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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

191 replies

thingersandfumbs · 27/01/2019 18:39

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 Wink

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

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 27/01/2019 19:02

Sod LTB. I'd have buried him under the patio and still have gotten to the airport on time for my flight.

RunOut · 27/01/2019 19:02

I like to be early. I’m always always early for everything. But 7hours nope, 3 max. Enjoy your starmix and do not share.

DaphneDiligaf · 27/01/2019 19:02

Impicciona

Far too early ... Unless you have lounge access

How does that work then?

Pinkbells · 27/01/2019 19:02

Way too early! My husband is totally the opposite. He plans his time to the last minute, so if anything out of hand happens we are in a rush (we never miss them but we sometimes have to forego the chilled out meal/drink beforehand). It think somewhere in the middle of these two extremes is good!

LunaTheCat · 27/01/2019 19:02

My DH is famous for being early but 7 hours is ridiculous! You won’t even be able to check in .

RollaCola84 · 27/01/2019 19:02

I do a lot of air travel for work, but I'm not keen on flying, hate being late and have a morbid fear of missing a flight. And the earliest I've ever arrived at the airport is 4hrs (earliest I could check in for a transatlantic flight home when online check in failed). I normally aim for 2.5hrs before departure.

Redcherries · 27/01/2019 19:03

Do you have lounge access? It’s a much faster wind down if you’re a stressed flyer, like a pp we’re in Concorde generally in t5, then whatever lounges at other places, I’m seriously claustrophobic despite being a very regular flyer I struggle a lot. I need to be there in good time and sit in a quiet space to collect myself and soften my nerves with some wine. We have worked really hard to get a status level that gives the lounge access we have as we don’t fly for business at all, however there are lounges you can pay for, it’s just taking a step away from the busy fed up main terminal.

MotorcycleMayhem · 27/01/2019 19:04

@Impicciona paid for lounges all have a time limit on how long you can spend in them. Usually 3 hours or so I think.

7 hours is a piss take. I like to be early to dump luggage, get through security and then I can chill out, having missed flights in the past due to over sleeping or being ill (I literally couldn't hear the flight being called!) but what the hell can you do for that length of time? Not a chance.

StartedEarly · 27/01/2019 19:04

I'm guessing you don't have children to entertain while waiting for your plane.
How about staying at an airport hotel the night before? Then he needn't worry about getting there on time and you could relax in comfort?

StrongerThanIThought76 · 27/01/2019 19:06

Depending where you're flying to the plane likely won't have set off to the UK if you arrive 7 hours early. E.g. if you're flying say Luton to Majorca, the plane you're flying on won't actually be leaving Palma until about 4 hours before YOUR departure time. If you know the route/airline you're taking tell him to have a look at flightradar website - you can check on previous flights on that route and then check where the actual plane has flown in the preceding days/hours.

Original poster
thingersandfumbs · 27/01/2019 19:07

We rarely, if ever, travel with checked baggage and always have been able to check in online so it's not quite as strict as two hours, to be fair.

I like the idea of shaving the time down, as well as a lounge.

As for the starmix, they're history. And were all mine Halo

OP posts:
soulrider · 27/01/2019 19:07

So if you had a 7am flight you'd aim for midnight the night before??€€

bridgetreilly · 27/01/2019 19:08

I aim for 3 hours. Mostly because the first time I flew anywhere overseas was a week after the shoe bomber, and it took 3 hours to get through check in and security at Heathrow. After that I flew regularly from Manchester which is SLOW - often up to 2 hours to get through check in and security. So I like 3 hours just to be sure, though usually it doesn't take anything like that long now.

It does vary between airports, though.

gowgow · 27/01/2019 19:09

Silly Billy. Would he get to a train station or a bus stop that early? Rules have changed over the years, but 2 hours is quite enough for most flights - perhaps 3 for long-haul. Tell him to look at the airline's guidelines.

outreach29 · 27/01/2019 19:10

I was once 24 hours late for a flight.

Now that was a memorable holiday - not recommended

MerryInthechelseahotel · 27/01/2019 19:11

You will have read all your books by the time you arrive to wherever you are going!

Can you just, instead of LTB, arrange to meet him there!

SluggishSnail · 27/01/2019 19:12

How long is your journey to the airport?

My rule of thumb is to allow double the usual travelling time, plus an hour to check bags and get to the gate.

For us, it's usually 1.5 hours to the airport, so I would leave home 4 hours before the flight leaves. We usually end up having breakfast in the airport as there's so much time to kill! Except at Luton, which is the slowest airport I've ever gone through.

DarthLipgloss · 27/01/2019 19:13

7 hours is mad! A few years back fil dropped us of at Manchester Airport to save parking, was 3.5 hours early to fit with his work hours.
By the time we got on the plane we were absolutely fed up and had spent what we would have done on parking on keeping us and dc fed watered and entertained.

opinionatedfreak · 27/01/2019 19:13

I like to be early after missing a flight due to Ryan bagdrop incompetence years ago (it was just afternoon the July tube bombings).

I like to get there just as bag drop opens (so 3hrs normally for international) discovered at Geneva recently they only take bags 2hrs before so had to hang around before security which was tedious.

WingingWonder · 27/01/2019 19:13

You can’t check in until 3 hours before so you’ll be trapped in the shit bit before you go grouch customs anyway.
I like to get there early but that’s ridiculous

Tronkmanton · 27/01/2019 19:13

My OH is like this. It does my head in and it’s getting worse. The last flight we went on we arrived at the airport 5 hours early...then the flight was delayed two hours... I hate being so early, especially at non-UK airports as there’s nothing to do. If you manage to dissuade him please tell me your secret!!!

TulipsInbloom1 · 27/01/2019 19:14

Honestly I'd just meet him there 4 hours later. 7 hours is INSANE

jackstini · 27/01/2019 19:14

YADNBU
Love it when an AIBU is unanimous Grin

3 hours max and that's only if it's London and longhaul
Usually 1 or 2 for Europe
7 hours is mad

Does he suffer from anxiety OP?

Lampshadylady · 27/01/2019 19:17

I like to be super early as get being on time anxiety. This is 3 hours though. I’d say 7 is actually very odd behaviour

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