How early at the airport?

[SantaMonicaPier]

First flight in two years is booked and I need to sort my train to the airport. If the flight is at 12pm how early would you aim to arrive? Medium haul to a county which will be questioning most passengers ahead of boarding in my previous experience so I want to get there earlier rather than later. Will book a lounge so will have somewhere nice to relax. Trains currently available will get me there three hours or four hours ahead of my flight. Which would you go for?

*country

I would go for 4 hours in case of problems on train.

If this week and involves a tube train at all remember there is a tube strike.
This may also have a knock on effect with how busy overland trains are too.

I'd go for four hours. Take a good book and enjoy not being stressed.

Also four hours especially if you're checking bags in.
I usually leave three but don't use public transport and hand luggage only

Thanks all. Not going for a few weeks yet but you're confirming what I was tending towards. Appreciated!

If i had mt way i would always be at the airport about 6 hours before a flight so not the best judgement, but you should go as early as you can! Once you are through security etc its proper chill time without the travel anxiety.

I'd go against the grain and go for three hours if the trains are usually reliable.

Thanks eurochick. My ideal is three hours but you never know with trains so I reckon that extra hour will give me the comfort of wiggle room for a missing or delayed train!

I’d go 3, 2 minimum

The one with enough time to still get there if I had to get an emergency taxi or a lift in a car from a relative if the trains are up the spout. I always get there three hours before. I like not getting stressed out by massive queues at check in and security.

I'm a 90min with hold baggage, 60 with hand luggage sort of person at smaller airports but relying on an hourly train service I'd go with time to still get there if one is cancelled.

Which airport and how far away are you travelling from? Birmingham I go for an hour with check in luggage, standsted 2.5. Very different experiences! Also depends on who you're flying. Some won't open check in til 2 hours before so no point being earlier than that.

I'm flying from Manchester, I need to get two trains there with a journey of 1.5 - 1.75 hours if they line up correctly. Cabin bag only probably which reminds me I won't need to check in at the airport and can go straight through security

If you’re going straight through 2hrs is plenty. I’d normally only aim for 1 max but I fly a lot and appreciate others like to have more time spare

Flew on Monday. Gatwick to Paphos. Got there 2 hours before with a bag to check in. Two hours was more than enough. Had half an hour in the lounge.

I always go 4- but I also know this is unreasonable to most people. My logic is- an hour to work out WTF I've screwed up and need to go back to the house for (never happened) and three hours to get through security in case there's an issue there (never happened) then I sit airside for three hours, bored shitless, and usually tired, but not stressed at least........

I would allow 4 hours, we were stuck on a train once, got into London late, some passengers were very stressed as they were getting off at Gatwick and thought they were going to be late for their flights. We were literally sat there for 45mins without moving at one point. Allow more time than you think you need.

What do the airline advise on their website? The one I work for doesn't open check in until 3 hours before so no point in being there much before then unless you need special assistance.

Some airlines use apps like verifly to validate your documents before arriving at the airport so the check in process is quicker or done at home. I flew domestically twice yesterday and the airports were very quiet, I passed through security several times and never had more than a couple of people ahead of me.

I would go for 3 . You only need two hours so you have an hour contingency anyway.

I'd be there at 6am. Being at the airport is all part of the holiday experience for me! The shops, bars, food, free stuff in the lounge etc etc my holiday starts at the airport! (I'm just tragic, I know!)

These days I arrive 2-3 hrs in advance, but that's by car.
In your case I'd go for the 4 hrs. I quite enjoy time at the airport- have a meal, get a manicure, mooch around the shops. It's much better than being stressed about arriving on time.
I've got DH round to my way of thinking, DS not so much.

I'd go for 4 too because of trains. It's not unpleasant to me to be in an airport now as it's been so long since I did it and I view it as part of the holiday. Take a portable charger for your phone though.

With Manchester, I'd definitely go for the 4 hour option. They've had loads of problems recently.

Depending on terminal, it's quite a walk from the station. Last time we went, we had to queue to get into the terminal, queue to get into security, security queues were epic, then long walk to gate. Took us nearly 3 hours from car park to gate with only a really quick breakfast stop of around 15 mins because we didn't have any more time.

If you have the lounge booked, I'd go early and just plan to relax there if you get through quickly. It's better than going later, seeing a train delay take up your spare time, then have massive stress because it's taking ages to get through security.

I would go for four, especially if it’s school holidays. We went away at half term and three hours was fine at the UK end and we had half an hour in the lounge but on the return the queues were horrendous and whilst we made our flight, we didn’t have time to do anything than grab a bottle of water and use the loo on our way through the airport, and we’ve had the same experience at the UK end last summer.

Relying on a connection? I'd book a cheap hotel the night before that's near the airport. Too much uncertainty with trains and weather at the moment.