What time do you arrive at airport w/ kids?

[trewin]

I need some advice- I can't get my son from school till noon, we are an hour from airport. Our flight leaves at 2:30. We will get to airport at 1:00, considering we have no traffic/bad accidents.

Is that enough time to make a 2:30 flight? We are traveling with two kids.

 

[maxiesmom]

What airport and what airline? I frequently arrive 90 minutes prior at my home airport, but it is a small, regional airport.

And how known are the roads around the airport for accidents?

 

[msjprincess]

Like the previous poster said, it depends on the airport. Are you driving yourself? Is there a shuttle to the terminal?

When I fly out of ISP that's plenty of time. But when I fly out of JFK or LGA I need to get there earlier.

 

[trewin]

Pittsburgh airport. And. There usually isn't traffic on a Typical weekday on route to airport. But hey, you never do know! I do know different two routes though. An yes there is a shuttle to terminal.

 

[trewin]

Flying Airtran. And we already have assigned seats so, that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[maxiesmom]

Flying Airtran. And we already have assigned seats so, that shouldn't be an issue.

How long the parking shuttle will take to get you and drop you off is a bit of a concern. But I would be more concerned with getting your bags checked, and with how long the security line could be. A quick check shows the line for security is 15 minutes right now. And they recommend you get to PIT 90 minutes before your flight, so you should be ok. But get there, and get checked in and through security. Don't dilly dally.

Oh, the parking lots show an average of 80% full right now too. So the airport is definitely not dead today.

 

[Greysword]

I would say that is not enough time.

If you pick your son up at noon, that means you'll be rolling out about 12:15-12:30PM. An hour drive (with no incidents, lights, traffic, detours, etc) means you will arrive on airport property at 1:15-1:30PM (an hour before the flight). You then need to park, get to the terminal, check-in/drop luggage/get boarding pass, go through security, get to gate all within 30 minutes time (usually begin boarding 30 min before departure).

Any snag at any point in the above of 15 min or more will likely cause a problem.

From the AirTran Contract of Carriage section 5 Check In:

a.
Boarding Passes
(1) General. Boarding Passes may be obtained at airtran.com or at the airport from Carrier at: (i) Check-In kiosks (where available), (ii) skycap podiums (where available), (iii) ticket counters, or (iv) departure gate podiums. Carrier reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to restrict Boarding Pass distribution to the departure gate podium.

b. Checkin Requirements
(1)Ten-Minute Rule. Failure of a Passenger to obtain a Boarding Pass and be present, available, and appropriate as described in Section 6 for boarding in the flight’s boarding gate area at least ten minutes before the scheduled departure time may result in cancellation of the Passenger’s reservation without notice at the Carrier’s sole discretion.

(2) Early Departure. Carrier reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to depart early when all Passengers issued Boarding Passes are onboard the aircraft. It is the Passenger’s responsibility to arrive at the departure airport with adequate time to allow for checkin requirements and security screening.

Just keep in mind the flight could depart early for any number of reasons (weather avoidance, clear the gate for another flight, avoidance of crew time-out restrictions, etc).

Luckily, the CoC (above) give a ten minute window instead of the standard 45 minutes to be at the gate. Plus to cover yourself, you'll need to check-in online and print a copy of your boarding pass, even if you plan to check bags and get another copy at the airport in the normal size, since the CoC indicates they can't leave early before all boarding passes are on the aircraft (and help prevent them from giving your seats away).

Good luck!

 

[Jimsig]

Also it can depend on how old the kids are. If they are smaller and still fit in a stroller you might want to consider that. Should be quicker getting them through the terminal pushing them then having them walk. When we fly out out Boston next week we plan on putting my 3 1/3 yo DD in a stroller, if we don't if might be likie trying to herd a cat She has not been in a stroller in months so it could be interesting, she very independent.

 

[amomma23]

I would get to the school early so you can get going right away. Leave time for the office to page him and to get his backpack, etc. so you can be pulling out at noon, not just getting there. Long term parking at PIT is out there. After you park and unload the car, it might be a few min. before a bus shows up to take you to the terminal. Security usually goes pretty smoothly, but when you're in a hurry...
It's going to be rushed, but I think you can do it. I would give the kids a pep talk on the way to the airport and let them know that you will need their full cooperation/help so that you can make it on time.

 

[daisymomof4]

I would say that is not enough time.

If you pick your son up at noon, that means you'll be rolling out about 12:15-12:30PM. An hour drive (with no incidents, lights, traffic, detours, etc) means you will arrive on airport property at 1:15-1:30PM (an hour before the flight). You then need to park, get to the terminal, check-in/drop luggage/get boarding pass, go through security, get to gate all within 30 minutes time (usually begin boarding 30 min before departure).

Any snag at any point in the above of 15 min or more will likely cause a problem.

From the AirTran Contract of Carriage section 5 Check In:



Just keep in mind the flight could depart early for any number of reasons (weather avoidance, clear the gate for another flight, avoidance of crew time-out restrictions, etc).

