to be the most pleasant and friendly I've experienced at an airport.

LimonViola · 08/04/2018 08:23

SoyDora that's a fair point, I always travel alone and love the solitude, wouldn't be anywhere near as relaxing with kids in tow! I imagine it's a balancing act though as having kids along also means potential for delays as it takes longer to get them ready, deal with potential toilet issues, and so forth.

LimonViola · 08/04/2018 08:24

I'm the sort of person who usually chooses a five hour coach over a two hour train because I love the long stretch of time to myself to just listen to music and stare out of the window or read.

SoyDora · 08/04/2018 08:26

Yes, if I was flying alone I’d definitely take the chance to browse the shops and have a glass of wine!

Helmetbymidnight · 08/04/2018 08:27

It must be awful to be afraid to go about your business because of the relatively small chance you'll be caught up in a terrorist incident.

It is. He flies a lot and hates it. (I fly rarely and love it.)

CheesecakeAddict · 08/04/2018 08:32

I like to be there 3 hours before the flight just in case. My oh won't even leave the house until 2 hours before

Helmetbymidnight · 08/04/2018 08:34

'How early do you like to get to the airport?' should be one of those questions people ask before you get married.

OneStepSideways · 08/04/2018 08:39

I'm with your DH. Imagine if you had a puncture on the way to the airport, a road was closed or your train was cancelled. Best to allow time for delays. Oh and if you're travelling with kids there are loo stops, travel sickness etc.
We once missed a flight because of horrendous traffic on the way to the airport! Now we always leave early like your DH. Much better to have a 2 hour wait in Costa than a frantic dash across the airport while your flight is boarding!
You can also book comfortable seats in the lounge (and get free food!)

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 08/04/2018 08:41

I used to be a really disorganised person and I missed a couple of flights as a result. So now I really force myself to be extra early and to be extra prepared for stuff because I'd rather have a couple of hours to have a drink and look in the shops than to be panicking that I might miss my flight.

Unless you're flying all the time, I don't think being an extra couple of hours early is going to make a huge impact on your life.

rookiemere · 08/04/2018 08:41

Our airport now has a beauty stand. If I'm going on my own and I have enough time I treat myself to a pedicure - such an indulgence. Started the practice when travelling to USA via Heathrow - arrived 2.5 hrs before flight take off and for once security was empty.

DH used to be a last minute Harry. I've now got him changed to my way of thinking so we plan in time to have a meal at the airport in preference to eating on the plane.

I find travelling these days to be hugely stressful - for some reason the people on security shout at you and as there is work going on in our regional airport, often the stand for take off can be a good 10-15 minute walk away. Arriving with little time would make me feel worked up so I'd rather do things slowly with lots of margin.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 08/04/2018 08:43

I love airports so I'm happy to get there early - drop bags, through security, glass of wine or two in one of the pubs, bit of lunch, then duty free shopping. It's part of the holiday for me - is that sad Grin.

This is Gatwick, usually, which is fab, loads to do.

Mix56 · 08/04/2018 09:01

On one of my recent airport runs, we had a flat tyre, (no spare, bravo VW !)
Another time, major traffic delays due to accident,
& recently, got there 90 mins before, .....Major delay at luggage drop, finally cut to the front, then again, cut to the front of epic security queues, & ended up running (miles) to get frigging plane.....Hot, bothered & definitely not worth the stress.

Helmetbymidnight · 08/04/2018 09:02

Yeah, that panicked run through an airport to get to the gate is not half as glamorous as they make it look in all the films.

italiancortado · 08/04/2018 09:03

It is commonly stated that, with the exception of Easyjet, budget airlines that are flying to mainly holiday destinations don't overbook flights.

They absolutely do. It's my industry.

WillowWept · 08/04/2018 09:04

I guess it depends in part why you're flying - I fly mostly for work and a lot so no interest in spending additional hours away from home airport shopping or whatever.

MrsLaurac · 08/04/2018 09:13

I got to airport 7 hours early once.

Flockoftreegulls · 08/04/2018 09:18

If you are going from Manchester you need to be there in good time. DH waited 1.5 hours to get through security last week. He asked one of the staff if there was some reason why it was taking so long, the guy said it was just a busy time.

notangelinajolie · 08/04/2018 09:29

I would absolutely get there early - I love airports.
We live just 5 mins from the airport so would literally be able to get out of the car and walk if necessary. When the kids were little we used to go into the airport for the day, have lunch and watch the planes from the cafe. My parents did the same when me and my brother were little too. Security changed all that and now you can't get much further than the entrance without boarding passes. There is a place you can go and watch the planes but it is not the same.

Laiste · 08/04/2018 09:29

Helmetbymidnight - Yeah, that panicked run through an airport to get to the gate is not half as glamorous as they make it look in all the films.

Damn right!

DH and i like 2/3 hours before check in. One holiday meant get up at 4am, leave the house at 5, arrive at airport at 6, fly at 9 (or something). Clothes laid out in the bedroom, bags packed in the hall, bed at 8pm night before ...

Alarm didn't go off - i opened my eyes at 6 - arrival at airport time!! ShockShock I think i actually did that loony tunes cartoon bulging eye thing at the clock.

The 2 of us crashing into each other around the bedroom trying to get dressed was only funny in hindsight days later. Ditto virtually flinging our car into it's car park space and the sprint with our cases flying out behind us across the deserted check in area. Fuck i have never left the house looking like that before. (Even in labour!) We caught that flight by the skin of our teeth. Stressssssss. We always use 2 alarms now.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 08/04/2018 09:31

That’s OTT

I am an anxious person and therefore like ample time . I can see his thinking though Grin

MaryPeary · 08/04/2018 09:36

A pal likes to get to the airport 5 hours or so before the flight "just to be safe". Unfortunately, last time he spent most of that time in the pub and was threatened with being put off the plane for being drunk! If you're travelling with someone who likes to "calm their nerves", you may need to be more strategic than most.

AnnieAnoniMouser · 08/04/2018 09:37

I’m an early arriver too. I hate the stress of worrying about missing the flight due to an accident on the motorway, hardly a rare occurance on the M3/M4/M25. I’d rather be waiting ages at the airport.

Want2bSupermum · 08/04/2018 14:47

kazzy I live Liverpool airport and I'm hopeful Norwegian will have flights direct from there to Stewart up in Orange County NY state. It's an hours drive up there but I hate Manchester airport with a passion. When I've gone through Liverpool with the DC the security people have been great. Also it's small enough that as a monthly passenger they would get to 'know' me. DH flies 3-4 times a week from Newark and they know him. It's so much easier when I travel with him.