Page 8 | How early is too early to arrive at the airport?

pinkspeakers · 05/08/2026 22:30

MandSJaffaCakesRule · 05/08/2026 21:19

The way I look at it, you either hang around at home or the airport. I think airports are much more fun. There's absolutely nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution. Just pack some snacks as airport food is soooo expensive!

I don't seem to like airports as much as other people! I don't think they are fun at all. Sitting in my own home or garden with space, peace, fresh air etc is so much nicer.

Nothavingagoodvalentinesday · 05/08/2026 23:11

Perfectly reasonable timing. It won’t feel rushed and if there’s a delay on the roads you won’t be late for your flight.

notimagain · 06/08/2026 05:47

celticprincess · 05/08/2026 22:24

For a European flight if you have baggage to check in the desks won’t even open until 1 hours before. We made the mistake of getting there 3 hours before after previously travelling long haul and we got stuck at the cafes waiting for the desks to open so couldn’t even go through to duty free. I think if we had no bags to check or were doing a bag drop we might have got through sooner. I even bought fast track security tickets as we had heard loads of stories about people missing flights due to queue but we got to the security gate and there was no queue so wasted that money. Lol.

Very much depends on the airline/airport...if there is a "bags not before" it's usually three or two hours (it's two at our local airport, usually three at places like Heathrow).

Most outfits close flights for physical check-in with roughly 45 minutes to go before departure (to allow bags to be loaded and other behind the scenes functions) so only opening with 1 hour to go is leaving it tight to say the least.

RedToothBrush · 06/08/2026 06:16

There's no such thing as too early.

However the problem with arriving really really early if you are traveling with hold luggage is you can be stuck with bags before bag drop opens. There's never much in the way of shops and restaurants on the departures side before security and you have a big bag with you so it's a massive pain in the arse.

Really you want to arrive a bit later than you plan but still earlier than most people would if you get anxious to minimise that.

Personally given that stretch of the M5 in August and an hour and a half drive, I'd set off early and find somewhere close by to stop for a while if I could.

Original poster

ikeepdancingonmy · 06/08/2026 06:21

celticprincess · 05/08/2026 22:24

For a European flight if you have baggage to check in the desks won’t even open until 1 hours before. We made the mistake of getting there 3 hours before after previously travelling long haul and we got stuck at the cafes waiting for the desks to open so couldn’t even go through to duty free. I think if we had no bags to check or were doing a bag drop we might have got through sooner. I even bought fast track security tickets as we had heard loads of stories about people missing flights due to queue but we got to the security gate and there was no queue so wasted that money. Lol.

This is absolutely incorrect.

How early is too early to arrive at the airport?

OP posts:

TaterTots68 · 06/08/2026 07:16

PyongyangKipperbang · 05/08/2026 21:18

hello neighbour!

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Hello 👋

Mumoushka · 06/08/2026 07:23

If you re like me you would just be fretting about not getting there in time if you went later so just go with what you feel comfortable with. There s a lot going on at the airport ....you could have some refreshments, do some (window) shopping or just people watch. Start your holiday a little earlier.

Markovenchip · 06/08/2026 08:53

Go early, one blip on a motorway, you could be held up for hours, by 9AM if it were me,, a few weeks ago people missed their cruise because a main trunk road had an incident, my local airport is 40 mins away, but I would rather be there 4-6 hours early with a good book to read !

vickylou78 · 06/08/2026 09:57

ikeepdancingonmy · 05/08/2026 07:00

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?

Leave at 13:00

DraigCymraeg · 06/08/2026 10:00

Culpeper · 05/08/2026 07:05

That’s loads of time. Too much. You don’t even need to arrive at 3:30 for a flight to France. I’d leave at 2:30.

If the airline instruct you to be there at a certain time - do so!
They have reasons for it, and if you do not comply any problem they are not bound to help you.
And you clearly have no concern that the OP is an anxious traveller.

twoboystwodogs · 06/08/2026 10:06

You must live near me! Ive got a 14.30 flight from Bristol and I'm leaving at 9.30. But that is a Wednesday in September. The M5 is the biggest risk as it is so often closed. We got stuck on it going to Heathrow once, it was so stressful. In a bank holiday Friday it will be really busy at that time of day so leave as early as you want to and just accept you'll probably end up kick around the airport waiting for bag drop off to open. And keep an eye on Google maps from the morning so you can spot if anything comes up. Have fun

Megsdaughter · 06/08/2026 10:16

We have a 14.15 flight from Bristol on sunday in September, we are coming from the east about an hour and a half away. We have our parking booked from 11.30 so wont leave home till about 9.45. We are not going on a motorway though, all A roads.

Kirschcherries · 06/08/2026 10:25

@ikeepdancingonmy go with the time you feel comfortable. Take a kindle/book, find a spot in departures and chill waiting for your flight.

pinkspeakers · 06/08/2026 10:57

This thread has been educational. I honestly had no idea that there were so many people who would choose to arrive so early for a flight!

And yes, I have missed flights twice in my life. But that has not persuaded me to leave any earlier. It was only twice, out of many flights in my life. And in neither case did it feel like a disaster.

The first was a work flight for one meeting in Europe about 30 years ago. I underestimated the effect of a tube strike on travel out of London to Heathrow. I just didnt go. I was a very junior participant in the meeting and it really wasn't important that I was there.

The second was with the whole family (small kids) about 20 years ago. That was a motorway traffic jam issue. We took the next flight to somewhere about an hour's train journey away. So got there just a bit later the same day. Not the end of the world. We are not a stressy family!

So over a lifetime of taking flights I'm actually perfectly happy to accept a slightly increased risk of missing the occasional flight in exchange for an accumulated total of 100s of extra hours at home.

