how early to get to airport?

[Teresa Pitman]

I'm flying to Orlando on the 17th, with Air Transat. This is my first time flying with Air Transat. The flight leaves at 6:30 in the morning, and I just noticed on my e-ticket that I'm supposed to be at the airport THREE HOURS before the departure time. Is that for real?? Is the airport actually open at 3:30 in the morning? I usually try to get there 2 hours or 90 minutes early for international flights, and an hour for within Canada. But three hours seems a bit much, especially so early in the morning.

I tried to call the phone number on the ticket but after sitting on hold for 45 minutes I gave up.

Anyone know about this?

Teresa

 

[Ham Ham]

Love to help just a few details required.

Which airport are you departing from?
Are you familiar with the airport? Do you know you way around?
Do you clear US customs here in Canada or at the destination?
Which day of the week are you traveling?
Is your party large?
Are you checking luggage or just using carry on?
Any special needs? Infants, excess baggage,folks with limited mobility.
Are you being dropped off at the airport, using a shuttle from a hotel, parking on/ off site?
Are you familiar what is not allowed to be brought on the plane with you?

I generally find 90 minutes enough time at Pearson (Toronto). But I'm sure folks have plenty of horror stories.

The three hour rule is a CYA thing by the airlines and CATSA.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Pearson airport
I'm reasonably familiar with it, have flown from there quite a few times (at least five times last year).
I don't know if I clear customs here or at the other end. Is there a way to find out?
It's a Sunday morning.
I am the only one on the ticket, although I have a friend and her son who will be on the same flight.
I will be checking one suitcase.
No special needs.
My son is planning to drop me off at the airport (and is not too impressed by the idea of being there at 3:30 a.m....)
Yes, I'm familiar with what I can't bring in my carry-on and won't have anything that is a problem.

Teresa

 

[MaryannF]

We did the 6:30 am Air Transat flight in 2000. It was the first time we had flown that early in the morning and we went by what it said on the ticket. I phoned the airline a few days before departure to confirm that we needed to be at the airport 3 hours in advance and the standard response was to go by what it said on the ticket. We got to the airport at 4am. The check-in desk did not open until 4:30. Immigration did not open until 5. We spent a lot of time standing around waiting. Things may have changed since then so maybe someone who has flown recently can give you a better insight.

 

[Ham Ham]

Pearson airport
I'm reasonably familiar with it, have flown from there quite a few times (at least five times last year).
I don't know if I clear customs here or at the other end. Is there a way to find out?
It's a Sunday morning.
I am the only one on the ticket, although I have a friend and her son who will be on the same flight.
I will be checking one suitcase.
No special needs.
My son is planning to drop me off at the airport (and is not too impressed by the idea of being there at 3:30 a.m....)
Yes, I'm familiar with what I can't bring in my carry-on and won't have anything that is a problem.

Teresa

Teresa.

You'll clear US customs at Pearson.
Morning are always busy at Pearson. It will be busier if there is inclement weather on the day you travel or the day before, this will impact your travel day
I'd be confident with arriving at 4:30-4:45.

Happy Traveling!

 

[lgaston]

In 2002, I flew Montreal-Orlando on a 6ish a.m. flight. It was late August and I can tell you that we got there at around 3 a.m. and already there were people in line. And it did take 3 hours to go through the whole airport-process, etc It wasn't Dorval, back then Airtransat flew out of Mirabel airport.

 

[NeverlandPixie]

If you're using the online check-in, you can cut your wait time down too.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We did the 6:30 am Air Transat flight in 2000. It was the first time we had flown that early in the morning and we went by what it said on the ticket. I phoned the airline a few days before departure to confirm that we needed to be at the airport 3 hours in advance and the standard response was to go by what it said on the ticket. We got to the airport at 4am. The check-in desk did not open until 4:30. Immigration did not open until 5. We spent a lot of time standing around waiting. Things may have changed since then so maybe someone who has flown recently can give you a better insight.

The above was pre-9/11.

I would recommend trying to be as close to the 3 hour mark as possible. AirTransat does not have dedicated check-in. Everyone flying with them is in one line(all flights). Last year we arrived 2.5 hours before our flight on a Sunday and we waited in the line for 45 minutes and then could not get seats together...BTW, they didn't even care that my small child had to sit alone. All in total from the line thru security to walking to the gate was about 2 hours.

If you need to clear US customs at YYZ that will add to your time.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Okay, I guess I'll be there at 3:30 a.m. Hope they don't ask me any difficult questions!!

