In general, we all tend to hate waiting. In fact, most of us prefer very fast and efficient. We get frustrated by a slow internet speed or fast food that takes more than a minute. So why would we want to spend any extra time waiting? It’s probably best to think about giving yourself extra time as insurance. You never know what you are going to run into. Plus, there is something to be said about peace of mind. Why add additional stress to your day by trying to cut things too close? Of course, we don’t want to go overboard with too much time at the airport either. Flying is supposed to be a time saver so we don’t want to negate that with too much waiting. We’ll go over the recommended amount of time to allow at the airport as well as important factors to consider when planning how early to arrive.
How Early Should I Get to the Airport?
The general rule of thumb is to arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight, which has a lengthier check-in process. This amount of time should allow for checking in, going through security lines and getting to your gate. However, this recommended time can vary quite a bit depending on several other factors. We’ll go over them one by one.
Time and Day
The day of the week is a big factor in determining security wait times. For the most part, Tuesdays through Thursdays are slower or less popular flight days. On the other hand, Fridays through Mondays are typically busier. The actual time of your flight should be considered as well. Early morning flights before 8 a.m. and evening flights after 6 p.m. are the least popular and will usually have shorter lines. If you are flying at a busier point in the day, you may want to add additional time to the two or three hours. Likewise, if it’s a slower point, you may be able to cut some time out. However, the timing will also depend on some other factors.
Size of Group
If you are traveling by yourself or with another adult, chances are you will be quicker getting through check-in and security than a family of six. Small children, especially, may require more time if you need to carry them or allow for their walking speed. Of course, large groups of adults can also require more time. You don’t want to leave anyone behind so, naturally, you’ll be waiting for everyone to get through the check-in process.
Airport Size
It goes without saying that you can get through a small airport much faster than a large one. A large airport might mean waiting in lines for shuttles to the gate or more walking time as well as potentially navigating several buildings. However, a small and familiar airport could be speedy quick. According to World Atlas, the busiest airports in the United States include:
Checking Bags
If you plan on checking bags, you need to allow time for that as well. It’s possible that this could only add a few minutes of time during uncrowded times. However, it could be another long line during the busiest flying times.
Travel Time to Airport
Although travel time to the airport is extra and isn’t part of the overall time that you should actually be at the airport, it is still a factor. If roads are busy or there’s construction or inclement weather, your travel time to the airport will obviously be longer than expected. This extra time will eat into the time you have allocated to being at the airport.
Parking
Where you park also can eat away at your time. An offsite parking lot with a shuttle could take longer than expected. Even on-site parking could take longer than expected if the lots are busy and you have to park far from the entrance.
TSA PreCheck
If you become a member of TSA PreCheck, you will be able to get through security much more quickly, having access to a shorter line. Typically, you won’t even have to remove shoes or belts, which also helps to speed up time.
Mobile Check-In and Boarding Passes
Instead of waiting to check in at the airport, you have the option to do it right from home with the mobile app. You can even get your boarding passes electronically or print them off at home. This cuts out a lot of time if there are long waits for checking in, especially if you don’t have to check in baggage.
How Late Can I Get to the Airport?
After reading through all of the factors to consider, you may be thinking that you could potentially cut out a lot of time from the recommended two hours for domestic flights. So what’s the minimum amount of time you’d really need? Start by adding time to the boarding time—not the flight takeoff time. If your flight leaves at 4:00, but boarding is at 3:30, you will need to plan your time at the airport to get you to your gate at 3:30. If you have everything else working in your favor, you could get through security and to the gate in 15 minutes. This would be if you are traveling alone, have TSA PreCheck or are traveling at a non-busy time, aren’t checking bags and did the mobile check-in and boarding pass. Travel and parking time will also have to be taken into consideration. In this scenario, you would be in the airport 45 minutes before your flight leaves at 4:00. However, you might want to allow time to grab a coffee or use the restroom as well. And just remember that many airlines require you to be checked in for your flight 30-45 minutes before departure, so check this out beforehand and plan accordingly! Next Up: Make Sure Your Passport Is Renewed! Here Are the 50 Best Places to Travel Solo
