International check-in

masted75

Hi all.
We have been told to check-in (for a flight to Dominican Republic) 3 hours before the flight.
Can anyone advise us if it is really essential to be there that early. If we got there 2 and a half hours before the flight, would that be a problem in any way?

M4RKM

3 hours is just about right... depends on queues for security etc, and getting to the gate, international flights normally start boarding an hour before departure, so if your flight is at midday, you'll start getting on the plane at 11am, and it can take an hour to get through security at times, so that's 10am., and half hour for checking in, and blah blah

3 hours is best, because then if you're running late for whatever reason you have a bit of leeway... imagine if you ran late and only giving yourself 2 and a half hours, and you're delayed on teh way there, and you find that check in has already closed.. not the airlines fault you didn't try get there 3 hours before!

M

Pollycat

To be honest, unless I lived next door to the airport, I wouldn't risk turning up at check-in any later than it says on your tickets.

It's the start of your holiday, do you really want to be stressed because you're running late and are worrying about making check-in before it closes?

I've seen enough Airport/Airline programs to convince me that a wait in Departures is better than arguing with someone about being too late.

pinkcandyflossprincess

last time i checked in for a flight it was straight through, no time to browse in shops at all just one queue to the other and straight to boarding:eek:
same on the way back as well!
x

lolarentt

The cut off point of course is when check-in closes - as long as you're through by then you're OK. I'd have thought better to be safe than sorry - I always allow minimum 2 hours

Voyager2002

It depends which airport, and on the airline of course. Under normal circumstances, two hours would be adequate.

masted75

Thanks for the advice so far. The reason i asked is that the only train we can catch arrives around 7.30am (Manchester Airport) and the check-in time we were given is 7am. so i'm trying to decide if it's possible or not.
(taxi would be a lot more expensive)

Enterprise_1701C

Can't you find a cheap hotel or B&B near the airport and stay overnight?

I would never depend a train getting there on time - mind you, our trains are a little undependable round here! We do use trains but we always make sure there is at least one after that one that we could catch, just in case.

Voyager2002

Jane_Blackford wrote: »

Can't you find a cheap hotel or B&B near the airport and stay overnight?

I would never depend a train getting there on time - mind you, our trains are a little undependable round here! We do use trains but we always make sure there is at least one after that one that we could catch, just in case.

Before making this kind of plan I would check my travel insurance carefully. Perhaps it would be worth telephoning them to ask what would happen if a delayed train meant that I missed the flight.

masted75

Jane_Blackford wrote: »

Can't you find a cheap hotel or B&B near the airport and stay overnight?

That would be nice but it would be as expensive as the taxi option, so would still rather use the train if possible.

In_debt_5

I would never rely on getting a train that arrived that close to checkin at an airport. Trains can be cancelled so easy.

I would personally try and find a B&B or get a taxi. The cost must be worth not potentially missing you holiday flight.