How early is too early to arrive at the airport?

[ikeepdancingonmy]

I’m self confessed anxious traveller.

I’m travelling to France at the end of the month, the Friday before the bank holiday. I live about an hour and a half to two hour’s drive from Bristol airport. My flight is at 18:30, and easyJet says to arrive at 15:30.

I’m thinking of leaving the house between 11:30 and 12:00, because of the fact it’s the Friday before the bank holiday. Is that totally insane? AIBU to do this? Will I just be stuck at the airport, or grateful I’ve had the extra time?

I know that’s a bank holiday weekend but it would still be worth stress-testing the route on a couple of Fridays between now and then (similar time to your proposed journey) to check how long it takes. That won’t help if they shut the motorway on the day but will nonetheless give you a ball-park figure to work from (and add a contingency half hour/hour). Then, work out a back-up plan on A roads avoiding the M5 altogether.
I stress about getting to airports on time and it’s all made worse by my family who seem to deliberately dawdle. At least you only have to please yourself and there are some good tips on here from others about filling time once safely there.

Departure

I think those who are saying leave later either aren't familiar with the M5 in summer or live near their local airport.

We always have to allow more time to get to an airport because of potential traffic issues, so I get it.

Has there ever been 'no traffic' on the M5 on a friday afternoon? Apart from during covid times?

That is the time my husband would leave too. We went recently and Bristol was busier than I ever saw it. We were much too early, but I would prefer that. I teased him, but it was sensible - we actually used his contingency because of issues on tne M4. Ignore everyone and go with what makes you feel comfy

I live near Bristol airport and, as a fellow anxious traveller, I'd say go at the time you're thinking.
The roads around here are bloody awful at the moment, which is affecting the motorway - even Northbound.

This summer thd m5 has been a nightmare so I would go earlier for peace of mind.
Bristol Airport has bars, coffee shops, lots of seats, a wh smith, duty free, frankie and pennies, Starbucks. So you can fill your time.

Do want makes you comfortable

I’d probably leave at 10.30am if it’s a 4 hour journey. What else are you going to do that day, I’d prefer to stop and get a coffee etc on the way of the traffic looks good. You could book a lounge at the airport too if you don’t enjoy spending ages there.

Just go early. Dh and I do the same, it stops any anxiety and you can relax as soon as you get to the airport.

Enjoy your holiday!

If you've got an early morning flight you can check your bags in the night before with several airlines!

You’re wrong. It’s three hours before. You check in online beforehand and bag drop opens three hours before the flight.

Do what is comfortable for you. Why stress yourself out?

I travel a lot for work. In the past l have been stuck on a broken down train and held up on the motorway. But regardless as to whether it’s work or pleasure l always build in a contingency plan. I often stay in an airport hotel the night before for morning flights.

Yes, I think it’s the general consensus 😩 it’s a bloody nightmare around here. They need to get it sorted.

I’d be half tempted to get a train but they’ll be just as bad!!

Covid was creepy, I’ve never seen it so quiet.

To be fair i have had a fair few easy journeys before and I can imagine that building in this huge wait time will lead to another one. But I’d rather just drop my bag off when it’s open and get through, I don’t mind sitting and waiting for a long time if it means I’m there and good to go

If you leave at 2.30 that is 3 and you said it is 1.5 hours?

anyway I’d arrive at 15.30 and leave at 1pm

1.5 hours travelling, 0.5 contingency, 0.5 to transfer from car park to terminal.

The only problem is arriving before bag drop opens is that awful queue

To add, for those saying the OP will arrive too early, the issue is not what time she should arrive at the airport, but how much time she should build in to allow for hold ups getting to the airport.

I like to be early. Generally 2 hr is fine in the airport to drop bags but EasyJet lines can be a killer - I am not sure how Bristol airport is in August so I’d assume the mean it about the 3hrs. I don’t want to arrive too early to drop bags so I’d leave at 13:30 but I’d be watching google maps from 11:30 and be ready to leave a bit earlier if I see the traffic start to build. Don’t forget to factor in parking and riding if you are doing that too. I park in meet and greet when I fly (often for work) but my one experience with jet parks was very slow.

I'd leave early to OP, take a good book to read at the airport. Also have a look at airport lounges, I got a discount recently at one and it was more chilled than I thought it would be plus we actually saved money on food and drinks.

I live about 45 minutes from Bristol airport and I'm another one who agrees go as early as you can. The M5 is an absolute shit show at the moment, it's so hit and miss. It's been closed at least 10 times this year so far if not more. We were sat in traffic on it for 7 hours recently due to a closure. National Highways have had to issue a formal apology as there have been so many complaints

Not only is the M5 carnage a lot of the time but especially on a Friday and even more so on Bank Holiday. Your one saving grace is going Northbound but still… The roads around the airport are also often gridlocked and if parking at the Silver Zone you may have car and bus queues there too. I’d leave an extra hour on top of the 3 hours and then chill at the airport. It’s not the best for catering options but better than stressing on the car park of the M5.

Good luck and enjoy your holiday!

BTW, I always book the early flights 5.45 - 6.30 am as I can’t be doing with the traffic stress coming Southbound to the airport.

I'm a seasoned and confident solo traveller to 'difficult' countries and have very few qualms about travelling. But I still get to the airport stupidly early.

The whole trip can hang on that journey to the airport, and over the years I've had reason to be really glad that I build in so much contingency. I'd have missed my flight on two occasions due to incidents outside my control, had I not. Why take the risk?

Anyway, What's the problem with sitting around in the airport for an hour or two longer then strictly necessary? In fairness I usually fly from big airports, so there's plenty to occupy me. But mostly I just sit in a café or pub with a book or my phone, and chill.

I was originally on an early flight on the Saturday but they messed me around so much that I ended up on the Friday. I’m still wondering if I go halfway then get the train or something!

If the motorway stuffed then use the A38. The airport is beside it. (Although it does become the default route if the motorway shuts because it runs parallel).

Yes this. I live near Bristol and use the M5 regularly. There has been an accident almost every day this summer. If you have hours to spare so what? Better than missing the flight.

Another option is to leave much earlier and take yourself out for the morning near the airport.

Could leave at 7am, go to a National Trust or a hotel with a spa and nice lounge for the morning, then do the last 20-30 minutes of the drive after lunch?