How early to airport

[HOGFAN]

How early nowdays do you need to get to the airport? I know it use to be 1 hour, then after 9/11 it was 2 hours. How about now? hopefully not quite as early. Specifically, the Orlando airport. thanks

 

[Disneyjosh229]

The TSA (Transportation Saftey Administration) recomends that you are at the airport 2 hours prior to departure time (domestic). For International, I beleve they recommend 2 1/2 hrs prior to departure time. For me, it depends on which airline Im flying. Usually, the low cost carriers seem to have a larger line for check bags then the "legacy" carriers.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I get my family to the airport between 2 hours and 1.5 prior to flight. We get a good seat at the gate, have a snack and relax till boarding.

 

[DebbieB]

I make it 2 hours, especially when checking luggage. You never know how long security lines will be.

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

For my flights both from and to the UK, they state 2.5-3 hours before. It's a LONG time but what can you do?

 

[Luckymommyx2]

It really depends on the day you're flying too. For example, Tuesdays if extremely slower than the weekend. Last time we flew out on Saturday we were afraid we wouldn't make it to the gate on time. Lines inside and out were longer than I had ever seen them. I guess time of the year could influence it as well. Two hours should be fine. Good luck!

 

[OKW Lover]

I've found that 1 hour is adequate even with the security stuff you have to go through now. I fly 6-10 times a year and haven't had a problem at either end.

 

[Jeanne B]

If you happen to be flying Southwest definitely plan on being at MCO 2 hours early - they have long lines!!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I've found that 1 hour is adequate even with the security stuff you have to go through now. I fly 6-10 times a year and haven't had a problem at either end.

That seems a little close (unless you have pre-printed your boarding pass!). Many times during the holidays (or busy periods) it would take this long just to check bags and receve boarding passes.

 

[jonemick]

We have had very long lines for Delta and Southwest at the Orlando airport. I would plan to be at the airport at least 2-hours early for these two airlines.

 

[ttfn3]

We also fly Delta and Southwest and the lines can be huge at the Orlando airport on the weekends. I would vote for 2 hours so you don't feel like you have to RUSH. One hour would really be cutting to way too close. I also encourage you to check in online prior to going to airport if you can. If you have a Delta FF card, you can also bypass the check-in line and use one of the kiosks to check-in & getting luggage checked in to avoid long lines. I also couldn't believe how long the security lines are now. It can take a bit to get thru security.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Here's what American Airlines says:

http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/travelHelp/airportExpectations.jhtml

Please notice that the table of minimum arrival times and baggage check-in requirements shows:

Domestic Travel (except departing Hawaii or U.S. Virgin Islands), No Baggage to Check -- 60 minutes
Domestic Travel (except departing Hawaii or U.S. Virgin Islands), Checking Baggage -- 90 minutes​

But then notice that under, "Due to lengthy TSA security checkpoint waiting times, earlier arrivals are recommended at the following airports," Orlando is one of 11 airports listed.

Other airlines may have other guidelines. Check your airline's website.

The problem with planning to arrive at the airport just 60 minutes before your flight is that delays occur, even with the best of planning, both before you get to the airport and after you arrive. What about traffic on the way to aircraft? Or a lane closure due to construction or an accident? What about a slow rental car return or a delayed pickup by a towncar or motorcoach? What about a long line at the check-in counter and/or at the TSA security checkpoint? And Orlando is a big airport; it takes a while to navigate from the curb to the gate.

Also, keep in mind that aircraft loading begins around 30 minutes before scheduled departure, and that airlines have rules about when you have to arrive at the gate. If you're running late, you could arrive at the gate before they close the aircraft door, but the airline may already have given your seat to someone else -- and you have to fly standby on a later flight.

We try to arrive two hours before departure time. If there are no delays, we have an hour for a nice table service meal, even when you allow for security and for boarding 30 minutes before departure. After all, the airlines don't feed you any more ion domestic flights. If we run into delays, we still have time for a fast food meal.

 

[DebbieB]

It took us a good 20-25 minutes to get through security on the Delta/SW end last month.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I've found that 1 hour is adequate even with the security stuff you have to go through now. I fly 6-10 times a year and haven't had a problem at either end.

1 hour has done my family fine -- and we fly a lot. The only times we've had problems, the problems have been totally unrelated to our arrival time.

 

[agnes!]

As others have said, it depends on when you're travelling, both time of day *and* the day of the week. I know that if I have to leave Orlando on a Sunday morning, that I will allow extra time for security lines, since that morning is supposed to be the most crowded time to leave. That being said, usually the security lines at MCO move very quickly & I think the screeners are some of the best. The only time I ran into a really slow line was when we got funnelled into the handicapped line & the various folks who needed extra screening for various reasons kept on getting bumped ahead of us while we stood there...which might have seemed aggravating at the time, but didn't actually delay us that much.

My DH flies out of Reagan National on a weekly basis, he is usually walking into the airport terminal about 50 minutes before his flight. It used to be he could get there around 40 minutes(or less!) before his flight, but carriers have both cut back on flights to Chicago, so the flights that remain are more crowded than they used to be.

agnes!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

1 hour has done my family fine -- and we fly a lot. The only times we've had problems, the problems have been totally unrelated to our arrival time.

Like Hoarce mentioned, theres no way (especially out of MCO) to plan the problems you can run into. An hour prior to flight time is WAY too close for most people. Unless your into taking a gamble and rushing to the gate, this probibly isnt a good idea!

 

[Lewisc]

Don't cut the time close if you're taking a charter flight, an overseas flight or the last flight of the day. If you miss a JetBlue flight to JFK they'll probably be able to get you on a later flight the same day. Miss one of the discount charter type airlines and it might take days before you get a flight. Some of the airlines like USA300 doesn't even have flights every day. You really don't want to be paying for a full fare ticket on another airline.

 

[JMD]

I've found that 1 hour is adequate even with the security stuff you have to go through now. I fly 6-10 times a year and haven't had a problem at either end.

I agree.

I fly all the time, and 1 hour is always more than adequate. There have been times where I have checked in online, printed my boarding passes beforehand and arrived at the airport 30-45 minutes before a flight, and still had plenty of time to spare. I have flown out of busy airports like LGA and JFK and never needed more than an hour.

2 hours is way overkill, imo.

 

[Lewisc]

I agree.

I fly all the time, and 1 hour is always more than adequate. There have been times where I have checked in online, printed my boarding passes beforehand and arrived at the airport 30-45 minutes before a flight, and still had plenty of time to spare. I have flown out of busy airports like LGA and JFK and never needed more than an hour.

2 hours is way overkill, imo.

During peak travel days/times TSA security lines at MCO can approach 1 hour. The suggested time at MCO is 1.5 hours. It's generally only an hour at LGA and JFK.

Look at the suggested arrival times at the airline website. MCO is one of the airports with longer waits.

 

[Chicago526]

Generally, 60 minutes is fine if...

You aren't checking bags
Everyone in your party is able bodied
You aren't traveling with young children

90 minutes should be given if...

Any of the above apply and you are not travling durring a busy day/week/month.

2 hours should be given if you have several (or all) of the issues listed above.

Also. Some airports REQUIRE you to be checked in for your flight 60 minutes prior to your flight or they will not let you on the flight. I found this out the hard way when a client of mine tried to check in 55 minutes prior and was told that the Portland, OR Airport requires 60 minutes due to lines at security. They were denied boarding, all later flights were sold out, and Delta refused to give them a refund (it's the airport's policy, not the airlines, so Delta said tough luck).