if we are flying out at 6am.....

[ssd]

and have checked in online when do we have to be at the airport?

I'd still get there about 2 hours before the the flight, we traveled the other week and (thankfully) couldn't check in on line so did it the old fashioned way which was quick and painless. The queue for the bag drop for those who'd already checked in was horrendous at least 4 times the length of the checking in queue and no one seemed to save any time. We all had to queue for the departure Lounge and security scanning etc. so overall you don't really save much time.

oh forgot about security! we are flying to europe if that makes any difference?

2 hours before departure.

The bag drop queues can still take ages as can security. Then your gate may be a 20 minute walk for the terminal.

Don't try and cut it fine, it's too stressful!

Get there for 3.30-4. Better too have time to waste at the airport than be stressing about being late.

We travel to Spain quite regularly and check in online beforehand. Still always get to the airport 2 hrs before just so we can get through bag drop security have a coffee and a little mooch round the shops etc..

Doesn't matter that it is Europe, going through security still takes ages, especially if you are flying from a larger airport like Manchester.

We flew from Leeds Bradford at half term, and although we had checked in online and it is a much smaller airport, we found that we still needed to be there two hours before departure time.

You still need to be there around 2 hours before departure.

That's unanimous then!

We arrived at Gatwick once in the summer holidays to find there were queues to get into the terminal building. We had to wait outside. Total chaos inside too. 2 hours is an absolute minimum and if you go longhaul I would arrive 3 hours before.