To ask how early you actually need to be at the airport before a flight?

[ihopeyourescaredofalltheordinaryshit]

I’m flying short haul alone for the first time next week. Everything is sorted; ticket, passport, hotel reservations, etc etc.

but I’ve just realised I’ve actually got no idea how early I need to be there! I’ve always gone along with the group and they’ve always gone for about three hours early.

I’ve tried searching everywhere but my airline’s website isn’t helpful. It just tells me bag drop shuts at 06:05 (flight is at 07:05), but I’m flying without any checked bags!

Don't rely on an early Terminal 3 shuttle bus from hotels to arrive on time, or allow for a delay!

About 25 of us were waiting at Holiday Inn in Bath Road 5am-ish, per the timetable. No buses appeared for a whole hour, and even calling a taxi after the first missing bus took forever. Got there eventually by taxi and just made my flight, others were not so lucky though.
I'd now always pre-book a taxi and not rely on a shuttle, unless walking to the terminal.

Okay I think this has sealed it for me. The ease of being in the terminal seems to defeat the cost for me

Terminal 3 is fine but we are either parking in long stay having stayed at the ibis the night before or on the national express in which case I time my bus earlier. If you are 10 minutes away eg on Bath road just make sure you know the shuttle bus times and catch the 4.45am bus ish or book a taxi for 4.45

Liverpool was the airport I've come closest to missing a flight. Security took ages, not enough staff, was backing up on the stairs. Had to force our way through the queue and run across the tarmac, eventually. Think we were last on the plane. And we were well within the standard 'get there 2 hours before the flight" times.

A lot depends on the airport. London City for example an hour would be plenty without hand luggage.

Without checked luggage 2 hours is plenty, 1.5 would probably be fine

Reading this with interest, I'm flying alone for the first time ever in February, I'm so excited but slightly nervous too! I was wondering the same and how long it takes to get through on return.

I would be aiming for 2 hours if I had any major transport to negotiate on the way. And probably you could get away with 1.5 if not. I'd probably be tempted to push it a bit later with a flight that early just because the difference between being up at 4:30 and being up 5 is substantial in terms of how I'd feel that day.

There are loads of Ubers swirling around the Heathrow hotels all the time. I’ve never had any problem getting one within 10 mins. Appreciate PP said they’d had a worse experience though, and no harm in pre booking!

I wouldn’t rely on the shuttle bus service and would aim to get to the terminal about 1 hour 45 pre scheduled departure, which should be plenty of time with no luggage.

Having worked at an international airport for over a decade I give myself four hours. I like to have time to cover ALL the eventualities I’ve encountered. Do less at your peril!

This is the one thing that’s unnerving me slightly.

I always fall into this trap. I advocate for the earliest possible flight in order to make the most of the first day, forgetting it makes you feel like crap 😂

Yeah I've stopped doing that now for exactly the reasons you've described. But if people are taking about unreliable shuttle buses that would probably worry me enough that I'd be up early anyway!

You aren't alone in this, short or long haul haha!

When I am there and through security I can just relax, have a coffee..... Far better than being that panicky person late for their flight because the security line was huge and then they forgot the lip gloss in their carry on 😂

What I've noticed recently if you're too early they won't let you through security - your boarding card won't scan. I think it may be 3.5 hours or something like that.

It's never happened to me but last time a group of ladies couldn't get through as they were too early. They asked security why their boarding cards wouldn't open the gate and were told too early - come back later.

If you've got a lounge and they allow you 3 hours stay, then give yourself and hour or so for looking at duty free/trekking to the gate, 3.5 to 4 hours isn't that long! Seems to be a thing now.

I'd definitely do this! Make it super easy.

I flew to America from London and arrived at the airport 5 hours early 🙈 I'm not a risk taker

You will be fine if you arrive at 0600 with carry on only.

If the bag drop stays open until 0605 it means you can still get through security and to the gate before the flight leaves.

I allow 2-3 hours - very rarely need it but have had a few occasions when security has been so long winded that I’ve nearly missed my flight! I vividly remember DP and I running through the terminal a few years ago whilst hearing last call for our flight - these days I can’t even walk fast never mind run!

Four or five hours is mental.

I'd say 90 mins is probably enough as long as you're staying in or close to the right terminal.

I go to the Isle of Man from Liverpool a lot. I arrive at LPL about 90 mins before and that's because I want time for breakfast and on the way back 30 mins is plenty as the airport is tiny.

I’ve never experienced this but I was once way too early for the bag drop. Really frustrating

I’ve just done Barcelona from Gatwick no hold luggage.Friday night BA south back Sunday EasyJet.
Got there 2 hours before and the gate wasn’t even announced on the board until an hour before take off both ways.

Even if you late through security and the gate is miles away it takes a good 15 mins to board everyone. The “ gate closes” thing is pointless with cabin bags as you are basically in a long queue until the last passenger in it. is on.

I like be 10 minutes from the airport and always aim to be there 3 hours before. I’d rather be there and not stressed. We also get free lounge access via our Amex card so we go there (in Glasgow it’s usually not too busy, Heathrow is a bun fight). We sit and have a few drinks, unless too early for it, and husband tracks our plane on flight radar while I keep telling him not to tell me as I don’t want to know if it’s been delayed etc. I love the free food.

After a 6am flight a few years ago and feeling like crap for the day, I swore never again. I now book only afternoon flights and add a day on to the holiday. It makes the day of travel very relaxed, you have dinner and an evening in your destination instead of a hideous early start or an airport hotel.

4 hours?!? Where did you work?? At my local
airport security doesn’t even open more than 2 hours before the first morning departures!! And then you’re better going a bit later to miss all the folk who’ve got there too early and been queueing for it to open!
that said, my airport early morning record stands at an hour from my bed to ‘spoons airside with a pint in my hand (including parking on the long stay car park)

The important thing is to check when your gate closes - with budget airlines this is usually 30 mins before take off and they will not allow latecomers through, even if the plane is still sitting there.

We tend to allow 1.5-2 hrs before the gate closes. 3 hours plus is ridiculous! And I still don't know how people can sink beers at 8am.