How early to be at the airport...flying out or Portland ME with Jet Blue.

[PhotobearSam]

We are driving from New Brunswick Canada to Portland Maine for a flight on Sunday Feb 21. We leave on the 6 am flight to JFK then on to Fort Myers, FL.
We are flying Jet Blue.


If the flight is at 6am, how early does one really have to be at the airport in Portland Maine?


We have been reading that we can bring one laptop and one carry on per person on the flight....is this current info?

We are thinking of staying at the Hampton Inn.....Is this a good choice in Portland?

Is there a place to buy breakfast after going through security?

Any other tips and info you can pass along?


It's our first time not flying through a Canadian city so it's all new to us. We would have chose Bangor but we really like shopping in Portland so we thought it would be a good place.

 

[ancestry]

The official answer is that you should arrive 2 hours prior to your departure.

I fly through Portland, Maine frequently as it is my "home" airport. Normally if I check in online and get my boarding passes; am not checking luggage and if I don't have an early morning flight I might push it to arrive only 75-90 minutes before.

However, in Portland, ME the early morning hours are the craziest! Nearly all of the flights out of Portland leave before 9:00 AM. There is only *one* security line which means everyone flying through the jetport goes through the same security line. In the mornings this line can be come ridculously long. For an early AM flight one day I was in line for well over an hour. Therefore anytime I have a flight prior to 9:00 AM I always arrive at least two hours in advance.

That being said, I don't normally travel on a Sunday so I'm not 100% sure what the travel pattern is on Sunday morning.

Can't help on the Hampton Inn as I haven't stayed there.

As for food there are some kiosks for sandwiches, fruit, and coffee open in the morning after you go through security but not major restaurants.

 

[Ka' eo]

Ditto, on the 6 am flight. I think there are 13-`15 flights that leave around 6 am. Definitely get there no later than 4:15 am or so. Do online check in and make sure you have all your carry ons free of liquids, knives, etc. That delay with security can make you lose you flight!

The hampton inn is fine and fairly close to the airport. They have the free parking for the week and shuttle there.

Most airlines allow one carry on and 1 personal item (computer/purse/etc)

Make sure you check your airlines requirements!

Have you checked airfare from Bangor? Allegiant Air has incredibly reasonable non-stops from there to Fla.

Happy Travels!

 

[PhotobearSam]

Thanks for the responses....I did check out allegiant air....We needed to fly into Fort Myers cause my Mom is in Port Charlotte. I did not want er to have to drive to Orlando to get us.


I will be there at 4 am and just happy to be on our way....

 

[drnriordan]

Arrival time at the Portland Jetport depends a lot on what day you are flying out. I frequently fly out of Portland for business on the weekday early morning flights and typically don't arrive until 5:00 AM. I usually have no problem getting through security with either no line or a very short line. It's likely more crowded if you fly early on the weekend days or, of course, during any shcool vacation weeks.