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...

3 hours max!

wow iu fly r4egularly and he still wants to get there 6 go9urs before

did he have a bad experience once where he was ?

thinik the earliest ive been is 4 hours where the cab flew to the airport

ha ha

With luggage about 1.5 hours. Without about 45 mins.
That’s from my home airport - so I know the security/baggage drop/etc.
I aim for 2 hours if flying back from most overseas locations. Unless it’s the States - then I put an extra 30 mins in.

Bonkers! What are you meant to do for that long? Airports are so expensive that even having a few coffees adds up!

Does the early arrival genuineltly make him less anxious. Surely going along with the 7hrs will just validate the anxiety in his subconscious. He hasn't experienced 3hrs being absolutely fine.

When I fly with my in-laws they like around 5hrs. Even when we were staying in the hotel across the road from the airport we still had to leave 3hrs before check in incase there was some unfortunate disaster blocking the zebra crossing.

When I fly without my in-laws I’m usually there about an hour before the flight

Depends on where you live.

We are about 40 minutes from Manchester airport.

If the motorway blocks that 40 minutes could easily turn into 7/8 hours...

I thought I was bad at 2.5 hours early but 7 hours

Tbf I do love being one of those people to swan into the lounge

He's now laughing because I was the one to set off the automatic passport alarm... it was very loud

Depending on the SLA for each airline, check in for baggage usually opens 3 hours before a short haul and 4 hours before a long. Staffing and check in desk space is based on this. If you are very early your bags cannot be checked in either because the baggage system is being used for other flights and there is nowhere for them to go behind the scenes yet, or the staff haven't arrived so they can't be sent down as there is nobody to receive them. The rule on baggage handling and separation behind the scenes is very strict.

Security won't let you go through as they also staff for expected passenger flow rates based on what flights are planned. Flight slots are allocated with a view to passenger numbers/airport space/ handling systems potential etc.

Check in staff also get in trouble for large numbers of people congregating in the landside departure areas. There is a reason there are very few seats in these areas. Handling agents get allocated a certain amount of desks and queue space for check in. Exceeding the space is frowned upon if there is no reason for it.

Passenger flow is a very managed activity. Please turn up at the right time and be processed through when you are expected. Turning up early doesn't help anyone. You are in the way. There is also nowhere for you to go to not be in the way. The lounge don't want you yet either. Arriving early by car also has implications for parking etc.

If there are flow rate disruptions at any stage this is taken into consideration before closing flights for boarding. This is airline specific, some will happily hold back if it is known that security were running behind.

I know airports aren't perfect places and it can seem very stressful as a passenger if things don't go to plan, but if we didn't have to spend far too much time dealing with the people who are ridiculously early then we would have more time for the people we should be dealing with to have a easier time getting through each stage.

Can you not just send him on ahead with the bags?

3 hours I can understand but no way in hell would I do 7.

My DH feels he's wasted his time being too early if they're not calling his name as he runs to the gate....

I on the other hand like to be in plenty of time, but 7 hours would be too much even for me!

Wow, I'm pretty bad, but wouldn't aim for 7 hours early! Intentional, probably aim 3-4 hours before (essentially aim for when check in opens), and that's because we're driving from the Midlands to Gatwick/Heathrow so traffic can be bad.

I'd either book a morning flight and stay over the night before, if he wants to walk to the airport 7 hours early, you can stay in bed!

This has made me laugh - your DP is a man after my and my brother's heart - when The Onion produced this we both instantly recognised ourselves. And my late father once famously got us to a ferryport so early that we booked into an iffy motel - my memory is that it was something like 12 hours early. Look to his parents :o.

7 hours! That's nearly a whole working day!

If I was stuck at the airport for that length of time I'd go batshit.

No just no. Mrthingersandfumbs 3 hours max is all you need. Trust me and try it next time.

Why not stay at the airport hotel the night before. Then you will be in the right place in good time for the flight but you could be enjoying the pool, or breakfast....until check-in opens. - I do like to leave a good portion of time before flying.... especially if it's a longed for holiday.

7 hours is bonkers. I normally aim for 3 assuming there will be something that goes wrong. I very nearly missed a flight once because of a crash on the m25. I’d never manage to routinely leave under 2 hours in the uk without feeling a bit on edge. I’ve had to be a bit more relaxed on the inward travel as often transfers can be out of your control.

or, say, 2 hours early-which is not enough for an international flight

Err... yes it is! Having lived in various European countries and commuted weekly to a European city for a year, I have flown hundreds and hundreds of times. I have never once got to the airport more than 2 hours before the flight. I usually aimed for an hour and many times it was 45 mins!

Too early by far. I like two hours for longer flights so we can have supper or breakfast in the lounge before we fly. An hour or so for European flights. Seven hours would have me pinging with irritation.

OH is ridiculously early. 7 hours is way beyond what he'd allow.

Of course, buying Christmas presents can wait til the last minute, but for everything else we must be crazy early.

Bonkers. You won't be allowed to check in and go through security until max 3 hours before your flight.

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

That depends on what airport you are flying from. At my local airport you could rock up 35 minutes before your flight time and you'd probably be fine!

Omg! You’re online checked in and hand baggage only

In that case I usually turn up an hour before boarding. No more than two.

I couldn't travel with someone like your OH! You must be incredibly patient.