How Early Do I Need To Be At The Airport?

It’s the age-old question – just how early do I need to be at the airport? Are you torn between arriving early but having to sit around for ages & pay for refreshments or arriving later but running the risk of missing your flight? We are going to look at some common examples & airports to help you find a happy medium!

How early do I need to be at the airport?

Even during COVID the standard recommended arrival times still apply; that is 2 hours before flights in the UK & Europe and 3 hours before international flights outside of these locations. In most cases, this will give you plenty of time to check in, go through security & grab a bite to eat/drink before heading off to your gate to board.

Do I really need to be there that early?

As with every rule, there are exceptions that mean you move through the whole airport ‘process’ a little quicker…

If you are travelling off-peak check-in queues, security and even traffic to the airport shouldn’t be as busy. Off-peak is normally outside holiday times and away from early morning/evenings when business travellers maybe flying.
Do you know the airport & what size is it? If you know the airport well you’ll know roughly how long things take and where you need to go. Particularly if it’s a small airport you might find the 2/3 hour times excessive and adjust accordingly.
By arriving via train you are less likely to be affected by traffic jams or needing to find a parking space.
If you check-in online & use print-at-home or mobile boarding passes
If 1 applies and you are flying with hand-luggage only you can head straight to security line rather than the bag drop/check-n queue.
Do you have fast-track security? If not you can often book it on your local airports website. This can be a big time saver, particularly at peak times.

Are there any times I should arrive even earlier?

Whilst 2 hours before flights in the UK & Europe and 3 hours before international flights outside of these locations will suit most circumstances there are again some exceptions that might mean you will want to arrive even earlier…

If you are travelling peak (Christmas, New Years & Summer Holidays etc.) you may want to allow additional time and arrive an extra hour before the standard recommended time.
Do you know the airport? What size is it? If you aren’t familar with the airport, particularly if it’s a large one, it will take you longer to find where you are going.
Travelling with kids? Things can take a lot longer than expected so rather than rushing and stressing we think it’s better to allow extra time and arrive up to an extra hour before the standard recommended time. This way you also have plenty of time to head to the gate for priority boarding.
If you require extra assistance, for example, as a wheelchair user and need help getting around the airport its best to arrive early to make sure there is 1) time to find out where you need to go 2) time for assistance to help you through the airport.