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...

My friend once arrived five hours early for her flight and still managed to miss it because she got carried away shopping! Lord knows how many times they must have been calling for her but she didn’t hear it

I LOVE the airport and always insist on us getting there 3 hours before to have some drinks after security, but 7 hours?? Your check in desk won't be open so you ll be stuck with all your luggage!! I can see why 7 hours might be needed if it's an airport far away in case of breakdown or accidents on the motorway but if that's the case I d get an airport hotel the night before!

The only circumstance I’d consider doing this is if I had access to the Virgin lounge at Heathrow with the bars and restaurants and massages.

@funnelfanjo you can get massages? Might have to upgrade to a lounge next time... I'll be there days early then!

@cinemalover it’s only accessible if you’re a VA gold card or flying upper... it’s uh.mazing. (I was someone else’s guest...)

I once arrived at the airport 8 hours before my flight, but only because I didn't drive and the first train of the day wouldn't
I work in travel and part of my job is organising airport transfers. We book them to arrive 2 hours before for short haul, 3 hours for long haul flights. 3 hours prior if it's a flight from a US airport, just because it can take a lot longer for them to process passengers. And the majority of these transfers are for a big group of customers (30+), so those timings are with the extra allowance for getting a large group from A to B.

In other words, YADNBU

Oops, cut off half my post:
I arrived 8 hours early because the earliest train of the day wouldn't have got me there in time, so had to get the last train the night before. Definitely wouldn't recommend arriving that early unless absolutely necessary.

I hate flying and can't cope with the added stress of not being on time. I always, always turn up extra, extra early. I then piss about getting breakfast/lunch; window or actual shopping; cup of tea; read a book, knit; cross stitch...

But not 7 hours. About 4 max.

Claim the starmix.

For European hamdcluagge only I arrive an hour before, if checking in then 2 hours before

7 hours is indeed crazy, but so are those of you that cut it fine. You only need a traffic jam / breakdown / accident etc to miss your flight & many policies won't cover the cost of another flight in those circumstances as they wouldn't consider you had left adequate time. So, I am firmly in the 2.5hr camp or 3.5 if it's sodding Alicante airport and I have luggage 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Bloody hell I thought I got to airports too early because I worry about missing the flight. 7 hours is ridiculous. I tend to get there about 3.5 to 3 hours before a flight.
My parents always get there at the last minute. They do this with everything. I hated it as a kid and we did miss things sometimes, because sometimes things happen that you can not predict such as a traffic accident that blocks the road for 30 minutes.

2-3 hours is good, unless you're in the States right now, given that none of the security staff are getting paid, I might leave four or so hours there.

It'd take a lot more than a packet of starmix to placate me!

And at some of the airports like Heathrow, security can take a while to get through. Stupid to assume you will get through everything quickly.

7 hours? You will be bored shitless.
I remember one year and we'd got there about 3 hours before to allow security etc.
Started to walk towards the very, very, very long queue. My face must have said everything as out of nowhere security appeared and escorted us through fast track.
3 hours of sitting and looking at the shops dragged.

Was 10 hours early for flight recently at Southampton airport.

Why?

For one horribly early flight, rather than travel before bird’s fart or hang round through the wee hours, we took a room at the airport Sofitel.

Decent dinner night before, long soak bath & deep dark plush sleep.
Waking up early was OK but my only grumble was breakfast not served at that hour.

But a quick 5 minute walk onto the main airport concourse & loads of cafes for coffee & croissants adjusted my equilibrium.

Hotel stay worth the spend for ease & covenuence, & cost roughly the same as out-of-hour taxis, express trains & silly spends in the lobby.

Arriving at check-in in good time, calm, rested & freshly showered - well worth the spends.

Anyway, OP...
LTB ... at the airport, with the baggage, and go and find something more interesting to do for a few hours somewhere nearby.

We did this when we flew BA First to make use of the Concorde Room at T5 as there's a Spa, full service restaurant, cocktail bar, relaxing areas etc, but for a standard flight it's bonkers!

Four-three hours might be your compromise? I sometimes do this to chill in the lounge, shop or have a nice dinner airside without any rush.

Also beware that check in desks and bag drops won't open until 3 hours before so you'll be trapped landslide FOR THREE HOURS which is dull as shit and busy.

7 hours?? Is he insane? You will end up spending a lot of money on restaurant/food/shops, etc. No, I like to be on time, but that is crazy.

You only need a traffic jam / breakdown / accident etc to miss your flight & many policies won't cover the cost of another flight in those circumstances

The reason i ‘cut it fine’ is that the airport we generally fly from is 5 mins from our house. If our lift broke down or got stuck in traffic we could get out and walk

My dad's custom when we were kids and going on holiday was to arrive 5 hours for a flight. I'm not sure why since baggage check wasn't even open by then. One memorable time we arrived at Gatwick at 2am for a 7am flight. He'd overestimated the traffic (why he thought there would be traffic at 2am I do not know). This was the 90s and there wasn't even a fast food joint open. He had to listen to three tired and hungry teenagers whinging at him about this for hours. I don't think he was so "punctual" after that

I find 2.5 hours before departure gives a comfortable time buffer but with minimal waste.

Plenty of time to get through check in, security, go to the toilet, get a bite to eat if necessary and then wander over to the departure lounge.

We live about an hour from the airport, so I would take into account flight times when booking to deal with traffic and build in a buffer there as well.

My kids are older now as well and don't need 'care' as such so that means we can move a bit faster.

Pointless as check in will not be open and you have to sit around with all your baggage.
I take about 30 flights per year -aim to get to the airport about 2 hours before.

I fly long haul minimum 6 return flights a year ( already done two this year). If i have to do standard check in, getting there 2 hours before is optimum.

A group of us once arrived at Athens airport at 1am for a flight around 10am. We had no choice but to catch a ferry to Athens the previous day. There was talk of booking a night in a cheap hotel, but being young and skint the airport lounge seemed the best idea for a few hours sleep.