Arriving Early For Domestic Flights: How Early Is Too Early?

When travelling by plane, it's important to know how early you need to arrive at the airport. While there's no one-size-fits-all answer, the general recommendation is to arrive two hours before your scheduled departure time for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. However, this can vary depending on factors such as luggage requirements, airport size, and day of the week. For example, if you're travelling with just a carry-on bag and have TSA PreCheck, you may be able to arrive at the airport with less time to spare. Ultimately, it's essential to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to navigate check-in, security, and boarding procedures without feeling rushed.

How early to arrive at the airport for a domestic flight: two hours before departure

It is recommended that you arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure time for a domestic flight. This is because you need to check in for your flight at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time, and you're required to be at the gate and ready to board 15 minutes before scheduled departure. If you are travelling internationally, you should arrive at the airport at least 90-120 minutes before departure.

However, there are several factors that can impact how early you should arrive at the airport. For example, if you are travelling with checked luggage, you may need to arrive earlier than if you are only travelling with a carry-on bag. The airport you are flying out of and the day of the week can also impact how early you should arrive. If you have TSA PreCheck, you may be able to arrive at the airport less than two hours before your domestic flight.

Check-in times for domestic flights: at least 30 minutes before departure

While there is no single rule of thumb for when to arrive at the airport for a domestic flight, the general recommendation is to arrive at least two hours before your scheduled departure time. This is to allow time for checking in, which must be done at least 30 minutes before your flight is due to leave. You also need to be at the gate and ready to board 15 minutes before departure.

If you are travelling with just a carry-on, you may find that you can arrive at the airport with less time to spare. However, if you are checking in luggage, you will need to allow more time.

Some airports require additional time for check-in, so it is always worth checking the requirements of your specific airport before you travel.

Boarding times for domestic flights: 15 minutes before departure

It is recommended that you arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure for a domestic flight. You need to check in for your flight at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. If you are travelling within the United States, you must be at the gate and ready to board 15 minutes before scheduled departure.

If you are travelling with just a carry-on, from a small airport, or have TSA PreCheck, you may find that you can arrive at the airport in less than the recommended time. However, if you are checking in luggage, you will need to allow extra time.

For international flights, the recommended arrival time is three hours before departure.

TSA PreCheck: less time may be needed at the airport

It is recommended that you 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 recommendation is suitable for your needs and comfort level.

TSA PreCheck reduces the hassle of going through security, but it doesn't make a huge difference in wait time anymore. About 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes. While 30 minutes may work at a small airport in the off-season, you may miss your flight if it's the day before Spring Break, you're at a large airport, or there's bad weather. It's also worth noting that most airlines board 30 minutes prior to takeoff time, so if you show up a few minutes before the gate closes, you may not have a place in the overhead storage.

One person said that they generally give themselves an hour, and they are based out of LAS. Another said that they do 30 minutes for their local airport, which is small, and an hour at bigger ones. At RDU, they've never had to wait in a line of more than five people, so they could show up 20 minutes before boarding and still have time for a coffee. Their go-to airline's terminal's wait for pre-check is never more than 10 minutes, except for holidays, so they often show up with just 30-20 minutes until boarding.

There is a fair TSA app that has wait times and opening hours for airports, which can help you decide how early you need to arrive.

Travelling with luggage: more time may be needed at the airport

It is recommended that you arrive at the airport two hours before your scheduled departure for a domestic flight. However, if you are travelling with luggage, you may need to allow for more time.

For most airports, you must be checked in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. You are also required to be at the gate and ready to board 15 minutes before scheduled departure. If you are travelling internationally, you may need to arrive at the airport even earlier.

If you are checking luggage, it is important to note that checked bags will not be accepted at the airport more than six hours prior to your scheduled departure time. Therefore, if you are planning to check luggage, you should aim to arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight, but no earlier than six hours in advance.

Additionally, the time you need to allow for checking in luggage may vary depending on the airport and the day of the week. For example, if you are departing from a small airport or travelling on a less busy day, you may find that you can check in your luggage more quickly and efficiently. On the other hand, if you are travelling during a busy period or from a large airport, you may need to allow for more time.

Overall, when travelling with luggage, it is generally recommended that you arrive at the airport at least two hours before your scheduled departure time for a domestic flight. However, it is important to consider the specific requirements and recommendations of your airline and airport, as well as any potential delays or issues that may arise when checking in your luggage.

Frequently asked questions