What time should I get to the airport

[skittlesfirehawk]

My flight leaves at 6 15. I'm using magical express so I need to check my bag 45 min before the flight.i also gotta get through security and grab a small bite to eat.ive never checked in before and it's my first time flying.any other tips are most welcome.

 

[webworm]

I always arrive at the airport 2hrs prior to my flight time. This way there are no worries about the lineup to get through security.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

My flight leaves at 6 15. I'm using magical express so I need to check my bag 45 min before the flight.i also gotta get through security and grab a small bite to eat.ive never checked in before and it's my first time flying.any other tips are most welcome.

6:15 a.m. or 6:15 p.m.?

Are you asking about your home airport at the beginning of your trip or Orlando International at the end?

I'm an experienced, frequent flyer. I'm allowed to bypass long lines at the airline counter and at TSA security. Even so, I try to get to the airport 2 hours before scheduled departure. Flights board 30 minutes before departure.

It's not that I always need 90 minutes before boarding. Usually, I'm at the gate way too early, so I have a meal or a cup of coffee and I read or use my laptop.

However, the time cushion means that I'm still there on time, even if something goes wrong -- whether that's a traffic jam going to the airport or delays anywhere else in the process.

If you do not make it onto your flight, the consequences can be awful. And you can't blame the airline or the TSA, even if their lines caused you to miss boarding.

When returning home, Disney will assign your Disney's Magical Express (DME) pick-up time. If your flight is at 6:15 a.m., you won't be able to use Resort Airline Check-in (RAC), but if it's at 6:15 p.m., you can use RAC earlier in the day during RAC hours.

 

[skittlesfirehawk]

6am from Newark to Orlando

6:15 a.m. or 6:15 p.m.?

Are you asking about your home airport at the beginning of your trip or Orlando International at the end?

I'm an experienced, frequent flyer. I'm allowed to bypass long lines at the airline counter and at TSA security. Even so, I try to get to the airport 2 hours before scheduled departure. Flights board 30 minutes before departure.

It's not that I always need 90 minutes before boarding. Usually, I'm at the gate way too early, so I have a meal or a cup of coffee and I read or use my laptop.

However, the time cushion means that I'm still there on time, even if something goes wrong -- whether that's a traffic jam going to the airport or delays anywhere else in the process.

If you do not make it onto your flight, the consequences can be awful. And you can't blame the airline or the TSA, even if their lines caused you to miss boarding.

When returning home, Disney will assign your Disney's Magical Express (DME) pick-up time. If your flight is at 6:15 a.m., you won't be able to use Resort Airline Check-in (RAC), but if it's at 6:15 p.m., you can use RAC earlier in the day during RAC hours.

 

[ncc1701]

We always try to be there 2 hours before our flight. As a PP said you can stop for some food and read before your flight. We had trips when we only had a 5 minute wait to go thru TSA but others that were over 30 minutes. Since they start boarding 30 mins. ahead of takeoff 2 hours isn't as much time as you think.

 

[eangel12]

I say 2 hours too. Gives you enough time to get through without rushing. The last time we took an early morning flight, we were boarded and taxing out at the time it was supposed to leave gate. I think they like to TRY and stay on time throughout the day so the early flights are in the air pretty quickly!

Our flight leaves PHL at 7am and we are planning to get there at 5am with 2 toddlers!!

 

[Alesia]

Since it's your first time flying, it might not be a bad idea to shoot for 2 1/2 hours. If you're like me, the extra half hour will make you feel a lot more comfortable.

 

[mickeynut1]

Like the pp's, we arrive 2 hours prior to our flight. We are always there long before we need to be, but I'd rather be sitting by the gate with more than enough time to spare than hit delays on the way to the airport or back ups in security and have to run to the gate to catch the plane.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Two hours is a good rule of thumb. However, what time does the airlines counter open? Or TSA opening the security lines? I can't recall an airline counter or TSA security line opening before 5 AM? Even at a major airport.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Two hours is a good rule of thumb. However, what time does the airlines counter open? Or TSA opening the security lines? I can't recall an airline counter or TSA security line opening before 5 AM? Even at a major airport.

Each airline sets its own counter hours, but counters typically open around two hours before an airline's first flight of the day. For example, American Airlines at Orlando opens its counter at 4:30 a.m. The first two American Airlines flights at Orlando both depart at 6:30 a.m.

Orlando International has two TSA checkpoints. The West Checkpoint serves Airside 1 (gates 1-29) and Airside 3 (gates 30-59). The East Checkpoint serves Airside 2 (gates 100-129) and Airside 4 (gates 60-99).

Both Checkpoints are open 24 hours.

Both Checkpoints also offer PreCheck, allowing a simplified screening for pre-screened passengers (typically very frequent fliers), but PreCheck is only offered from 4:00 a.m to 7:30 p.m.