How Early to be at Airport?

[katt789]

Hi,
It's been a while since I've flown internationally, and when I booked flights from Calgary down to Orlando, it said something like 3 hours in advance!
Is that really how early you need to be there?
With no children, 4 young adults going, how early would you be there?

 

[ChisJo]

It depends. We've flown through Calgary many times, and it truly depends on many many factors. What time of the year are you going? What time of day are you going? Who's working? (this seems to be a major one...if someone working in customs is having a bad day, you could too!).
We've gotten through customs and security in 45 minutes before, but last time we went through Calgary, it took us 2 hours! And this was at 11pm!

To play on the safer side, we always arrive no later than 2 hours before departure. We get our boarding passes online and we check our bags online. We have all of our security stuff ready to go in ziplock bags, and we try not to pack anything that may seem "suspicious" to not get searched (however, I get searched every single time....no matter what! Once, I even went without a carry on, and I got randomly picked to get a full body search...go figure!).

If we get through security and we still have oodles of time, we get something to eat or a couple of beers and just wait it out. In our opinion, its way better to get there early than to miss your flight.

 

[aristocat65]

3 hours seems a little bit much, but if that is what it says I'd do that. Keep in mind you'll have to clear US customs in Calgary and also go through security. For our flights coming up out of YVR to LAX it says to arrive 2 hours before. We usually end up sitting around for a while, but its better than rushing.

 

[nibab4]

Depending on how far you are from the airport can determine that also. I always give myself a three hour window at the airport, especially if I am not staying at an motel near the airport, as you never know what can happen on your drive there. ei.... road closure / detour due to accident. I rather be early than stressed.

J

 

[Tinkershelly]

Is this an early morning flight? We had a 6:30am departure from Halifax to Orlando through Newark. They say to be at the airport 3 hours early for international flights but the check in counter did not open until 5am, so we were there at 4:50, waited in line behind a few people and completed the whole process to arrive at the gate by 5:15. If we hadn't checked that and arrived at 3:30am we would have started the trip extra tired and cranky!

 

[motherof4]

I have the same question! Our flight leaves from Pearson at 4:50pm, on January 12th which is a Wednesday! How early should we be there? We have been flying from Buffalo the last 5 years so I have no clue with Pearson?

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

When flying from Moncton (small airport), I show up 1 hour before my flight. When I fly from Halifax (international airport), I show up 2 hours before my flight. So far I've had no issues.

With a larger airport you have many more people to get checked in and subsequently having to pass thorigh customs

 

[katt789]

We're flying out Tuesday May 3rd at 7:30am.
At this point, I'm thinking arriving around 5:15ish would be good.
Leaving the house at 4:30 the latest.
I've never had big problems with taking forever getting through security, but I haven't been though customs since 2007, what all does that entail?
SO clueless haha! But you guys are so helpful!

 

[mountain man]

I have the same question! Our flight leaves from Pearson at 4:50pm, on January 12th which is a Wednesday! How early should we be there? We have been flying from Buffalo the last 5 years so I have no clue with Pearson?

Keep in mind you do have to clear customs in Toronto as well as going through security.

 

[Miandrea]

It's better to be safe when flying out of Pearson. I always arrive at least 3 hours before. I would prefer to be relaxed on the other side then worry and be stuck in the US immigration line or security.

I've waited for over 2 hours to clear US immigration and then security in November. Have a great trip!