How late can I leave it to the airport?

waamo

pattycake wrote: »

It obviously is a good few years since you have been to an airport. Two hours ahead is the minimum IMHO and following a trip to Manchester airport in the last couple of weeks, three hours. Bag drop a breeze but security chaotic plus the huge amount of building work at the airport which means traffic a nightmare.

I recently flew out of Manchester and can confirm it was chaotic. We spent over 30 minutes getting through security. Cut it too fine and you might well not get to go.

Why not pitch up in plenty of time and grab a coffee once you are through?

Voyager2002

A couple of years ago there was a thread on here about East Midlands airport... Getting through security took so long that if you had to wait for the Ryanair bag drop to open (two hours before departure time) and then went immediately to security, you would miss that flight.

Since the airports are run by private companies, they reduce staffing for security to the absolute minimum they can get away with to cut their wage bill. This obviously forces most people to arrive early, which increases revenue for the cafes, bars and shops. Win-win for the businesses, not much good for the passenger. Sadly there is not much you can do about it.

z1a

" How late can I leave it to the airport?"

Why would you? Once I'm checked in I'm on hols.

maman

IIRC the gate closing time is printed on the boarding card for Easyjet.


BUT....that's after you've arrived at the airport (allowing for traffic), queued through security, possibly been chosen for a bag check, potentially walked miles to the gate etc. etc.


Personally I wouldn't risk it and I plan two hours.

pollypenny

Manchester security was awful when we flew at the beginning of March, in spite of paying for fast track.

So many bags were selected for extra checks, the grumpy woman refused to answer my question about taking shoes off, articles had to be arranged in a particular order.

I stood waiting for my things for so long that I became really worried.

greenbee

Most airlines/airports recommend 2 hours in advance for short haul and 3 hours for long haul. I also leave a lot longer to get to the airport than the average travel time, so like soolin have at times been embarrassingly early for my flight... but I've also left the same time in the past and only just made my flight due to traffic delays plus a busy airport and queues at security (and I have fast track for most airlines).

I've been in some airports where the security queue has stretched all around the terminal when systems have been down/the previous day's flights were cancelled.

And I have plenty of colleagues who have missed flights as a result of planning 'just in time' arrivals. Doesn't make you popular with clients or colleagues when you do that...

ETA - Facebook has just come up with a picture taken in Oslo airport three years ago following unexpected snow and an IT failure. I queued from the platform getting off the train all the way to security - thankfully I'd been warned and was early as it took pretty much 3 hours to get from there to the gate!

barbarawright

If you're going to Gatwick or Heathrow it might take you 20 minutes just to get from the station / carpark to your gate even ignoring the time security will take. I find that if you have two hours, the time usually fills quite nicely with a meal and a drink but a couple of times it has filled less nicely with an endless queue at security. Also, if you plan to get there at the last minute, what happens if there's a traffic jam or delays on the tube?

Heedtheadvice

I echo the get there in plenty of time group!

Last time from Manchester there was an unattended bag. Everyone evacuated, travel and parking a nightmare, glad we planned on 2 and a half hours early plus 30mins contingency.
Still a rush, got to gate before closing time (just)......
.........and then the knock on effect was plane delayed!! But at least we travelled.

Some airports generally better than others so if, Dolly, you can be more specific regarding airport and time of day you may get more specific advice.

PoppyTaylor

The online check-in process does speed things up but I wouldn't leave it too late. Last year I went on a few city breaks and on one trip it took me 45 minutes to get through security, another took 30 minutes and then the other took about 5 minutes, we basically walked right through!

So you can never really tell how long it could take so I'd give it at least 90 minutes from arriving at the airport just so you're not cutting it too fine.

ibizafan_2

My OH was really exasperated with me last year when we turned up at BHX even before security opened at 4am for an early flight! However, as others have said, I’d rather be much too early and relax with a nice flat white and toasted sandwich in Costa than be rushing. Just the way I am.