Teresa

 

[Kurby]

good lord - 3 hours to go to florida??? they say 2 hours to London.

i've never been more then 3 hours taking my aunt over when she flies home after a visit but that's more because she likes to get to the hotel early and have a bit to eat with us (a last mini visit) and she's always been the first one through by at least 30 - 45 minutes. she flies comfy class (business class seats steerage i mean coach meals)

i'd love to find out when you come home if they were even open at 3.30am

you might find you're there for 30 - 60 minutes alone. maybe not if everyone is being told that and 25% actually do it.

 

[OntFamily]

Smaller airlines such as Air Transit, have check in times that are much earlier than most mainstream carriers. They usually close off check in much earlier, than say Air Canada or Westjet. For flights to Florida, the check in counter closes 60 minutes before take off. Why? One reason is that the same people who check you and your luggage in, are also the gate agents who ensure you get on the plane. They can't be both places at once.

It's a little more hassle to fly Air Transat, but people don't fly them because of convenience -- it's because of their lower air fares.

 

[grantclaire]

We flew AirTransat in 2006,0630 flight out of TO, I found them to be slow when checking in, we arrived at 0330 and there was a line forming. I had prebooked the seats but this did not speed things up. They seemed to be understaffed. I would get there early with snacks and a coffee. Just a heads up it is slow going at Orlando as well. The first day is rough but you have a great time after. Good luck!

 

[surfer_ed]

Other Airports are better than Pearson. I wonder if it is linked to the fact it has the highest landing fees of any major airport...sorry for the dig.

I have not flown Airtransat lately but I don't think 2 hours is enough anymore when flyning AirCanada or Westjet.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Okay, I guess I'll be there at 3:30 a.m. Hope they don't ask me any difficult questions!!

Teresa

"what's your name?" would be difficult for me at 3:30am.

It really stinks but that just how it is now.

 

[mollyseven]

No ,.....do not be there 3 hours ahead...That is absurd.
We just flew air transat to orlando in January and our flight was at 610am and we arrived 2 hours ahead and the check in staff was just starting....it's pointless. Also on the return flight...Magical express picked me up at 7am for my 11am return flight!!! I was at orlando airport by 740am and the air transat counter wasn't even open yet!!!
Next flight in march I am giving Magical express a different flight # so I can have a later pickup on the return.

2 hours is PLENTY.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

It also depends on the time of day you are travelling, and if it is a local or a flight within North America. I know here in Vancouver you have to be at the YVR (Vancouver International Airport) at least 3 hrs before a flight within North America no matter what time of day due to the high volume of flights arriving and departing 24/7. Sometimes it takes a l o n g time to clear customs here and the lineups to clear customs are so long at times that they enter the domestic terminal . It sounds like you should be okay with arriving around 2 or 1/2 hrs prior to departure especially due to the time of morning you are departing. Have a great time on your trip . For your information, here is the website for the Transport Security Agency, tsa.gov. Look under "For Travelers", and it will give you a complete listing of all things that are ok and not ok to put in your carryon, and what items are banned. May take all the guess work on trying to figure out what's safe to take with you, and what isn't.

 

[AndyMcV]

Hi Teresa

Wow, 3 hours seems rediculous. I'd say 2 hours especially if you have little kids.

One thing I wanted to mention that we did on our last 2 trips... we stayed the night before the flight at the Sheraton Gateway hotel in the Pearson airport. We made the reservation online and it was around $129 for the night. Wow was it a stress reliever. We drove up the day before and took our sweet time. Our kids loved the room as they got to see the airport and the flights land and take off right from the room. It was neat. It was a really nice hotel and the convenience was awesome. We woke up the day of the flight and got transfered over to the terminal.

Just a thought but I'd highly recommend it.

Andy

 

[dancin Disney style]

Let me just throw this out there............is it really worth possibly missing the flight over 1 hour? or the stress of standing in a line while the clock ticks closer to flight time?

 

[lisalonglash]

but if you check in 3 hours ahead and go through security, you can snooze in the departure lounge without any worries of missing your flight kwim?

You can never be too careful when it comes to airline rules in this post-9/11 era IMO

On the plus side, you'll be able to have breakfast before your flight in a leisurely manner!

 

[grantclaire]

We once spent 2 1/2 hours from the front doors to get to the plane at Pearson! You want some time after security for washroom breaks and for filling up water bottles. Another time it took just over 1 hour you never know!