? Bishop Airport, in Flint Mich

[linny172]

It has been a couple years since I have flown out of Bishop usually go to Metro. If I do the on line check in do they have curbside baggage check at Bishop, I couldn't remember and if they don't than do you still have to stand in the check in line to check your bags?

 

[Poohs Pal]

linny172,
From their website---To assit you with your luggage we have skycaps in front of the terminal 7 days a week. I have never used Flint myself but know others who have, they prefer it over Metro. Susan

 

[TerriP]

We fly out of Bishop for all our trips. I much prefer it to Metro. We fly out on the earliest flight we can get, which usually means we are arriving at the airport between 5-6 AM. At that time, there is no skycap available and you must wait in line to check your luggage. But, I've never waited more than 10 minutes to check in. Even when we arrived at 4 PM for a 6 PM flight to Vegas, we had to check in and check our luggage and the wait was not 10 minutes.

I don't know if it's because fewer people use Bishop or if Bishop is just better staffed (gotta believe it's the latter), but the lines are NEVER like they are at Metro. Even if you have to wait in the check in line, you won't be there long.

 

[MikeJ]

We're flying out of Bishop next week on the Air Tran 7:30am direct flight to Orlando. Can anyone give me an indication of how early we need to get to the airport? We're staying at the EconoLodge across the street the night before. Thanks.

- Mike

 

[TerriP]

Mike,

Are you checking in online? You can do online check in up to 24 hours in advance, I think it is. If you do that, you don't have to be there very early ~ Just one hour or so prior to your flight. If you plan to check in once you arrive at Bishop, I'd get there at least an hour and half to two hours ahead of time.

Keep in mind Bishop doesn't open until 5 AM...so don't go too early!

 

[MikeJ]

I was planning on doing the online thing the day before, if for no other reason that we can get our seat assignments. We will have several pieces of checked luggage so we'll still have to go through the formail check-in process to get rid of the bags.

Does the online check-in save that much time if you still have to check luggage?

- Mike

 

[TerriP]

I can't believe it really saves that much time when you think about it. I haven't tried it yet (but will soon...YAY) so you'll have to share your experience with it when you get back.

A friend here at work recently used it for a trip from Bishop to Dallas, TX. She checked her family of 8 in the night before their flight, arrived at the ticket counter with 15 minutes before her flight was due to take off (YIKES) and claims they just dropped of their bags, walked to the gate, and boarded the plane. I find that hard to believe, but if it's really that simple....Wow.

Let me know how it goes, will you? We also have the 7:30 direct flight in September and it would save us some sleep if we don't have to be there super early.

 

[MikeJ]

I'll post a summary of our experiences after we get back Labour Day weekend.

- Mike

 

[bearloch]

Hi, are you driving your car over or leaving it at the hotel? Were doing the same thing soon and looking for some pointers also have the early direct flight. HAve a good trip!!!