What time to leave for airport?

[dtr_angel]

Wow, you'd think I have never done this before... I don't know why this is so hard for me to figure out. I guess that's because we're flying from a small airport an hour away instead of a large airport 2.5-3 hours away for the first time...

Our flight is at 6:40am. The airport is 70 miles from our house, all on the freeway. Google maps says it should take 1 hour 18 minutes to get there, but it never takes more than an hour to get there. We're flying out on a Thursday morning and do not anticipate any traffic at that time of morning. When we take early flights out of BWI or either of the DC airports, it doesn't matter how early we leave we always seem to get traffic along the way of people commuting to the city early for work(I assume). Where we are flying out of, I really don't anticipate that but I guess I should be prepared for anything. As I mentioned, the airport is a small municipal airport. We've never flown out of them before, but I know someone that does and says that there is never a line for security. The airport's website doesn't say how early to get there before the flight.

Any ideas when we should be leaving our house? Thanks!

 

[BDJazz]

My motto is that it is better to be very early than to be late. You can't catcha missed flight...

As a rule of thumb I arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before the flight is scheduled to takeoff. On the way back give yourselves extra time. Last trip we only gave ourselves an hour and a half but security at Orlando International was HORRIBLE that day. We waited an hour before we even got to the scanning machines. There were no set lines and everyone was trying to funnel from the main lobby area into 3 lines Not sure if this was an anomaly or if that is normal at Orlando airport. We almost missed our flight!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Best to plan extra time to get there. Would not want to start a vacation in a rush. As for Orlando airport get there a mini of 3 hours before your flight. Security can be 30 - 40 minute wait and if its a holiday it will be a longer wait.

 

[dtr_angel]

I'm not worried about the coming home part since we are using Disney's Magical Express

If we leave our house at 3 am, that get's us to the airport by 4 am. I'm afraid that might be too early?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

First, check with the airport on how long they recommend how early to be at the airport and when your airline starts checking bags. It sounds like a small one, so 90 minutes before your flight should be sufficient. I would leave at 4:00 AM to be at the airport by 5:00. That should give you plenty of time to check bags and go through security.

 

[backyardponder]

I'd leave early. I'd rather sit at an airport drinking coffee than having Murphy's Law take effect on the drive there.

 

[Obadiah Stane]

I hate doing the O J dash through the airport (minus the knife). I like to arrive 1.5 hours early at the Minneapolis / St Paul International Airport so as to leave myself plenty of time to get to the gate.

 

[sam_gordon]

Smaller airport = less lines (check in & security). I'd allow 90 minutes after arrival @ airport.
70 miles away = ~ 1 hour. I'd allow 90 minutes to allow for "unexpected" (one of our trips we got a flat tire on the way to the airport. We were able to stop & pump air into the tire to get us to the airport & had a mechanic come out to the airport while we were on vacation to swap the tire out).

So, with those two time, I'd leave 3 hours before the flight. Since the flight is at 6:40, I'd probably leave home ~3:30AM. Worst (or best) case scenario, you're at the airport at 4:30AM, through security by 5am. They'll probably start boarding around 6:15, so you only have to kill an hour. Enough time to grab something to drink/eat and read the paper.

If you leave at 4, even if everything goes perfect, you're sitting at the gate at 5:30AM. That's fine, but if you get something that ties you up, you could be doing the "mad dash".

Of course, my times include have 2-3 pieces of checked luggage and family in tow. If I'm by myself, I'd leave at 4.

 

[goofy4tink]

I agree with sam.....leave no more than 90 mins to get to the airport....just in case. Then you should be there about 90 mins before the flight departure time...so aim to arrive at the airport by 5ish. This has you leaving your house around 3:30ish. Or, find a hotel that is close to the airport and stay the night...that will give you an addt hour sleep.

 

[dtr_angel]

thanks for all the replies! It's just my husband and I, and we each will only have one carry on, and one checked piece of luggage. I'm going to leave at 3:30. If we have time to kill we can just nap while we wait. Hopefully there will be somewhere to grab some breakfast, we usually eat while we are waiting after we get through security - since I've never flown out of this airport before it's a learning experience

 

[LadyBeBop]

3:30 sounds like a good time.

My thinking...since it's a small airport, you might not be able to check in until a certain time. I've had to wait until 5 AM to check in...and that's for 6 AM flights. Made it through security easily since there was no one there, but that's the only time I'd allow an hour between check-in and take off.