What time to get to the airport for a 6 am flight?

[snoopy5386]

We never fly this early so forgive my question - but how early do I need to get to the airport for a 6 am flight? Tampa airport and just myself flying, no checked bags, but I will have a rental car to return. Do I really need to get there by 4 am?

 

[supersnoop]

What's the earliest flight that morning? Security may not open until 5am, and there could be a line. For a 6am flight, I try to be at the airport by 5am, but I have tsa precheck and generally don't check bags.

 

[Woodview]

Work backwards ..

6 am flight ...... boarding .... 5.30 am .......... going through security 4.45 am

check in 4.30 am ........ Drive into Car Rental Return .... Return car .... Walk to terminal

3.30 am

2 hour drive approx. from Disney 1.30 am


Alarm Call ???

This should give you time.

It is better to Arrive early than to run for plane & maybe Miss the flight.

 

[MillauFr]

Getting to the airport by 4:30a should give you plenty of time.

 

[AngiTN]

I'd find out what time Security opens.
At our local airport it isn't until 4:30 so it does you no good at all to arrive prior to that, you'll be standing there waiting.
And that's with flights that board at 5:15, depart at 5:45.

 

[NJ Goofy]

I agree with the 4:30 time, you shouldn't have an issue.

 

[snoopy5386]

Thankfully I'm not coming from Orlando, but about 20 mins away in Tampa. I will plan for 4:30.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Yet people arrive an hour early to stand in line for rope drop.
Even if security isn't open yet, how far back in line do you want to be?

MG

 

[sam_gordon]

Work backwards ..

6 am flight ...... boarding .... 5.30 am .......... going through security 4.45 am

check in 4.30 am ........ Drive into Car Rental Return .... Return car .... Walk to terminal

3.30 am

2 hour drive approx. from Disney 1.30 am


Alarm Call ???

This should give you time.

It is better to Arrive early than to run for plane & maybe Miss the flight.

An hour to return the car and walk to the terminal?

OP, I'd plan on arriving at 4:30.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

We do 6am all the time out of Chicago. Assuming you'll do online check-in and have an electronic boarding pass (because 2017 and also because the crack of dawn), your only concern is making it through security in time to board at 5:30. Security at TPA opens at 4:30. The TSA wait times site shows waits of 10 minutes or less before 6am at Tampa. (Just like Chicago Midway at that hour.) You're probably safe hitting TSA no later than 5am. To be safe, I'd aim to return the car at 4:30.

 

[a742246]

I would leave at 4:00, at the latest, to get to Tampa airport.