how long to leave before flight?

[ashpinoza]

i LOVE LOVE LOVE flying. lol. but i havent flown in quite a few years, and not since the newer, and tighter security measures. i know they say it takes a while longer now than used. how early should one arrive these days? we are leaving from an airport that isnt in a TOO busy area, but we are coming home from the san diego airport which im sure is pretty busy thanks for help

 

[krash2501]

The rule of thumb is 2 hours before your flight. This always gives you plenty of time to get though security and to the gate.

 

[Pomlover2586]

I second Krash- we ALWAYS get to the airport 2 hours ahead of departure time.....sometimes 2.5 if it's a busy airport like LAX, SFO, etc

 

[disneynerd420]

That's good to know... I was wondering as well since I will be flying in sept and have not flown since july 01'. A lot of things have changed since that time.

 

[teatime]

we always get to the airport 3 or more hours early, then we walk around and see whats going on, and if there is some things to buy. we found the coolest toys ever in the Orland airport last year! And we usually have a meal .

 

[ashpinoza]

we always get to the airport 3 or more hours early, then we walk around and see whats going on, and if there is some things to buy. we found the coolest toys ever in the Orland airport last year! And we usually have a meal .

i remember actually ALWAYS being there 2-3 hours before, and that was years back before all the new security measures. i think i was wondering if we had to be there like, 4 hours early now LOL but that is VERY good then. i didnt wanna be up at 4 am haha

 

[GrandBob]

Yep, 2 hours is a good rule of thumb, unless you know something about the local airport/gate to change it. As Pomlover said above, some airports are busy enough that you should add more time. OTOH, I know that the Southwest terminal at my local airport (SJC) is pretty efficient, and I only leave 1 to 1.5 hours for that. But in general, 2 hours should leave you plenty of time (except during holiday rush periods).

-Bob

 

[teatime]

i remember actually ALWAYS being there 2-3 hours before, and that was years back before all the new security measures. i think i was wondering if we had to be there like, 4 hours early now LOL but that is VERY good then. i didnt wanna be up at 4 am haha

yeah we are from a small town and the airport does not even open until an hour before hand so we take early flights and leave by 6:00 and get to the airport at 5:30 ( there is only a small load of people and no shops so no reason to get there early )
But when we fly home we usually take the bigger airports and love them since there is so much to see and do So thats why we get to them so early.
we are just country bumpkins, and the airports are as big as my city it seams. at least the airports have more stores
This time we fly out of a bigger air port, not much but they do have a snack bar and a lunch counter. and we do not fly out until 6:30 at night. then hit LAx ( never been to this one) so its going to be fun looking around there

 

[ashpinoza]

yeah we are from a small town and the airport does not even open until an hour before hand so we take early flights and leave by 6:00 and get to the airport at 5:30 ( there is only a small load of people and no shops so no reason to get there early )
But when we fly home we usually take the bigger airports and love them since there is so much to see and do So thats why we get to them so early.
we are just country bumpkins, and the airports are as big as my city it seams. at least the airports have more stores
This time we fly out of a bigger air port, not much but they do have a snack bar and a lunch counter. and we do not fly out until 6:30 at night. then hit LAx ( never been to this one) so its going to be fun looking around there

yeah see our airport is pretty small too. we live in the country area as well, and the port we fly out of is in a city an hour away but even then still is not very big. this way we can leave at 6 and be there on time