6am flight - when to arrive at airport?

[JillU-DVC]

My husband has a 6am flight coming up on Tues, Nov. 27, out of TF Green in Providence.

I flew out of PVD last week, and needed 40 mins to get through security (didn't check any bags); he needs to check a bag, AND get through security before his 6am flight leaves.

Does anyone know what time the Delta ticket counter opens at PVD? Won't do us any good to get to the airport at 4am (2 hours before his flight), if the Delta ticket counter doesn't open until 5am or 5:30am.

I thought about trying to call the ticket counter directly at PVD, but am not quite sure how to do that; the Delta people I"ve talked to say simply to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the flight, but I've read here on the boards that for early morning flights like his, the ticket counters don't open 2 hours before the flights.

Anyone have any ideas/suggestions? Thanks!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

My thought and suggestion is to call Delta and ask. They will have far better information than most of us can provide.

 

[inkkognito]

I have this same fear...in January and February, we have 6:45 a.m. flights out of O'Hare. When I call the airlines, I get conflicting stories...I don't think anyone really knows what's going on these days. We are going to spend the night at a hotel near the airport (got a great deal via Hotwire) and get there at least two hours early (4:45 a.m.--ugh!!).
Our Thanksgiving Weds. flight is at 6:30 p.m., and even though we should be at te airport by 3 p.m., I am still paranoid that we could miss it if the horror stories I've heard about security lines lately are true. I'll post a report when we get back.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Casatway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[flyingcircus]

Barb-

Just a reminder that Wednesday before Thanksgiving is usually the 1st or 2nd busiest travel day in the year. This year may be different, but there will be a lot of travelers in the air. Does O'Hare have a tape that you can call with wait times???? I know DIA does, and it is updated every 1/2 hour.

Anyone traveling during the holidays may want to allow extra travel time. Lines will probably be longer, due to more passengers, and carry on items. There is the carry on restrictions, however if everyone brings their one carry on, and personal item, the lines WILL be long.

If you can check your luggage with a sky cap, that will alleviate waiting in the ticket/baggage check line. If you have NO carry on luggage (which is close to impossible , you will be able to use express lines thru security.

HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[safetymom]

Are you close to the airport? Why not stop by and ask what time they open in the morning. Or at least call the airline at the airport. I flew into Toledo several weeks ago, on my return flight I was standing in a line at 5:00 in the morning. There were quite a few people flying at that early hour. It was a good thing that I had allowed extra time. They weren't doing curbside check in at that hour so I needed to go to the counter instead of just going to the gate. Better to be safe than missing the flight. I always feel at least I am at the airport ready to go instead of being stuck somewhere. Less stress that way.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

You can get all the information you need by either calling Delta (or your specific airline) or go to the website for TFGreen, you can find the web address by doing a search.

 

[safetymom]

Personally here in Pittsburgh I go to the airport and ask someone at the counter. That way I don't get quoted the OFFICIAL COMPANY ANSWER. I want the real world answer. At least in person I can get an idea of what is going on. Most times you are told the standard 2 hour answer. I can tell you in reality since 9/11 I have spent quite a bit of time sitting around waiting like an hour and a half. That is real important if it is real early in the morning.

I do a lot of traveling during the year and I travel with 3 very large cases. It is important to know what I need to do before I get into the airport. So if I am flying a different airline or after 9/11 I just go out and ask.

 

[lillykat]

I think this is a great question too. I also have a 610 am flight on a saturday in January at LGA (laguardia). When we usually go on cruises we fly around 6 am from JFK and we usually arrive a little before 5 but nothing is open other than skycaps and maybe if you are lucky one window. But this was before 9/11. Delta told my boyfriend to be there 2-3 hours ahead - closer to 3 if possible! He asked what time the airport would open and they told him they didn't know. So - if there are any NY'ers out there who are goin on delta via LGA for the 610 am flight - what time do you arrive?

 

[denisenh]

I would aim for 2 hours early or whatever the airport advises.
It seems to me that the security people would hollar out "Anyone on flight xyz at 7:00?!!!" and those travelers get pulled out of line and go through ahead of those with later flights. At least thats how it was at Tampa this week.
But then who am I to give advise? We got boarding numbers in the 90's on all of our flights this past trip. I still LUV SWA though.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Jill,
I noticed you live in Auburn (home of my former husband) and know that it would be a LONG drive to just ask for the information at the airport. Found these numbers for TF Green, hopefully they will help.
Airport information
Toll free (888) 268-7222
In state (401) 737-8222
Airport Police (401) 737-4000 ext. 247

 

[imgoingtodisney]

TF Greens counters open at 5am. I flew out at 7am Oct 5th. Dec 1st I have a 310 flight. I just pm'd you.

 

[sandyneck]

My husband and I flew out of TFGreen on a 6am flight last weekend. We got there at 4am thinking we had plenty of time. The lines were unreal. We were also chosen to be the lucky recipients of a random search of all luggage, carry on, and person, not once, not twice, but three times. We would have missed the plane if they weren't holding it just so they could search us one more time. The ticket counters usually do not open until 5am, but since Sept 11 they have been opening early to accomodate the lines. Good luck.

 

[JillU-DVC]

Thanks to everyone for your answers and suggestions.

I read on another post that the Delta.com website now has a facility where you can look up your airport and see the peak and off peak wait times for that airport. It also lists what time the ticket counter opens.

According to delta.com, PVD ticket counters open at 4:20am, and peak wait time for checkin (at the counter) is 40 minutes, and peak wait time for security is 45 minutes. This seems comparible to what I saw a couple weeks ago.

Thanks again for everyone's help!!