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 have missed a flight once and it was awful. I had to pay more than twice the original ticket price and there was just nothing else I could do (as I had just packed up my flat in one city and handed in my key to move back to my hometown) - I could have cried and I remember the guilt and shame I felt handing my card over and paying the ticket price and thinking I will just have to try to never think of it again... and here I am telling everyone but its a cautionary tale :-D Don't deliberately risk it.

If you're parking at Bristol, whilst the parking is really close you need to allow 25 minutes to recover after seeing the price of it.

I flew from Manchester airport last week, Terminal 1, a Ryanair flight. It was absolutely mobbed, really long queues at security, they searched every single item in my carry on, which took ages. So I wouldn't risk it tbh.

We always stick to the recommended times and check online on the day.

Sometimes we've whizzed through and be fine. Other times we've really cut it fine to get on board after getting through the airport.

One time, the queues at security etc were so big that we almost missed the flight and the planned breakfast never happened. We hadn't ordered food on the flight because we thought we'd have time to pick up sandwiches before hand and we were starving. We had to run to the boarding gate.

So you never know. The suggested times are there for a reason. If you get through quickly, you've got time to relax.. Why would'nt you?

I don’t think it’s a good idea.

As people have said, gates can close a long time before the flight.

And why would you? The peace of mind being there in plenty of time, as opposed to worrying and rushing, is surely worth setting off an hour earlier?

@amusedbush

..headed to the gate 40 minutes before it was due to close. The staff called out "Mr and Mrs Amusedbush??" as we walked up, like they'd been desperately waiting for us.

They locked the doors behind us, then proceeded to sit on the tarmac for 35 minutes

Not excusing any comments over the PA but.one explanation

It sounds like they were trying to get away very early, but to do that they needed doors closed to legitimately to declare to ATC that they were ready- that can sometimes mean your start up or runway slot can be moved up if things aren't too busy.

Sadly having done that in your case by the sounds of it ATC maybe couldn't improve on the original slot so you ended up sitting there until the clock ticked round.

It all depends on what gate your flight is from. Some are really long walks from the seating areas. If you only have an under chair bag might be worth the risk of an hour before- if you do express security.

Weirdly, I find time goes very quickly at an airport.

I usually spend time doing stuff with my phone. Or do some people watching (though that’s quite often a bit depressing tbf !)

I'm looking at my boarding pass from last week and it very clearly says gates close 40 minutes before the flight.

What is even the point of that extra hour to yourself or extra hour in bed when so much can go wrong ? I ask this as a chronically late person who's entire family are exactly the same. Being late or delayed is stressful enough that it can knock years off your life.

Be early, be bored , is my motto in life after 50 years of valuing my own time over others.

It's not just the time at the airport it's factoring delays in your journey to the airport too

Also, not sure if it's been mentioned, if you are a single traveller, hand luggage only, then apparently you are further up the ladder to get bumped if they have over booked. This aspect concerns me, as I have flown hand luggage only a couple of times when it's just me, so I would much rather arrive early and get checked in and issued a boarding card and know I have been allocated a seat. I can then get a coffee and relax.

I use Bristol quite frequently, you might get away with an hour if your pay for fast track security also have a look at the departure list at how many flights are going out at the same time.

We flew from Bristol recently. We were really surprised at how long the walk from security to our gate was, for a small airport. Also, although security was fine for us, I have heard there can be big queues.

How are you getting there? The slowest part of the whole process for us was getting through Silver Zone parking. And what about if there are traffic hold ups?

I would definitely leave the 2 hours they advised! more of using Silver Zone. Why would you risk the cost of flight being lost for the sake of an hour?

It’s been a few years since I’ve flown from Bristol, but yes, I’ve always got through quickly. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a hold up, or traffic on the way to the airport. I’d still allow 90 mins. But definitely longer for bigger airports like London ones - sometimes I’m through in minutes, other times it’s hours.

I'm really confused at why this post has wound you up so much?

Actually I've just remembered my brother on law missed a flight to Ireland from Bristol by not allowing enough time hand luggage only. He said security was so slow he nearly missed the next flight as well by the time he'd gone to the desk to rebook and then got through!

Yeah, I was running late and got to Brum 1.5 hours before flight the one time. The queue was right down the stairs and all the way through the airport. They were coming and getting people and taking them through the gates. I only got through because I spoke up. Not worth the risk IMO although Brum is particularly bad at times.

Bristol security can be lengthy and slow, I wouldnt risk an hour

they say 2hrs for a reason. We live a couple hours away from the airport, so leave plenty in case of delays on the way there. This time the journey was straight through so we got there 2.5hrs early. There was a delay at security and I actually started panicking it wasn't enough. In the end airport staff had to fast track us. I wouldn't risk it for the sake of an hour

@Tunisia2025

Are you? Oh dear

Maybe go have a little lie down?

There isn’t any passport control to leave the UK. That will be at the arrival airport.

I have a daughter in law who flies regularly from Bristol Airport she always leaves the 2 hour gap.

Security and border control to Europe has been a bit of a shit show since Brexit. It took us 40 mins to get through security and border control at St Pancras this morning.

We arrived at the station 1.5hrs before left and I wouldn't have wanted to have left it much later than that.

🤣🤣🤣