AIBU to think that arriving at the airport 7 hours before a flight is too early?

[thingersandfumbs]

DP likes to ensure we're early. I think 7 hours before it's due to take off is slightly too early.

I absolutely agree that it's best not to leave it to the last minute and I am happy to build in some buggeration factor time. But 7 hours?

I'm sort of hoping that loads of you come along and tell me that you or your other halves like to be just as early as I'm happy to eat humble pie... but I have a sneaky suspicion it might be another of his unique lovely traits

Ps there's a bag of star mix riding on this...

That’s the kind of thing my DM would do. Totally unnecessary! Tell him no way.

I like to be there 3.5 minimum 3 hours before and people tell me I am mad good to see your DP is much worse than me

I'm last minute.com but even I get there 2 hours before!
What on earth do you do for 7 hours???

Bonkers!!

Mind you we once arrived at the airport to find we had a 12hr delay. We couldn’t be bothered to go home so just stayed there. Me and my brother. We just had a few drinks and arsed about. Happily he saw one of his friends being deported back to the U.K. so had a smoke with him and a see you later

And you're all quite correct - security won't let you through that early. We were once so early that they wouldn't let us through and we had to wait in arrivals instead (and there's a long tale involving drunks, strange willies and turds on that occasion).

This time we were so early it generated a huge guffaw from the parking attendant

Wow! My MIL is always 4hrs early and I’ve never come across anyone else that early! Not normal

He's barking.

3 hours is what we aim for, having once waited 90 mins in a queue.

LOL, I've just told my other half about this, because he thinks I'm nuts aiming for nearly 3 hours before in high season! (More like 2 other times)

I like to be early. We usually arrive for check in opening. By the time we’ve cleared security, ordered and eaten in a restaurant & briefly browsed the shops the gate is usually being called (approx an hour before departure time for the last 3-4) we had a friend who hates waiting around at airports so leaves it as late as possible. They thought I was ridiculous getting there early, until they missed their flight to Mexico and couldn’t get another for 4 days and their holiday was only a week. I prefer waiting to missing!

That's insane. Surely you'd get pegged by security for loitering that long?

Nah, 3 hours is more than enough.

Imagine getting a delay when you've been there 7 hours already

If you are parking at the airport can you not tell him your allocated parking bay is only available to use for 3 hours from departure.

Ha! I mean we are sometimes up to three hours early if we're flying from LHR as we have access to the Concorde Room, which is amazing for a pre-drink tipple and relaxation. And I am incredibly paranoid about being late (not a favourite with my colleagues on work trips!). But seven hours?!

He does get a bit stressed so I kind of indulge him in that. I take my gadgets or my books and potter around quite happily. We fly fairly regularly so maybe I'll try shaving it down gradually until it's more reasonable.

He's waiting for one of you to suggest I need to LTB

Wow!

I like to be early and I actually quite like airports - although I do use the lounge where I can. Even if not, I live to take my time and not feel stressed and enjoy mooching about and grabbing some food. Just over two hours would be my ideal. 7 is insane... what do you even do?!

2 hours is fine. You won't even be able to check in. So what's the point. Ridiculous.

I actually wouldn't mind that. I'm one of these people that would rather be super early than even a second late. You could then spend your time reading, relaxing, playing games, looking at different resturants and shops within the airport, etc. And it takes away the anxiety of thinking traffic might delay your arrival to the airport.

Christ, I get really anxious and li,e to be in really good time but 7 hours is immense!

I'm totally anxious about deadlines and early for everything, and even I would only be about 4 hours early!

When we fly from an airport 4 or 5 hours away we give ourselves plenty of time in case of hold ups, but not 7 hours and if we are very early I'd look for something to do nearby for an hour or so. I do like to be early as I can then relax and not worry about hold ups but 7 hours no chance

insane
literally insane
and by going along with it you are enabling the madness

could you not book into an airport hotel?

If check in is already open by the time I arrive I feel like I'm really late.

My MIL likes to be super-early for everything, otherwise she will worry and worry and worry until she arrives. I let her get on with it mostly but I draw the line at making everyone get somewhere super-early when there's a party of us travelling together. It might make her feel better but it's not fair on the rest of us! Tell him you'll see him there

My partner loves airports and likes to get there early so we can have a leisurely lunch etc or loiter in the lounge if we have access. But by ‘early’ I mean maybe 3.5 hours max! And I always aim for a train one earlier than the one we really need to take in case of any unexpected delays, but again, I’ve never been there more than about 3/4 hours before the flight.

If you can’t drop off bags until 3 or so hours before then what on Earth do you do for those first few hours?! Sounds miserable.

Don’t LTB though, he at least sounds like a good sport! Enjoy your starmix.