Arrive Early For Domestic Flights With Carry-On Only

If you're travelling with carry-on luggage only, you can save a lot of time at the airport. The general recommendation is to arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure for a domestic flight, but if you're only travelling with a carry-on, you may find that less than the recommendation is suitable for your needs and comfort level. This is because you can bypass the check-in counter and head straight for security.

The general recommendation is to arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight

However, several factors go into deciding how early you should arrive at the airport for any given flight. These include whether you're travelling domestically or internationally, travelling light or need to check luggage, what airport you're flying out of and what day of the week it is. If you have TSA PreCheck, are travelling with just a carry-on and are departing from a small airport, you may find that less than the recommended two hours is suitable for your needs and comfort level.

If you are checking luggage, you will need to allow for more time than if you are only bringing a carry-on. Most airlines require you to check your luggage at least 45 minutes before departure time for domestic flights and at least 60 minutes prior for international flights.

To ensure your airport experience goes as smoothly as possible, it's a good idea to travel with only a carry-on. This can save a lot of time, especially if you check in online.

You can check in for a domestic flight 30 minutes before departure

If you are travelling with carry-on luggage only, you can check in for a domestic flight 30 minutes before departure. This is because you can bypass the check-in counter and head straight to security. However, if you are checking in luggage, you will need to allow more time, as most airlines require you to check your luggage at least 45 minutes before departure time for domestic flights.

The general recommendation is to arrive at the airport two to three hours before a domestic flight. However, if you have TSA PreCheck, are travelling with just a carry-on, and are departing from a small airport, you may find that less than the recommended time is suitable for your needs and comfort level.

If you are flying domestically within the US, you don't have to get to the airport as early as you would for international travel. Nevertheless, it is still important to allow enough time to account for any potential delays or issues that may arise.

You can save time by bypassing the check-in counter and going straight to security

If you are travelling with carry-on luggage only, you can save time by bypassing the check-in counter and going straight to security. This is because you don't need to check in any bags, which can take a lot of time. The general recommendation is to arrive at the airport two to three hours before a domestic flight, but if you are travelling with carry-on luggage only, you may find that less than the recommended time is suitable for your needs and comfort level. However, you should still allow enough time to get through security, which can be busy and take longer than expected. It's also a good idea to check in online in advance, as this can save time at the airport.

If you are flying domestically within the US, you don't have to arrive at the airport as early as you would for international travel. The most often quoted recommendation is to arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure for a domestic flight. However, you generally need to check in for your flight at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time, whether you are checking bags or only travelling with a carry-on.

Most airlines require you to check your luggage at least 45 minutes before departure time for domestic flights and at least 60 minutes prior for international flights. So, if you are travelling with carry-on luggage only, you can save time by bypassing this step and going straight to security.

Overall, travelling with only a carry-on can save a lot of time, especially if you check in online. This can be especially useful if you are running late or have a tight connection.

If you have TSA PreCheck, you may not need to arrive two hours before your flight

If you're travelling with carry-on luggage only, you can save a lot of time at the airport. The general recommendation is to arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure for a domestic flight, but if you're not checking bags, you can head straight to security. If you have TSA PreCheck, you can save even more time. TSA PreCheck is available at more than 200 airports and 90+ airlines, and 99% of passengers wait less than 10 minutes. It's easy to enrol in TSA PreCheck online, and it costs $76. Children 17 and under can join an adult with TSA PreCheck when it appears on their boarding pass.

You can save time by travelling with only a carry-on and checking in online

If you're travelling with only a carry-on, you can save time by bypassing the check-in counter and heading straight to security. You can save even more time by checking in online.

The general recommendation is to arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure for a domestic flight. However, if you have TSA PreCheck, are travelling with just a carry-on and are departing from a small airport, you may find that less than the recommended time is suitable for your needs and comfort level.

If you are checking bags, you will need to allow for more time than if you are only bringing a carry-on. Most airlines require you to check your luggage at least 45 minutes before departure time for domestic flights and at least 60 minutes prior for international flights.

Frequently asked questions