Anyone flown out of PVD lately? How early to arrive?

[Mickey_Maniac]

We are flying out of Providence (PVD) on Sunday May 18th at 8:25am. For anyone who has flown out of PVD lately, how fart in advance of our flight should we arrive?

I have heard both good and bad lately. One person said it took them 15 mins to get through security, another told me 2 hours.

We are thinking of getting to the airport by 6am to be safe. This way we could have some breakfast and relax.

Any recommendations?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Not sure what airline you are using, but, SWA suggests 1.5 hours before departure.

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

WE are flying SWA, but I am more concerned about getting through the new stricter security checkpoint.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Mickey,
The suggested times are on the website. I quoted 1.5 hours because that is what they recommend to get through the checkpoints.
Leaving FL will be a bit different, bigger airport and larger crowds.
I would allow 2.5 hours for that leg of your journey, especially on a Saturday.
This site is a wonderful guide for most any question you might have about SWA. Hope it helps.

http://www.southwestair.com/travel_center/

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

Thanks Gail...

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Mickey_Maniac
Thanks Gail...

Mickey_Maniac,
You are most welcome. Happy planning!!!

 

[prncess674]

I have never specifically flown out of PVD on SWA on Sunday but 6AM just seems a bit excessive. I second the recommendation of 1.5 hours prior. Security at most airports has been streamlined to move passengers through efficiently even if the lines appears terribly long. Use curb side check in if available or better yet use the e-ticket kiosks if available.

2.5 hours on a Sunday morning at any airport seems like too much time. There will be only leisure travellers at this time of the morning on Sundays so the airport should be pretty calm. Is there a special event in your town that weekend. This plays into things as well. Living in New Orleans leaving during Mardi Gras is absolutely h*ll and requires plenty extra time but if there is nothing major going on in your town 1.5 hours is plenty adequate.

If there are 2 adults in your party and you are leaving a car at the airport drop one adult and kids who are old enough to help off at curb side check in while the other adult parks the car. This will streamline your process.

We are thinking of getting to the airport by 6am to be safe. This way we could have some breakfast and relax.

I haven't found a "relaxing" airport yet. The seats are uncomfortable, it means more time you will have to entertain your kids in the airport, and getting to the airport early means getting up earlier. I don't know how far you live from the airport but even if you live close to get to the airport for 6AM would probably mean getting up at 4:30AM. do you really want zombie kids??? Better yet, why not bring your breakfast on the plane. Pack some granola bars and pop tarts. You could even get some of the individual cereal bowls and order milk as your drink to pour over it. It will entertain the kids on the plane.

 

[sue Z]

My parents and I flew out of Providence March 19th and we left Our house in QuincyMa about 8:15 am and got to the airport about 9:30 or so.
they left me up at sky cap withthe luggage while they parked the car and when they got back it was 9:45. skycap checked and scanned our luggage in about 10-15 minutes. We got through X-ray in about 20 minutes as my dad has to be wanded down because of his pacemaker. My mom and I have the chore of going through security with our things plus his. I also had my pin bag for pin trading at WDW. I told the security what was in it and they said ok but it still might have to be checked by hand!

I got through will no problems!

Coming home we get to MCO early as we get rid of our rental car early! It took us a bout 30 minutes getting through security because the lines were longer!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

We are flying out of PVD in Sept. so, I will be watching and keeping all these tips in mind for the departure. Also, I will be watching the web site for their recommendations for times and will be very interested in what people who have actually departed from PVD have to say.

 

[Jeanny]

We flew out of PVD the day before Thanksgiving last year as a snow storm hit... our flight was supposed to leave at 7:30 a.m., so I figured being the day before a major holiday and being the busiest travel day of the year, we'd get to the airport at 5:30 a.m.

Well, with all my planning, we arrived at the airport at 5:45 a.m, check our luggage curbside, then went to the security line which snaked around and around and around the lobby, and you know what??? it only took us about 30 minutes to get through. Security personnel are very nice and friendly at PVD.

People were actually listening to security personnel and had their ID's & tickets ready, we had our laptop out of the case, had our jackets (remember it was snowing) off so we could put it through the scanner. One tip, wear sneakers. I noticed the two times we flew last year, people who wore regular shoes had to remove them, they didn't bother people with sneakers.

We stopped at the Dunkin Donuts' counter and sat around for about an hour, watching the sun rise and the snow come down heavier. We were on the runway longer than it took to get through security.

Hopefully, you'll get through security just as fast and hopefully you won't have any snow on Sunday.

Have a great trip and don't worry!
Jeanny

 

[Auntie Bon]

We flew out of PVD on Friday May 2nd and were through check-in (curbside) and security in 1/2 hour. Having suffered throught Logan airport I couldn't believe how easy it was to fly from Providence.

BTW when we flew back from MCO they had people with sandals take them off but my sister in sneakers went through with no problem!