Not to be at the airport 2 hours before my flight

[Iambouddicca]

Flying to Europe from Bristol. Do I really need 2 hours - travelling light with just an underseat bag on easyJet… just a single traveller too.

I’ve not flown much recently ( and not since Brexit/covid) so I’ve not got a feel for this. Is an hour enough - honestly?

I dont know how large bristol airport is, but that would stress me out so much.

I've had it where I've been through security in Stansted in less than 5 minutes while travelling in a busy (but non-holiday) time and I've taken 50 minutes to crawl through Glasgow airport (mid-week, also non-holiday time). It's so unpredictable.

I like to get through security, get to the loo, and buy myself some drinks and snacks for the plane as a minimum. If I have time, then I'll set myself an alarm for the time that my gate will show and then sit and read my book.

Also, easyjet close their gates 30 minutes prior to your flight time as well.

I fly regularly from Bristol. It can be quiet or really busy. If you pre book the fast track security then you could probably get the 1.5 hours. I wouldn’t get there any later. The EJ gates are usually the furthest away.
There is a Starbucks after security with lots of seats on the lower level. It’s an ok place to wait for a bit. The is an M&S before security so you can get some food for the plane.

I am from Bristol and use the airport regularly. Sometimes security is super fast, other times there are massive queues even at times there dont look to be many flights. No way would i risk arriving 1 hr before. Some of the gates are a good 10 min walk from the terminal and it's peak time , why on earth would you risk it.

We fly from Bristol often & security can be very busy, also there is often a long walk to the gate (10 minutes plus ish). I don't know how you are arriving but the A370 has had temporary traffic lights at various sections all flipping year! I would give it 2 hours. Good luck

I would not risk it really.my DS znd his GF missed their flight to Prague by 90 seconds!they were held up on the way to.luton Airport.we are travelling domestic from Southampton Airport. 2 hrs for us too.there are checks and luggage to go through.

I always allow 2hrs unless its a small airport like Liverpool, as security queues can take a while. But generally you need to be at the gate at least 45 mins before take off.

Flew from Bristol this morning with just hand luggage. Security don't need you to take out liquids and electronics now so that helps. It was quite busy for a 7am flight so I'd allow 1.5 hrs minimum really. It looked pretty stressful for those running to their gates!

Just do as directed by airline

No idea. Give it a go and let us know how you get on.

I fly from Bristol regularly.
As many others have said, the queues for security are a lottery. 3 weeks ago I was on a 7am flight and security took at least 45 mins, it was packed! Generally the early mornings are super busy there.

Yesterday I had an evening flight and it took 5 mins.
The easyJet gates are a 10/15 min trek.
Also the airport is in the middle of nowhere with crap public transport links - so any traffic issues or accidents will completely jam up the whole area. I live 25 miles away and it always takes over an hour to get there.

We fly from Bristol at least twice a year, one hr is not enough, security is good but if you get picked for a bag search and some gates are a 20 min walk it will be touch and go.

We flew from bristol a few weeks ago and it took a long long time to get through security and it was really really busy. We arrived two hours before and didn’t even have time to grab a coffee before going to our gate.

But I also fly Bristol to Edinburgh for work regularly, evening flight about 5pm/6pm and security has always been literally two minutes.

Personally I wouldn't risk it. The gates close about 30mins before take off and you've still got to get through security before that. Sometimes it can be quick and you're straight through and sometimes we've queued for ages. Also, you could be taken to one side for a random check, which can add a further 10mins.

The minimum I’d be happy with is 2 hours before a flight. Better to be sat relaxing in the airport near the departure gate than either (a) sat panicking in a vehicle because you’ve hit traffic; or (b) stood panicking in the queue for security, realising deep down that you’re going to miss your flight …
Airports are stressful enough without the added worry of not getting there in plenty of time.

I aim to be there 3 hours before. I’ve been flying for 40 years and it’s ingrained.

my children also get there 3 hours beforehand. They have a wander around the shops, have a bite to eat and a drink and not stress out about being late.

Bristol is a construction site at the moment and security can be either easy breezy or painfully slow. Don’t risk it…. I flew out a few weeks ago and an hour wouldn’t have been enough.

In my experience, you need an hour and a half at Bristol if you don't need to buy anything before the flight and the airport isn't too busy.
I've never flown from there in the evening after work, but have flown there plenty in the morning.
Last time I went we did have quite a queue at the car park key drop area, and then had to wait quite a while for a bus to arrive, we still made just our flight having arrived at the car park and hour and forty mins before the flight.
You could pay for fast track security to make it a bit quicker.

90 mins plus fast track security now we’re in summer time

Usually they will board the plane at least 30 minutes before take off.

I think one hour really is pushing it - you are assuming no queues anywhere and pretty much that you sail through everything straight on to the plane. If you are a business traveller with a genuine under seat bag (a compact laptop or a day sized handbag) you could do it in about 1h 40. If your "underseat bag" is a bulkier rucksack or smart weekend bag designed to be stuffed full, its much riskier you'll he held up arguing about it being checked.

It’s up to you but I am currently at a wedding where 12 guests missed their flight. Half flew the next day and half gave up.

I've flown from bristol a few times in the last year, normal security has varied a lot in relation to how quickly it moves. As a pp said some of the gates are quite far away too and they close them well before the flight, so if you've got a 7pm flight you'd actually need to be boarding by about 6.20.

How are you planning on getting there, if it's parking at the silver service for example if you just miss one bus it's another 15 minutes to wait, plus the travel time so could make all the difference.

You might be able to do it if you parked at the airport itself (is expensive though) and paid for fast track security, it took me like 3minutes from the time I walked through the airport door to departures last time when I did that, and it's only £6.

Why is being at airport 2 hours ahead a problem for you? Unless flight delayed, 2 hours isn't always enough time, checked in bags easier sometimes than non, all the security checks making sure no metal on you taking shoes off etc any liquids you have, you'll be lucky 2 hours enough and also getting to the airport, same problem for us once going to Manchester normally about hour from where we were still gave ourselves 3 nearly missed flight except was delayed 🙏 didn't help airport parking was a mission from where we were and a bank holiday Friday ( didn't think that one through) always better to be early. And all routes to Bristol can be hell

Wow fast track security? Definitely going to do that next time I fly, ( not that I do very often)

Traffic around airports can be appalling, gates can shut early or be miles away. Security can have a big bulge if you're behind a big flight.

Personally, 2.5 hours and have a coffee and people watching. Just to be sure.

You can leave it as close as you like as long as you don't get too upset if you miss your flight. I have worked in airport (admin) and have seen MANY people unable to fly due to a hold up on the motorway, cancelled train, long queue in security, and countless other reasons. For the sake of an hour just get there with time to spare. Surely you can amuse yourself for that long. Take a book, have a coffee. Allow yourself a bit of time to relax. Or just ignore and hope for the best, but don't expect sympathy of it turns to shit.