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!

I don’t drink but the airport drinking culture really disgusts me anyway!

Security in Term 3 at Heathrow only opens at 5am.

No point at all getting there before that without luggage, hardly any flights close at 6.05am, it isn't that busy there at that time.
2 hours before is plenty.

Wait, what?

My flight is at 7am, so surely it needs to be open earlier?

If you don’t have suitcases one hour 30 at this time of year is plenty of time

This! Stansted is a nightmare and I always end up racing to the gate having spent ages at security.

For Heathrow terminals and outside of a major ttavelling day I agree with with @Peony15 ,

Arrive at one of those terminals much more than 2 hours before a really early departure and you may well find check-in and possibly security closed.

Last bag acceptance for a typical shorthaul service can be 45-55 min prior to departure for some airlines so there's no reason for desks to be open at oh dark thirty.

The arriving 3 or 4 hours before caper seems to be confined to certain airports, they have their reasons, but it's not at all universal.
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2 hours will be fine in your circumstances. Arguably 90 mins but I've got 2 hours drilled into me so I'd spend the 30mins saved Anxious waiting to leave. 3 hours is too long.

I would do 2.5. I’ve been stuck at security waiting for my bag to be searched before, and I didn’t have anything incorrect in it!

Double, triple check you have taken out liquids & tablets etc to speed things up

Same - plus having grown up with a Type-A parent my default mode is 3+ hours and printed itinerary in a folder. The relaxing and mooching about has greatly diminished since I’ve had to use Mcr Airport, sadly...