Quick question - How early to be at the airport - HELP!

[bubbletubble]

Hello - i am going on my first holiday abroad in 5 years and i will have a toddler in tow - feeling super overwhelmed and nervous and overthinking everything. Flight is at 7.50am on a Saturday morning from Luton.

Thinking of getting to the airport for 5.15am (parking next to terminal so short 2 minute walk to the terminal), bag drop then through security. Getting to the airport for 5.15am will be plenty of time won't it?

2 hours for Europe three for international is the rule of thumb I think

6pm is fine, I'd aim to arrive at parking for 5.30 to be on the safe side as takes a while to unload car etc with dc. It will be fine. Just been through Heathrow and security took under 10 mins

Thanks both, really useful!

I'm just trying to get that balance between getting there super early and not stressing about being late but also having a bored two year old in tow!

always wondered why it's 3 hours for international & 2 hours for Europe, anyone know why there is a difference?

That's absolutely fine you could probably get away with arriving a little later, but if anything goes wrong (eg motorway closed) then you could start to run out of time and it all gets a bit stressy so why put yourself through this when you can arrive a little earlier and just take your time.

All being well you'll be able to buy breakfast at the airport or buy a meal deal to eat on the plane then have a nap and arrive at your destination refreshed and ready to start your holiday.

If you have hold luggage to drop off you need to check how far in advance you can do that. We got to the airport really early last year, hoping to drop our bags and get through security and they told us our flight wasn’t accepting bag drop off for another hour so we had to stand around waiting with all our bags.

I can't see a reason for it. Everyone goes through the same security, which is usually the bottle neck.

Does long haul board or have the gate closed earlier?

I go by the size of the airport and the journey there to decide when to plan to arrive. I always leave loads of time for Manchester because I have to drive over the M62 and the airport is massive and security often a shambles.

But some very small airports, you're fine if you turn up about half an hour before departure, still more than enough time.

I’ve often wondered this! Because it’s the same bag drop and same security queue so it doesn’t make any sense?? I guess maybe they start the boarding a bit earlier for long haul as it’s a bigger plane and aren’t doing a high speed turn around? But that’s a difference of max 15 minutes, not the hour that some people claim. Very specific but also if it’s Heathrow T5 then more chance of being at the C gates and needing to get on the transit if it’s long haul but 2 hours before is still loads of time to do that.

Personally I usually go with 1.5 hours before, unless it’s Friday night and then 2 hours because why not have a couple of leisurely drinks at the airport since I get the lounge access with my credit card. Never missed a flight. Always have time to grab a coffee and a croissant (juice for the toddler).

I think it's one of those things you will have stress with no matter what. Especially after you haven't slept due to being excited/ worrying etc. There's no control over traffic which could involve closed roads or conversely no traffic at all.
Getting there for 6am would be perfect I think. Lots of time to get through the airport with time in case something doesn't go to plan - toddler needs change of clothes or leaves something in the cafe etc.
You'll be waiting at the gate from 7.20 I guess so that an hour and 20 to get through departures. There will be toilets and food by the gate so you have time to do those things there.
Good luck and have a lovely time.

Sounds fine

They tend to board earlier and close the gate earlier. The planes are generally bigger than short haul so take longer to load.

Op I'd get there for 530

The airport is usually a fixed time, can vary at bag drop off and security but not by much ( usually ).

These days I’m checking for overnight road closures on the way to the airport.

You will have plenty of time. Make sure you have something to do during the likely 90 minutes that you will be waiting for the flight. Wait at the gate, as close as possible to the desk where they check the boarding passes, in case you nod off.

Personally, 6:00am would be fine for me too, but we all have our different tradeoffs and levels of worry. The chances of a huge queue for check-in and a huge queue for security are small.

If you need to do the same planning for the return flight (i.e., if you are not being picked up by a transfer bus at the time of your travel company's choosing), remember that unlike the UK, when you leave the EU you will need to go through outgoing passport control. This isn't as slow as incoming passport control with your flight lands, but it can sometimes add another 20 minutes, depending on the airport. (Often it's almost no time at all.)

Probably not a good idea to nap when travelling alone with toddler! Mine would've been up in the cockpit in no time.

@bubbletubble Do you have a CARES harness, I found them amazing when flying with 1-3year olds. Normal plane sear belts don't hold them at all. Mine normally sat happily but a few times we had delays and they were overtired this harness really helped. Like a car seat harness so they didn't fight it at all.

Traditionally it’s because long-haul flights tend to be to destinations for which you need extra document checks. It’s also more likely people will have checked luggage.

On top of it, long-haul flights are usually on wide-body aircrafts which take longer to board and taxi, hence needing to start the process earlier than on your standard Boeing 737.

As someone who flew from Luton at 7.55am
I’d go for 530am arrival. It took 20 mins to drive the last mile, big queues at bag drop, big queues at security.

Actually the saying is 2 hours for domestic, 3 for international. You'll be glad of it the one time you get delayed or there's a big hold up in security.

The gate is likely to close half an hour than the time you’ve given. We always tend to go extra early to be on the safe side (and allow for food and a mooch round the shops - which are likely to be closed at that time!). I’d probably aim to get there a bit earlier.

@GaladrielHiggins hasn't even thought about this! Thanks for the tip!

@OneFastDuck thanks, I'll take a look :)

@Twilightstarbright thanks, haven't flown from Luton for a good few years but remember last time I was there it was a nightmare at that hour of the morning.

I always allow at least 2 hours. Last time I flew security took ages.

I was already planning to post that Luton is at its busiest at that time in the morning, surprisingly. So I'd definitely go for your earlier time, and ignore those who say that 90 minutes is enough! You might be lucky, but if not risk it at that time of day.

The security line can be massive at 6am. I've experienced it several times.

I’d give it longer than 2 hours. Luton first thing is chaos. Recent bad experience of this. I’d also pay for fast security as it’s not much. @Twilightstarbright is probably right.

Is it worth staying at a cheap airport hotel the night before? You'll get a bit more sleep as won't need to travel over and won't be stressed by the roads. DC won't be strapped in the car then in the plane etc. ofcourse if you are very close to Luton it's not an issue but it would be a rather hideous start time if it was me.