Arriving At Buffalo Airport: How Early Is Early Enough?

The general consensus is that passengers should arrive at Buffalo Airport at least an hour before their flight is due to depart. However, some travellers prefer to arrive two hours before their flight to be on the safe side, while others say that 30 minutes is plenty of time. One source suggests that passengers without TSA Pre can arrive at 4:30 or 4:45 for a 6am flight, while those with TSA Pre can arrive at 5am.

How long does it take to get through security at Buffalo Airport?

It takes around 15 minutes to get through security at Buffalo Airport, although some travellers have reported it taking as little as 5 minutes. One traveller said it took them 8 minutes to shuttle to arrivals and go through security, although they noted that it usually takes around 15 minutes.

If you have TSA Pre, you can arrive at the airport around 45 minutes before your flight. Without TSA Pre, it is recommended that you arrive between 4:30 and 4:45 before a 6 am flight. If you are not checking any bags, you can arrive at the airport at 5:30 for a 6 am flight.

If you are checking a bag, it is recommended that you arrive at the airport an hour before your flight. The airport opens at 4 am, so if you arrive earlier than this, you will have to wait around.

How long does it take to park at Buffalo Airport?

It is recommended that you arrive at Buffalo Airport at least an hour before your flight. However, some travellers report arriving as little as 30 minutes before their flight without issue. The airport opens at 4 am, so if you arrive before this time, you will have to wait around.

There are several off-site and on-site airport parking facilities in and around Buffalo Airport. The airport parking facilities are close to the airport and have a free shuttle service. You can also save money by parking at a hotel. The cost of parking depends on which option you choose, with prices ranging from $6.25 to $23 per day.

What time does Buffalo Airport open?

Buffalo Airport is open 24 hours a day, but the security checkpoint opens at 4 am. Most food concessions open at 5 am, including the Lake Erie Pub.

If you're catching an early flight, it's recommended that you arrive at the airport at least an hour before departure. However, some sources suggest that 30 minutes is enough time to get through security. If you have TSA Pre, 45 minutes should be plenty of time.

How early should I arrive if I have TSA Pre?

If you have TSA Pre, you can arrive at Buffalo Airport around 45 minutes to an hour before your flight. One source says that they have TSA Pre and usually arrive at the airport around 45 minutes to an hour before their flight, and they have never had an issue. Another source says that if you have TSA Pre, you can show up at 5am, but if you don't have TSA Pre, you should arrive at 4:30am to 4:45am.

If you are checking a bag, you should get to the airport an hour before your flight. One source says that they fly once a month for work out of Buffalo and they park their car an hour before their flight departs, and they have never had an issue. It usually takes them 15 minutes to shuttle to arrivals and go through security, but it only took them 8 minutes the last time they flew.

If you are not checking a bag, you can arrive at the airport at 5:30am if your flight boards at 6am. However, keep in mind that this is cutting it close, and you may want to arrive earlier to be safe. One source says that they got to LAX early once and security didn't open for an hour, so they had to stand around and wait.

To be safe, you may want to arrive at the airport two hours before your flight. One source says that they always get to the airport two hours early because they would rather sit around thinking they could have shown up an hour later than miss their flight and ruin the start of their vacation.

How early should I arrive if I don't have TSA Pre?

If you don't have TSA Pre, it is recommended that you arrive at Buffalo Airport at least 45 minutes to an hour before your flight. One source suggests that you can arrive 30 minutes before a flight and be fine most times, with an hour being the worst-case scenario. Another source suggests that you should arrive at the airport when it opens at 4 am, if you are not checking a bag.

Frequently asked questions