Do you check in 3hrs before?

[scojos]

Just checked the AA website, and it says 3 hours before flight, which means 7am for us, we are staying over night about 10 mins from airport, im going to be up at 5, to get everyone showered and feed!!!
we wanted to stay overnight for a gentle start to the holiday, but this is a bit of a shocker as i thought it was 2 hours!!
do you check in 3 hours before (we can do OLCI i believe), or do you go later?
thanks
tracy

 

[tashasmum]

We set off at 5.30 to get to the airport. We only live half an hour away.To me that is the start of my holidays. I never sleep the night before so neither is anyone else. Our flight is 10.30 and we are usually one of the first in the queue.

 

[Rohais]

With VA at Gatwick we do the twilight check in, stay overnight at Premier Inn and then head to the V Room for 10am 9flight at 1pm)

 

[kristieuk]

Do AA offer day before check-in, or online check-in? It's been a while since we flew with them.

Otherwise, I would try to find to find out what time check-in closes - likley to be an hour before flight. Not that I would wait until then to check inas you never know with security, but at least you could leave it until maybe 2 hours or 90 mins before flight if you don't want to hang around.

In my experience, whenever we have turned up 'early' for a flight, you get the worst of the check in queue and end up spending an hour pushing suitcases forward in a line that could be better spent over a leisurely breakfast

 

[RDP]

Twilight check in with VA and stay at GH night before (Always get to airport early)

 

[wayneg]

We aim for 2 hours, or if done online check in about 90 mins. Just gives enough time to get thru security and almost ready for boarding. If you want any spare time once thru for shopping, Duty free, food etc then 3 hours is probably needed.
Just once we arrived too late, 59 mins to take off (cut off is 60 mins) but we were too late, had to go on next flight.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We always stay at Man airport the night before, then check in 3 hrs before next morning, then we go thru security and treat ourselves to a fry up, mosey round WH Smith for some mags, then its almost time to board.

 

[originalkk]

As Wayne said, we plan to arrive 2 hours before if flying from LGW or LHR,but are OK if it ends up at 90 minutes due to traffic. We always use OLCI.

Flying with VA to MCO in Feb we parked the car at LGW South (a deal on short term parking), about 2 hours before the flight. A short wait for bag drop, but there was quite a queue for security. Just had time for a quick bite to eat and a look at a couple of shops before heading to the gate for the extra security for US flights.

By contrast at Easter flying to the Caribbean with BA from LHR T5, we had no queue for bag drop, not much at security, we were in the lounge in about 10-15 minutes from arriving.

 

[tashasmum]

We always stay at Man airport the night before, then check in 3 hrs before next morning, then we go thru security and treat ourselves to a fry up, mosey round WH Smith for some mags, then its almost time to board.

Have always fancied booking a hotel at the airport the night before but i really do not sleep so think its a waste of money for me.

 

[Disneymad]

I check in 3 hours before, but that's because I'm a nightmare till I check in, I'm so totally paranoid about forgetting my passport/tickets/A.N.Other item that I might have lost - even though I've checked I have them with me about a bazillion times.

Once I'm checked in I know I've got everything I need to travel, can relax, get through security and nom a big fat breakfast

 

[wilma-bride]

We normally do Twilight check-in with Virgin but, if not doing that, we would probably use OLCI and would be at the airport about 2-3 hours before.

 

[Helen B]

We tried to check in online with Virgin before we went, but couldn't (turns out it was because our seats weren't assigned.) So had to check in at the airport, thank god we stayed overnight. Got there at 7.30am for a 10.25am flight, the queue for bag drop was horrendous.

We had to check in at the kiosk - everyone had to, if they hadn't managed to do it online, and then join the kiosk bag drop, they had a separate queue for online bag drop, which was much much shorter

By the time we got through security it had gone 9.15am and nearly boarding time.

So unless you're checking in online, then yes 3 hours before at least.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

We are in the check in asap club too! I am never happy until I have got that done. Then we have a lovely breakfast and relax browsing through the shops. I love it!! And I always think that if something did hold us up like a flat tyre I would still make it!! Funny enough we ate exactly the same coming home too but it feels a lot different!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Have always fancied booking a hotel at the airport the night before but i really do not sleep so think its a waste of money for me.

I don't sleep either, but it is an important part of our holiday and I'll tell you why it is for me.

I hate that "Did I remember to...." feeling. When I am going to a hotel the day before I take my time and systematically check that everything in the house is off/timed/locked, etc. I then have my checklist which I keep with me so I don't worry about any silly little things that I actually KNOW I did.

The house doesn't get messy before we leave as there is not that same pressure - don't know why but it is definitely more relaxing.

I don't have to worry about not getting to the airport on time.

I just love the atmosphere of the airport hotels. It feels like I am officially on holiday.

 

[tashasmum]

I don't sleep either, but it is an important part of our holiday and I'll tell you why it is for me.

I hate that "Did I remember to...." feeling. When I am going to a hotel the day before I take my time and systematically check that everything in the house is off/timed/locked, etc. I then have my checklist which I keep with me so I don't worry about any silly little things that I actually KNOW I did.

The house doesn't get messy before we leave as there is not that same pressure - don't know why but it is definitely more relaxing.

I don't have to worry about not getting to the airport on time.

I just love the atmosphere of the airport hotels. It feels like I am officially on holiday. [/QUOTE


Might try it one day, would love to be able to watch the planes landing and taking off, sad i know but i don't write down the numbers.

 

[PJB71]

As some of the others have said I never sleep the night before and wish the hours away until I can actually get up

We always get to the airport 3hours before, we use the lounge as its free with the bank package we have although we have to pay £15 each for DD's. IMO its worth every penny and a nice start to your holiday

 

[EvertonCJ]

In 8 visits we have only booked a hotel the night before once. On that occasion we arrived at Gatwick feeling very fresh and checked our bags in. It was then announced that the flight was delayed by 9 hours. We ended up arriving at our hotel in WDW at 3am Florida time totally exhausted. We had a character breakfast booked for 8am that morning in Cinderella's Castle. Since then we've always got a taxi to Gatwick on the morning of the flight leaving plenty of time for delays. We also never book anything on that first morning of the holiday just in case.

 

[stephensmum]

We always stay at Man airport the night before, then check in 3 hrs before next morning, then we go thru security and treat ourselves to a fry up, mosey round WH Smith for some mags, then its almost time to board.

This is what we do too. Although, this year we are on the 1.30 flight, so we are having breakfast at the hotel.

As some of the others have said I never sleep the night before and wish the hours away until I can actually get up

We always get to the airport 3hours before, we use the lounge as its free with the bank package we have although we have to pay £15 each for DD's. IMO its worth every penny and a nice start to your holiday

What is the lounge? just asking as we get travel insurance wih our bank package & wondered if we might get this as well.

 

[pigby]

We are going to DLR in less than a week (hope I'm still 'allowed' on this board)

On our travel invoice it says to check in 3 hours before - but we are travelling (with BA) to LHR first of all - I know internal flights are 2 hours so is this classed as internal or international? So far our taxi is picking us up to get there 3 hours before.

 

[scojos]

We are going to DLR in less than a week (hope I'm still 'allowed' on this board)

.

of course you can join us