What time to arrive at airport for a 6AM flight Saturday?

[eeyoresmom]

We are frequent fliers but always fly in the afternoon/evening during the week. We are flying out of Providence this Saturday. Our flight leaves at 6AM. We have to park the car in longterm parking, shuttle to terminal and check bags. Normally I plan to arrive at the parking lot 2 hours before the flight leaves but I'm thinking with such an early flight on a Saturday, we can sleep an extra half hour? Although, they may start boarding the plane very eary since it will already be there....just don't want to be hanging out at the gate so early that Dunkin' Donuts isn't even open!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I try to arrive at the airport around 2 hours before the scheduled departure time, regardless of the time of day. It usually means having an hour to have a quick meal and to sit in the gate area with a book or magazine. However, it can also mean having a cushion of time for unexpected delays anywhere between your home and the gate.

Early in the morning, there's the possibility of nighttime lane closures for highway repair. There's also the risk of an understaffed airline counter or an understaffed, backed-up TSA checkpoint.

Boarding normally begins 30 minutes before scheduled departure and ends 10-15 minutes before scheduled departure.

Sleeping an extra hour opens the real possibility of getting the gate too late to board.

 

[sam_gordon]

We are frequent fliers but always fly in the afternoon/evening during the week. We are flying out of Providence this Saturday. Our flight leaves at 6AM. We have to park the car in longterm parking, shuttle to terminal and check bags. Normally I plan to arrive at the parking lot 2 hours before the flight leaves but I'm thinking with such an early flight on a Saturday, we can sleep an extra half hour? Although, they may start boarding the plane very eary since it will already be there....just don't want to be hanging out at the gate so early that Dunkin' Donuts isn't even open!

Depends on the airport. At my airport, the last three times I've flown out (once with family, twice by myself), I went from the parking lot to sitting at the gate in about 25 minutes. For our next flight (7:10AM departure), I'm going to target getting there around 5:45. If it was Orlando airport, I'd want the entire 2 hours, if not more.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, We fly out of Providence all the time and usually do the 2 hour before and just wait at the gate ,get something to eat before we board. You COULD do 11/2 hours but I would stick closer to the 2 hours. The last time we flew out in late October it was a 6:10 am flight and I was surprised at how busy the airport was at that time!! Also if you are flying SWA the bag check-in outside tends to back up very quickly . Joan

 

[TheShea's]

Stay at hotel near airport?

 

[Jimsig]

Check the airports website as well as the airlines site and see what time everything opens and plan from there.

Depending on how many people are with you you could always drive to the drop off at thew airport leave everybody and the bags. That way only one fo you has to drop the car at long term and take the shuttle and best of all no bags to lug.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Thanks everyone. I didnt even think of the possibility of less staff. I will stick with my usual 2 hour cushion.

 

[dudspizza]

I have a flight out of MSP in a couple of months at 6:14am. I plan to be at the park n fly between 4:15-4:30, putting me in the terminal by 4:45. That will give me plenty of time to get to the gate.

Keep in mind, 6am flights seem early, but as soon as you step inside the terminal, it will not feel that early as the terminal will be bustling with people....... you'd never guess it is 5am.

Duds

 

[goofy4tink]

For a 6am flight, they will start boarding at 5:30. So, you really need to be at the gate no less than an hour before departure time. Then, you will want to grab something to eat, and use the restrooms one last time.
So, if you get to the parking lot for 4, you should be at the terminal by 4:15, and hopefully get through security quickly. You will be surprised by how many others will be there with you!! So, thru security by 4:40-4:45 and down to the gate.
I love flying out of TF Green..it's a terrific little airport, but it's getting busier and busier all the time!!!

 

[eeyoresmom]

It is, isn't it? We are very fortunate to have so many airports to chose from. TF Green is my favorite, however.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

depends on what time the airport opens to. I know the ticket counters here in Cleveland don't open till 5:00 a.m even if you have a 6:00 a.m flight. I usually get there early and sit on the floor in the ticket counter cue line.

 

[DebbieB]

That's what I was going to say - you may want to find out what time the ticket counter opens, taking into consideration there might be people already in line. That happened to me one time at LAX, I was there before the counter opened.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

We're doing a park, stay and flying out of Newark NJ on 4/13 at 6:06 am.
I was going to ask the people at the Hotel what time we need the shuttle to take us to the airport.
I was hoping it would be at about 4:30 am.
Has anybody shuttled from the hotel to the airport for a 6:00 am flight?
Good Luck All,
Joe