Arriving Early: How Many Hours Before Your Flight?

Getting to the airport early is essential to ensure you don't miss your flight. But how early is early enough? The general rule of thumb is to arrive at the airport at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. However, this can vary depending on several factors such as the size and busyness of the airport, the time of year, the number of people you're travelling with, and whether you have checked luggage. It's always a good idea to check your airline's guidelines and recommendations, especially during peak travel seasons, as arriving too early can also lead to unnecessary waiting around.

Domestic vs international flights

When it comes to air travel, it's always better to be safe than sorry. While you may not want to spend hours waiting at the airport, it's crucial to allow yourself enough time to account for any potential delays or issues that could cause you to miss your flight. So, how early should you arrive at the airport for a domestic versus an international flight? Let's break it down.

Domestic Flights:

Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport at least two hours before departure for domestic flights. This allows ample time for checking in, dropping off checked bags, going through security, and reaching your gate. However, this recommendation can vary depending on several factors.

If you're flying from a regional airport with smaller crowds, you may need less time, especially if you've checked in online, aren't checking bags, and have a programme like TSA PreCheck or Clear, which expedites security checks. In such cases, arriving 45 minutes to an hour early may suffice.

On the other hand, mega-airports like LAX tend to be extremely busy, even during non-peak times. If you're flying from such an airport, consider adding an extra 30 minutes to the recommended two hours. This buffer is even more crucial during peak travel times, such as holiday weekends or school breaks.

International Flights:

For international flights, the general recommendation is to arrive at the airport three hours before departure. This longer lead time is due to larger aircraft, higher passenger capacities, and the need for additional documentation checks.

As with domestic flights, you can streamline the process by checking in online, travelling with only carry-on luggage, and enrolling in expedited security programmes like TSA PreCheck. These steps may allow you to arrive just two hours before your international flight, especially at smaller, less busy airports.

However, during peak travel times or when travelling from notoriously busy airports, giving yourself three hours or more can significantly reduce pre-flight stress.

Additional Considerations:

When planning your arrival time, don't forget to account for parking or rental car return, which can add unexpected delays. If you require wheelchair assistance, most guidelines recommend arriving an additional hour earlier than the standard check-in time.

Ultimately, the decision of how early to arrive depends on your comfort level with risk and your familiarity with the airport. While you don't want to cut it too close, remember that arriving extremely early may result in some waiting time, which can be spent relaxing, enjoying airport amenities, or catching up on work.

Check-in times

For international flights, the recommended arrival time is generally extended to three hours. This is especially true for flights returning to certain countries, such as the United States, where customs pre-screening and agriculture checks can result in additional security checkpoints. It is worth noting that some smaller or less busy airports may only require a two-hour arrival time for international flights.

To ensure a smooth check-in process, it is advisable to check your airline's guidelines and requirements in advance. Additionally, reviewing the layout of the departure airport and the distance between terminals can help you allocate the necessary time. If you plan to check-in luggage, it is important to be mindful of the cut-off times, which are typically 40-45 minutes before departure for domestic flights.

Furthermore, the time of day and day of the week can impact the airport's busyness. Peak hours, typically between 9 am and 6 pm, as well as weekends, tend to be more crowded. During busy holiday seasons, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas, it is wise to allocate extra time.

By considering these factors and allowing some buffer time, you can ensure a stress-free check-in experience and avoid any last-minute rushing.

Baggage

When it comes to air travel, baggage is a key consideration in determining how early you should arrive at the airport. Here are some detailed instructions and tips to ensure a smooth journey:

Checked Baggage:

If you plan to check baggage, it's important to allow for additional time at the airport. Most airlines have specific cut-off times for checked baggage, which can vary by carrier and destination. For example, American Airlines doesn't allow checking bags more than 4 hours before departure from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Portland, Oregon (PDX), while the limit is 6 hours for Honolulu (HNL) and Savannah (SAV).

Delta Air Lines recommends arriving at the airport at least 2 hours before a domestic flight, with checked bags not being accepted more than 6 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Online Check-In:

Online check-in can save you time, especially if you have a seat and a ticket. Qantas, for instance, allows online check-in 24 hours before departure, closing 30 minutes before domestic departures and 90 minutes before international departures. This can save you about 30 minutes of queueing time.

Domestic vs. International Flights:

The recommended arrival time for international flights is generally longer than for domestic flights due to additional processes like passport control and potential bottlenecks at security. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least 1 hour in advance for domestic flights and at least 2 hours in advance for international flights.

Peak Travel Times:

It's important to consider the time of year and day of the week when planning your arrival time. Holidays, summer vacations, Monday mornings, and Friday afternoons tend to be busier, so you may want to add an extra 30 minutes to the recommended arrival time to account for longer lines and more traffic.

Airport Size and Structure:

Don't underestimate the time it takes to navigate large airports. Airports like JFK in New York or LAX in Los Angeles may require a shuttle to get between gates, so give yourself extra time to traverse the airport and reach your gate.

Even if you don't need to check-in, you'll need to drop off your bag at a counter. Some airlines offer self-service bag drop counters, which can be faster. Air Canada, for instance, allows passengers to drop off their bags as early as 4 hours before departure to reduce congestion at security and customs.

In summary, when travelling with checked baggage, it's advisable to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. However, always check your airline's specific recommendations and baggage cut-off times to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.

Time of day

The time of day you plan to travel can have a significant impact on how early you need to arrive at the airport. Airports tend to be busiest during the early morning and late afternoon/early evening, with the longest lines at security typically occurring between 5 am and 7 am, and again between 4 pm and 6 pm. If you can book a flight during off-peak hours, such as between 7 am and 8 am, or after 9:30 pm, you will likely encounter fewer crowds and shorter wait times.

If you are flying early in the morning, it is worth checking what time security opens at your airport, as not all airports are open 24 hours. There is no benefit to arriving before security or check-in opens.

It is also worth noting that the time of year can impact how busy the airport is, with holiday travel days, such as those leading up to Thanksgiving, typically resulting in longer wait times.

Group size

The number of people travelling in your group can have a significant impact on how early you should get to the airport. The bigger your party, the more time it can take to get everyone processed. Larger groups should always add a cushion to their airport arrival time to account for unexpected variables during the check-in and security processes.

If you are travelling with a family of five, for example, you should plan for more time. If you are travelling with anyone who requires assistance, you should also allow for extra time.

If you are travelling with children, you may want to give yourself some extra time so you're not rushing at the last minute. This is especially true if you need extra time for boarding.

If you are travelling with special equipment, you may need to add 30 minutes to your arrival time to get through security.

Frequently asked questions