Luckily, the CoC (above) give a ten minute window instead of the standard 45 minutes to be at the gate. Plus to cover yourself, you'll need to check-in online and print a copy of your boarding pass, even if you plan to check bags and get another copy at the airport in the normal size, since the CoC indicates they can't leave early before all boarding passes are on the aircraft (and help prevent them from giving your seats away).

Good luck!

Great post!

OP, is there a car service from where you live to the airport? If you're really concerned it would be worth exploring costs of having a car (not shuttle) pick you up from home, pick up your son, then boogie straight to departures at the airport. It will save you the time parking at the car lot, waiting for the bus and then shuttling to the airport.

You could use the same service home, or maybe a shuttle that makes other stops that usually costs less. The overall cost may not be much more than parking long term. And it would probably be less than changing your departure time

 

[trewin]

Thanks for the responses- I am nervous just thinking about it.

I'm going to get him @ 11:30 and deal w/ a half day illegal absence if I have to. Better than losing possible thousands to miss a flight/trip! After all, it is only kindergarten- and he does well. A half hour longer still seems to be pushing it but it does ease my nerves a little!

Last time we flew, it was a breeze to get thru check in / security / to gate. Parking was a different story. I didn't even see this so called "shuttle" they speak of! So it was a hike w kids and luggage. I will have my husband drop me off w/ kids and luggage this time, so for better or worse, that can impact our time too.

 

[sam_gordon]

I will have my husband drop me off w/ kids and luggage this time, so for better or worse, that can impact our time too.

I wondered if you were going to have another adult. Here's another possible time saver... Check everyone in online the night before. hubby drops you, kids, and luggage off. You and kids get luggage checked in (either curb side or counter) while he's parking the car.

By the time he gets the car parked, hopefully you'll be done at the counter, and you all can go through security together.

The only possible "failure" I see is if there's a certain baggage limit/fee. If you're checking four bags and there's only three of you at the counter, do you pay extra for the other bag? But, my family of 5 went for a week long trip to Mexico and only checked 3 bags, so I would think you'd be ok.

 

[Minnesota!]

We aim to be at the airport 2.5 hours prior to flight. We typically fly out of HHH, and even though it's the smaller airport, we have waited in security over an hour at times. Eek. It was nerve racking!!!

Our flight on this Saturday is at 515pm - we will be to the airport no later than 215...we are flying out of the big airport and I know that there are still spring breaks going on so it might be crazy...

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Keep in mind that if you are checking luggage, you have to check your luggage a set amount of time before your flight (I don't know what airline you are flying, so can't check the time limit).

If your son is only in kindergarten, I don't understand why you have a problem. Just skip school that day.

 

[sam_gordon]

Keep in mind that if you are checking luggage, you have to check your luggage a set amount of time before your flight (I don't know what airline you are flying, so can't check the time limit).

If your son is only in kindergarten, I don't understand why you have a problem. Just skip school that day.

Let's please not start that debate.

 

[ironz]

Keep in mind that if you are checking luggage, you have to check your luggage a set amount of time before your flight (I don't know what airline you are flying, so can't check the time limit).

If your son is only in kindergarten, I don't understand why you have a problem. Just skip school that day.

But the bolded part of that post IS important.
People have reported not being able to check luggage if they arrive to the counter inside that time limit set by each airline (some are about 45 min prior to flight, I believe

 

[Greysword]

Let's please not start that debate.

Debate? I didn't hear anyone talk about parking at the Poly to visit MK

I would agree with Cyber, no school for you, kiddo...but that's just me then they'd have lots of time to get to the airport and checked in before flight time.

 

[PrincesCJM]

As a teacher, I feel comfortable saying that all you need to do is call him out for the day or dismiss him early at whatever time you want. There is no reason you should be worried about getting in trouble if you are giving the school notice. Truancy becomes an issue when students are not being reported as absent by their parents.

 

[drinkme]

I also am saying to keep your child out of school that day.

If not, then have your husband drop you & the kids off & do curbside checkin, have him park. Meet him at the gate.

I've dropped my husband off at the airport 45 min before his flight, and he had luggage to checkin (he always does the curbside). He usually flies the late flights, so it hasn't been a problem (yet).

Personally, I think you're pushing it. If anything were to happen, like heavy traffic, or your husband having to park very far and the shuttle takes too long, then you will be stressed out and possibly miss your flight. Doesn't it always seem that the time when you're running late with no extra time to spare is the time SOMETHING crazy happens. Don't start your vacation out so stressed.

HTH

 

[princessesintraining]

I also live about an hour from PIT. We arrive 2 hours beforehand with our kids to make it through parking, checking in, and security. Maybe consider parking at one of the off site lots. That's what we do and they pick us and our luggage at our car. We arrive at the airport about 10 minutes later dropped off at check-in. When we come home there is usually a shuttle within 10 minutes of getting our luggage waiting to take us to pick up our car.