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...

Batshit. 2 hours max for breakfast and a pint.

Whoops

www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjb96Xy1o7gAhUGlxQKHR3RDXsQzPwBegQIARAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theonion.com%2Fdad-suggests-arriving-at-airport-14-hours-early-1819573933&psig=AOvVaw3t_4xdvbec6nBjWYNyD78r&ust=1548703133402893

Oh FFS!

Google: the onion dad airport

Craaaazy early!

I’ve arrived 45 minutes before plenty of times and never had an issue. My comfortable time would be 1.5 hours before take off.

I'd go stir crazy arriving that early.

The earliest I've arrived is 4 hours early and that was because there was awful snow and I wasn't sure how long it would take to get there or if my flight would be cancelled.

Had to wait 1.5 hours before my flight was on the board - it was cancelled. Ran to the desk and begged to be allowed on the earlier plane which was delayed and still hadn't left. They let me and I then sat several hours at the boarding gate. Incidentally we were the last plane to leave the airport that day as they ran out of de-icer.

''Twas very very boring waiting that long!!!

Thank you all!

He can be a little bit anxious about things but he's reading all your responses and taking it very well! Next flight is in three months. I'll be attempting to reduce the waiting time for that one!

1 to 1.5 hours domestic.
2 to 3 hours international.

Anything more than 3 hours is crazy. 7 is sheer lunatic!

It's a bit selfish of him isn't it?

Not my DP, but his dad. 7 hours for a long haul flight, 4 hours for short haul (we don't fly together). 2 1/2 hours at the stadium before a football match/concert.

I personally aim for 1 hour before a short haul flight and 2 1/2 - 3 hours before long haul.

7 hours!!! Is he mad.! 2 hours is plenty what on earth does he want to arrive 7 hours before, for? I know airport lines are long but they aren't that long!!

KatePotato that's uncanny

Three months? Has he started packing?

I am insanely nervous and allow a clean 2-3 hours and add onto the journey time for risk

But 7 hours he wins !

I'm going to N.Y. in March and I actually can't wait to arrive 2.5 hours before no dh no ds pissing me off moaning about waiting around...I plan to hit Starbucks dig out my kindle and just chill....as I'm with he girls I may even go for a lounge lol

Oh dear, that's bonkers. Meet him there.

Fiddie I don't think it stems from selfishness, he's really not selfish at all. I've never yet said no and I've no reason to believe that he'd overrule me if I did. Tbf I'd like to see him try

Far too early ... Unless you have lounge access

They won't let you stay in the lounge for more than about 3 hours though. I was once a bit early as I had time to kill and thought I might as well get through security and indulge in the free snacks and G&Ts and piss about on Mumsnet get some work done in the lounge and they were quite rude about it, so now I make sure that I stick to the lounge time rules.

7 hours is ridiculous. Yes allow extra time for delays, accidents, breakdowns, time taking to park and get through security, but 3 hours or so is more than enough in just about all cases except stupid weather or extreme traffic delays.

I get your DHs rationale behind this but I do think 7 hours is over the top.
We usually aim for three hours but really it winds up being about two hours...

Have a great holiday

FaceLikeAPairOfTits that properly made me laugh out loud

Even with lounge access many have rules that you can only access them about 3 hours in advance unless on a stopover flight.

7 hours is way too long.
3 hours max ideally; 2 for short haul generally.

My dh thinks I’m crazy for insisting we arrive 3 hours prior for a long haul flight and 2-2.5 for short haul. If you’d said he likes to get there 4 hours before I’d think maybe but 7?!! I’d hate adding 7 hours on to my travel time!

Those of you only allowing 1-1.5 hours for domestic need to remember that you go through exactly the same security queues as short and long haul international.

Last time I flew to the Isle of Man I was in the security queue for 1 hour 20 minutes and only made my flight because it was late boarding, I had allowed 2 hours because I needed to do the journey there before the morning motorway rush hour started and I planned on a leisurely breakfast and browse of the bookshop before boarding, which I didn't get. It was on the news the week after that a lot of people had been missing flights at Manchester due to security queues even though they had got to the airport on time.

To be charitable, I am assuming the OP and her DH are relying on infrequent public transport from a distant location, and the choice is 7 hours early, or, say, 2 hours early-which is not enough for an international flight.
Otherwise....er….her DH is a real worrier!

My husband is the same. We get there soooo early, 6-7 hour wait. I'm exhausted before we even get on the flight. It's deathly boring too. But I tell you what if we left to get there 4 hours before there'd be terrible traffic and we'd miss our flight or something. I'd never hear the end of it! Next time I'm going to try and go the night before and get a hotel not too far from the airport 👍🏻

To reduce his anxiety have you considered just paying to stay in an airport hotel on site? So he wouldn't have the issues with travelling and getting stuck in traffic - I assume that must be part of his worries - because he'd already be there, possibly with just a walk away from the terminal.