A Complete Guide On How Early To Get To Airport Before Flight? 

Posted on Jan 27th, 2023 by Arjun Sharma, Last updated on Jan 27th, 2023

While getting ready to go to the airport to board the flight, some questions always pop up. For example – When should you check in for a flight? Or how early should I get to the airport? These questions are completely obvious to strike but you do not need to worry as we’ll let you know everything regarding the protocols for check-in for different airlines. 

Please note that there is no specific answer to these questions as it depends upon a lot many factors. But we will tell you some ways to come early and enjoy your buffer time by having a quick snack in the mid-time or rejuvenating yourself with a sound nap. Let’s get started. 

How Early To Get To The Airport To Board A Domestic Flight? 

Planning to board a domestic flight from the nearest airport and thinking about how early should I get to the airport. No worries! You must reach the airport two hours before the departure of the flight. Generally, there are far fewer formalities that you have to undergo if you are boarding a domestic flight.

What Time Should I Get To The Airport To Boarding An International Flight?

For boarding an international flight, you must reach at least three to four hours before boarding because of the formalities involved at the airport premises. It is always better to avoid the worst nightmare of missing a flight by reaching well on time. Some measures you can take to lower this time are as follows – 

• Check-in online:- By doing this, you will save a lot of time. You can see the status of your flight using our flight status tracker or you can go to the airline’s website for details. Facilities such as print-at-home boarding passes are also acceptable by the airports. Thus, you must go ahead with web check-in to save time. 

• Having no bags checked:- If all your bags are pre-checked and verified by the airport authorities, then you can ease out your journey a lot. This way, you do not need to go through all the security checks. You just need to check in before the required time and can save half an hour or more.

• Public Transportation:- Taking public transportation or a ride share to get to the airport can save you time because you won’t have to park your car or return a rental car. 

• Flying during off-peak hours:- You can consider reaching the airport a bit late if you are flying during the off-peak hours. That’s because there is not so much rush during the off-peak hours at the airport and road traffic is also minimal.

• TSA PreCheck:- If you are boarding an international flight from an established airport in an area, you might get an additional facility such as TSA precheck, where you will be able to get the TSA formalities done before reaching the airport. 

How Long To Get To The Airport Before Flight If Traveling Along With Kids? 

As a parent, you must be worried about how early should you get to the airport for boarding a flight. But there is no need to think much; you can reach the airport one hour prior to your pre-planned time schedule i.e. 2 hours. We all know that managing kids during a flight boarding process is a pretty daunting task. So you should manage your time better by arriving at the airport early. 

How Long Before Flight Should I Check In During COVID?

Worried about a question in mind like how long before a flight can you check in? Due to the rise of covid 19 fourth wave, some countries have applied some precautionary measures that everyone must follow. If you are planning to visit, then must read some latest guidelines for travelling to India. Most countries have made RT-PCR tests mandatory for passengers coming from China and other nearby countries.

How To Check The Flight Status Before Going To The Airport? 

You can check the flight status by going through our flight tracker tool where you just need to mention some basic information such as flight number, departure time, arrival date and time, etc. After filling in all the details, click on the search option after which you will get to see your flight details whether it is scheduled, delayed, departed, or cancelled. You can track your flight by going to the airlines’ portals as well.

How To Prepare For Jet Lag Before Boarding A Flight? 

To block out light and noise and make it easier to sleep, bring headphones, an eye mask, and earplugs with you. Stay awake on the flight if the destination is during the day. Follow the local time once you arrive.

Jet lag symptoms may be exacerbated by dehydration. Keep this in mind and drink a lot of water or other drinks on your flight. Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided because they can dehydrate you and disrupt your sleep. When you arrive at your destination, exposing your body to bright light can assist it in adjusting its circadian rhythm to your new schedule.

How Long Should You Arrive Before A Flight During Festival Season?

Thinking of how early to get to the airport during the festive season? Then, you should prefer to arrive at the airport earlier than usual. This is a result of the frequent overcrowding at the airport during this time. As a result, the optimal time to arrive at the airport is three hours before departure for domestic flights and four hours before departure for international flights.

How Long Does It Take To Get Through Airport Security?

While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends arriving at the airport two hours prior to a domestic flight’s departure time and three hours prior to an international flight’s departure time, there are a number of factors to consider before setting your arrival time at the airport. One of the many factors to take into consideration is whether you are flying domestically or internationally.

Popular Airports And Their Check-In Time

• Heathrow

For short-haul travel, two hours before your flight, and three hours for long-haul travel, respectively. Additionally, it stated that passengers should check with their airline.

• Gatwick

You should arrive at the airport at the time specified by your airline, which typically occurs three hours prior to long-haul flights and two hours prior to short-haul flights. 

• Stansted

It is recommended to reach two hours before short-haul flights and three hours before long-haul flights.

• Luton

You should arrive at the airport no earlier than the time specified by your airline, which is typically between two and three hours prior to your flight.

• Manchester

The time you need to be at the airport before your flight is specified by your airline. As a general rule, you should check in two hours before your flight departs and be prepared to go through security.

• Edinburgh

You should arrive at the airport when the check-in desk opens (two to three hours before the flight).

• Birmingham

In accordance with the opening times of the check-in desk, which vary by the airline; please check with your airline. Long-haul flights typically take three hours, while short-haul flights typically take two. Keen to know more? Then read how to survive a long-haul flight.

So, if you were waiting just to know how long to get to the airport before the flight, we hope that this blog might have resolved all your queries. And if you want to book your flights, then MyTicketsToIndia will be your ultimate travel partner to book flights from the UK to India at very cheap fares. 

Our customer support team is available around the clock i.e. 24/7 to help you through each step. If you give us a call, you can take advantage of hefty discounts of up to 40%. Else, you can join the live chat, and share your requirements, and we’ll curate the perfect itinerary for you under budget. 

About Arjun Sharma View All Posts

Arjun Sharma is a writer with a deep passion for helping people. He loves to read and learn. Staying positive, optimistic, and enthusiastic helps him a lot in generating creative ideas. His love for traveling is also immense and so is his knowledge of travel destinations. In a nutshell, writing, traveling, and reading are his strengths. And, oh, he is an avid bhangra lover too. When he’s not into words, he is into expressing emotions through his dance moves.