FlyingCatGirl · 06/08/2026 11:22

Culpeper · 05/08/2026 07:05

That’s loads of time. Too much. You don’t even need to arrive at 3:30 for a flight to France. I’d leave at 2:30.

The OP lives 2 to 3 hours away, if they leave at 2.30 they may not get there til an hour before the flight and worse if an RTA causes issues. You aren't going to a bus stop to jump on a bus. In fact you need to add to your fact that the OP needs to park a car up and get a shuttle to the airport.

purplecorkheart · 06/08/2026 11:29

Personally I would leave early and try and find somewhere near the airport to have something to eat and then aim to arrive for baggage drop. I would prefer to give myself time in case there is mad traffic etc. However I am one of those people who is quite happy to grab a coffee and people watch at the airport.

LightningTree · 06/08/2026 12:53

If you feel happier arriving pretty early it might be worth investing in a lounge pass as at times there is not enough seating at Bristol airport.

notimagain · 06/08/2026 12:55

pinkspeakers · 06/08/2026 10:57

This thread has been educational. I honestly had no idea that there were so many people who would choose to arrive so early for a flight!

And yes, I have missed flights twice in my life. But that has not persuaded me to leave any earlier. It was only twice, out of many flights in my life. And in neither case did it feel like a disaster.

The first was a work flight for one meeting in Europe about 30 years ago. I underestimated the effect of a tube strike on travel out of London to Heathrow. I just didnt go. I was a very junior participant in the meeting and it really wasn't important that I was there.

The second was with the whole family (small kids) about 20 years ago. That was a motorway traffic jam issue. We took the next flight to somewhere about an hour's train journey away. So got there just a bit later the same day. Not the end of the world. We are not a stressy family!

So over a lifetime of taking flights I'm actually perfectly happy to accept a slightly increased risk of missing the occasional flight in exchange for an accumulated total of 100s of extra hours at home.

Edited

Fair enough, it's risk.v reward.

If your employer insists you make a flight or maybe only allows one "joker", i.e.two misses and you are out then you are maybe going to be bit more defensive over timings..

If it's a leisure trip where the options for recovering the holiday are limited If you miss the departure (e.g. Come back tomorrow/next week) then the thoughts on timings might be different.

It's yet another "it depends".

Clearinguptheclutter · 06/08/2026 13:01

I think reasonable as long as you realise you’ll be hanging around with luggage until bag drop opens. Usually with easyJet it’s 2h before but I can believe it if it’s 3

StarlightLady · 06/08/2026 13:14

pinkspeakers · 06/08/2026 10:57

This thread has been educational. I honestly had no idea that there were so many people who would choose to arrive so early for a flight!

And yes, I have missed flights twice in my life. But that has not persuaded me to leave any earlier. It was only twice, out of many flights in my life. And in neither case did it feel like a disaster.

The first was a work flight for one meeting in Europe about 30 years ago. I underestimated the effect of a tube strike on travel out of London to Heathrow. I just didnt go. I was a very junior participant in the meeting and it really wasn't important that I was there.

The second was with the whole family (small kids) about 20 years ago. That was a motorway traffic jam issue. We took the next flight to somewhere about an hour's train journey away. So got there just a bit later the same day. Not the end of the world. We are not a stressy family!

So over a lifetime of taking flights I'm actually perfectly happy to accept a slightly increased risk of missing the occasional flight in exchange for an accumulated total of 100s of extra hours at home.

Edited

You may have missed flights, but this is supposed to be a holiday for the OP. Not every destination has another flight (with spare capacity) the same or the next day. If she misses her flight she could have several days in an airport hotel, or go back home and start all over again.

celticprincess · 06/08/2026 13:53

ikeepdancingonmy · 06/08/2026 06:21

This is absolutely incorrect.

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I think bag drop is different to checking in. Bag drop is usually when you’ve checked in online and then just drop bags. I think these have a wider window. We’ve been a few times away now where it’s been dead in 2 hours before the check in desks open for European flights.

celticprincess · 06/08/2026 13:54

LightningTree · 06/08/2026 12:53

If you feel happier arriving pretty early it might be worth investing in a lounge pass as at times there is not enough seating at Bristol airport.

Can’t get through to the lounge though if you have to wait for check in to open. We often get a lounge pass.

celticprincess · 06/08/2026 13:57

I’ll also add that I currently live 20 minutes from an airport and traffic is never an issue. When I used to fly from Manchester and it was a good 90 minutes and traffic often I predictable we would leave on plenty time of go the night before and get a hotel with parking and shuttle. Made it far less stressful.

pinkspeakers · 06/08/2026 14:01

StarlightLady · 06/08/2026 13:14

You may have missed flights, but this is supposed to be a holiday for the OP. Not every destination has another flight (with spare capacity) the same or the next day. If she misses her flight she could have several days in an airport hotel, or go back home and start all over again.

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I know. This wasn't really about OP any more. Just a personal reflection comparing myself to all these people on the thread who get to the airport far earlier than I ever would and use the argument that that the reduced risk of missing the flight clearly outweights any downside of hanging around an airport for hours. Some people also seem to like a lot airports more than I do !

By the way, most people would describe me as a very organised and efficient person who is almost always on time for appointments. My airport arrival time is a considered choice, not a result of general disorganization and irredeemable unpunctuality.

FrostyPalms · 06/08/2026 14:04

If you have the time to leave earlier than is really necessary, then there's no reason not to. Yes, you'll be sitting at the airport for a few hours, but that's not the end of the world. I'm not a nervous traveler, but I am happy when I have the freedom to get to the airport early and not have to worry about traffic jams etc. If I'm by myself I'm perfectly content to find a nice spot to sit and read my book.