How early should I arrive at Stansted for a Europe flight?

[lurchersforever]

I am flying from Stanstead to a European city on Monday morning at 8.30am. I had planned to arrive at the airport at 6.30, which is bad enough. We're staying at the Holiday Inn, so close by but still very early wake up needed. However, I now see that Stanstead is recommending a 3 hour before flight time arrival for all international travel, whereas before I'm sure short haul was 2 hours. I assume this is because of the new regulations. I also see that my flight time is also considered a peak time so I should arrive 3.5 hours earlier. I'm now wishing I hadn't bothered with the hotel and was just driving down overnight (we're about 2 hours away and will need parking).

What have others found who have flown out of Stanstead to Europe recently?

I took a 13.30 flight to Carcassonne from Stansted recently. I got into the terminal about 11am. Busy but no delays. Security queues moved quickly.

It’s the security at Stansted that’s unpredictable. If you don’t want to arrive too early buy fast track security. If you’ve no luggage to check in then I’d arrive 1.5-2hrs before. The gate number won’t even show until around 40 minutes before the flight leaves.

Ah, we do only have cabin bags so maybe that means we can do 2 hours.

Had an 8am flight (gate closed 7:30) and got to airport at 6 earlier this week. Didn’t check in bags. Was busy but still had waiting time at the gate

I use the airport regularly and never get there more than 2 hours before. Hand luggage and yes, it’s security that’s unpredictable. That being said, if you arrive to find massive queues, you could always buy fast track passes on the spot.

2 hours is more than fine.

There are no new EES checks or new regulations when flying out of Stansted (or out of any other UK airport) - the checks happen when you arrive at your destination. That said, at busy times it can take ages to get through security at Stansted, but if you only have hand luggage and book Fast Track through security, then 2 - 2 1/2 hours should be sufficient. Fast Track doesn't mean that you are instantly whisked through security with no delays, but does mean that you get through quicker than those who are going through the normal queue. If in doubt, allow 3 hours. After security you still have to navigate through the maze of overpriced perfume counters, stalls selling teddy bears dressed as Beefeaters and shelves full of big bars of chocolate.

We did it pre Christmas, it was hell. Hand luggage only, 2 hours before and fast track, it got us through security just in time for a quick sandwich purchase then onto the flight. I don’t think we’d have made it through the swarm of people that spilled out of the main security area. We couldn’t even reach fast track at first due to the volume of people

You had time for a sandwich? That was ridiculously EARLY so!

I was in Amsterdam last week and kept getting warnings to arrive early, got through security and was thinking ‘that wasn’t too bad!’ Then saw the queue for passport control and we barely made it, we had to run to the gate, and we had been 3 hours+ early.

I would be at the airport at 6am. Have a great time x

One pf my family members did it easily in two hours yesterday. With hold luggage.