There are plenty of things travellers can agree on ahead of the trip they’ve been anticipating for all too long – but how early to get to the airport is one of the more subjective takes, up there with what to wear on a plane and long-haul flight essentials. You’ve checked in online, downloaded the boarding passes, and triple-checked your departure time, but when it comes to plotting an arrival at the airport, it can put quite a strain on friendships and relationships. While it pays to allow plenty of time before departure, it’s an all-too-common boast of frequent travellers that they’ve ‘nailed’ the process from airport car park to departure gate – some are committed to sailing through in just over an hour. We’ve rounded up the most frequently asked questions, plus takes from the airports, travel experts and some of the Condé Nast Traveller crew, to suss out the optimum amount of time to allow, whether you’re headed on a short domestic flight or a long-haul, bucket list journey.
Do I really need to go to the airport 3 hours early?
How early to get to the airport depends on where you’re headed. Heathrow Airport, the UK’s busiest airport and one of the busiest in the world, sums up the advice concisely online: “We recommend getting to the airport three hours before your flight if you're travelling internationally, or two hours if you're travelling domestically or to Europe.”
For most international flights, luggage drop-off points only open three hours before the flight, so unless you’re travelling light and looking to make the most of a lounge, or simply enjoy hanging around the airport, there’s little benefit to arriving earlier than this.
Is 2 hours enough time before a flight?
When flying from the UK’s (mostly) efficient aviation hubs, two hours allows enough time to catch a flight, especially if you’re travelling with hand luggage only. Gatwick Airport’s website advises, “There are multiple ways to check yourself and your bags in at London Gatwick, but make sure you arrive at least two hours before your flight.”
How early should you get to the airport with children?
Travelling with children adds a whole new dimension to the airport experience. Nappy changes, tantrums, you name it – there’s a whole new set of processes to factor in. We asked two Travellers how early they get to the airport with kids in mind.
Sarah Bannerman, Conde Nast Traveller’s commerce editor and mother to twins, says, "I've always been pretty relaxed about getting to the airport, and regardless of how far away I was travelling, I used to stick to the 90-minute pre-take-off rule. But then I met my husband, and he would rather arrive 7 hours early than 10 minutes late, so we've compromised. It has, however, done me a favour since having children, as literally everything takes twice as long, and factoring in extra snack, toilet, and dawdling time is essential. Now, I've made my peace with a two and a half hour airport stop, and funnily enough, it does make everything a little less stressful."
Senior commerce writer Lauren Burvill, who has two children under five, says, "I used to get major airport anxiety and make sure to arrive three hours before our flight. I was also the loser who would constantly be checking the screens for boarding times. But then my husband has Priority Pass lounge access through his American Express, and it's been such a game-changer. I'm a lot more relaxed when flying now. We've flown long haul a few times with both our little ones and we've got it down to a fine art. My baby is in the super-quick-to-collapse Yoyo pram, my four-year-old rides his snazzy scooter suitcase and we can wheel through airport security to the lounge pretty quickly now, so I tend to arrive two hours before a flight."
How can I save time at the airport?
“For frequent fliers and savvy travellers looking to arrive at the airport a little closer to their flight time, there are a few travel hacks you can consider,” says Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s senior communications director. "If you have hand luggage only, you can skip the luggage check-in queues and arrive at the airport a bit later. You can also check in online, pack light and print your boarding pass at home or use a mobile boarding pass. If you have hold luggage, you can also check whether your airline has a luggage drop-off kiosk for online check-in, which will also save you time.
“If you have the luxury of flexibility, it’s a good idea to try to travel during off-peak times throughout the year. That means not only could you bag a great deal, but you’ll also be avoiding the crowds. Skyscanner’s cheapest month search tool is a great way to see the best prices, usually for travel at off-peak times, at a glance. The same goes for the time of day you travel. Aiming for flights that leave between 7am - 8am will put you between heavier travel times in the early and mid-morning. Likewise, you’ll typically find fewer crowds in the late evening, around 9.30pm and later. It may mean missing out on a bit of extra sleep, but travelling during these times can save you time in queues once you get to the airport.”