What time to get to airport?

[Disneyvirg]

What time do we need to be to the airport prior to lift off? We have a 7 AM flight. We're flying SWA. Do we need to be there an hour early? Two hours?

 

[ParrotBill]

The prevailing wisdom is to arrive 2 hours prior to flight time.

We used magic express last week which was scheduled for pickup 3 hrs prior to hour flight time. After waiting for all people late for the bus (you know who you are, shame on you)... we got to the airport at 2 hours prior.

We had done resort checkin so our checked luggage was taken already and we had our boarding passes... saves a half hour of line time. Breezed through security and had an hour of free time to have lunch before our flight started boarding.

So you need to judge if you will be waiting on the luggage check line or not, and then how much time you want to have before boarding.

Another time, we arrived 90 minutes prior, and had a long line for luggage check, followed by a long line for security... and barely made our flight...we were the last few on before the door closed.

 

[missmun52]

I would say two hours would be best.

Last time we got to the airport with about 60-90 min. The line was really long at about 8 in the morning. Then the security line was really long, I mean really long. Then for some reson we had to take a little airport shuttle to the jet blue terminal, which I never knew about(never did this for any other airline), so that took time for loading ect. We were hot, and stressed out from running all aver the place! Never again, I would rather get there 2-3 hours before, wait and have breakfast or something.

The year before we went about the same time and there was no one in the lines, so better to be safe.

 

[kevgraub]

What time do we need to be to the airport prior to lift off? We have a 7 AM flight. We're flying SWA. Do we need to be there an hour early? Two hours?

It really depends a lot on your airport. The typical answer is 2 hours prior to your flight leaving. That will pretty much guarantee you making it in plenty of time.

However, some airports you can get there later and be just fine. We fly out of Kansas City, and the way that airport is set up (small terminals, separate security checkpoints for every 3-4 gates, etc.) you can get there 1 hour early and rarely have any problems at all.

For me, I would MUCH rather get to the airport 2 hours early, and have to sit and kill time for 1.5 hours, than get there 1 hour early and be stressed about making it on time.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

I don't know what your Iowa airport is like in the early morning.
In Boston, we're flying out of Logan at 7:15 am.
I'm calling a cab at 5:00am to take us to the airport, we'll do a curbside check-in, go through the security line at the gate entrance, then find a seat at the gate and sit for an hour waiting to board our flight. That's our routine.
Good Luck All,
Joe

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

What time do we need to be to the airport prior to lift off? We have a 7 AM flight. We're flying SWA. Do we need to be there an hour early? Two hours?

The reason to arrive 2 hours before scheduled departure is not because it routinely takes 2 hours to check in, clear security and get to the gate. The reason is that it provides a margin of safety if there are delays anywhere in the process.

Also, keep in mind that boarding is normally 30 minutes before scheduled departure. So if you arrive 2 hours before scheduled departure, you're really arriving 90 minutes before boarding.

If you're not at the gate 15 minutes before scheduled departure, and your flight is full, you face the risk of having your place on the plane released to another passenger. Also, the aircraft door is closed and locked 5 or 10 minutes before departure.

Ideally, you'll get to the gate with plenty of time to spare. There will be time to use the restroom, grab a sandwich (domestic economy flights no longer provide free meals), and relax with a book until boarding begins.