How much time do you allow at the airport?

• Cat Food Flambe'

  

  For those of you who fly, how much time do you allow to check in at the airport before a flight?
  
  I have a thing about not being late, especially when traveling. In fact, when fly, I actually get to the airport a full two hours before departure - NOTHING screws up a trip faster that missing the first leg of trip. I usually get as much done in my down-time at the gate as I would at the office. Besides, Delta screws things up often enough on their own without my adding to the chaos
  
  I flew to Portland OR today, via Minneapolis - while waiting at Columbus, between planes at MSP, and while leaving the gate at PDX I saw four full-blown temper tantrums being thrown by people who had missed their departure at an adjacent gate for one reason or another. The TSA lines at Columbus weren't bad at all today, and were very short at Portland as I left.
  
  I have co-workers who dismiss the airline recommendations of the 90-minute cushion, and on more than one occasion I've had to pinch-hit or re-arrange meetings because they missed their flights. It's a major pain in the ass, and I'm not shy about telling them so when it happens.
  
  I know there ARE occasions when stuff happens beyond your control. But - what are you going to do with the extra few minutes you gain with a last-minute arrival in light of lost time and ticket change fees? (OK - sex is a good excuse - if that's all the time you need!
• Fab1b

  

  90 mins to 2hrs for me. Hate being late, hate missing flights, hate something to happen to cause me to miss a flight so I leave plenty of time. Yes it can suck sitting around the airport for an extra hour, ect....but I'd rather do that than miss a flight for any reason!
• Ytowngirlinfla

  

  Always plan for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I like to kill time or catch a bite to eat before I get on a long flight.
• Gardens35

  Cat Food Flambe';833823 wrote:............ But - what are you going to do with the extra few minutes you gain with a last-minute arrival in light of lost time and ticket change fees? ....

  
  Call Muggsy. Duh!
• Cat Food Flambe'

  

  Gardens35;833847 wrote:Call Muggsy. Duh!

  Not now you won't - they cut off her cell phone last month for non-payment. She's on the prowl for a sugar grandpa - want me to give her your e-mail address?
• justincredible

  

  Usually about an hour more than I need. I always end up flying through security and just sit on my hands forever.
• Gardens35

  Sugar Grandpa.
• dave

  Pretty much only fly out of Dayton, I get there 1 hr early. When I'm coming home it depends on the airport, between 1.5 and 2 hrs.
• Curly J

  

  I like to get their at least 2 hours early. I don't mind sitting down and having some food with The Wife...and maybe a couple Bloody Marys.
• like_that

  

  All depends on the airport, but normally 45 min to and hour. I think its overrated getting there so early. If you check in online the night before, and print your ticket, you are already saving a good amount of time.
• sherm03

  

  It all depends on where I'm flying out of, what time I'm leaving, and what day it is. I've had flights that were at 6:00, and have gotten there before the security gates even opened. And there have also been times where I've parked my car about a half hour before board time, walked right through security, and right to the gate onto the plane. I usually like to leave an hour to an hour and a half when flying out of Cincy. I usually don't fly Delta...so the crowd going to the terminal is pretty sparse.
  
  I've had a few instances where we get out of meetings late in Chicago and I have to run through the airport to make my flight. I hate that feeling. I'd prefer to leave myself enough time so I can grab a beer or something instead of sprinting through the gate and to the terminal.
• Manhattan Buckeye

  Depends on the airport, domestic regional about 75 minutes, domestic major (O'Hare, Atlanta, DFW, Denver, etc.) and Int'l about 2 hours, sometimes even longer at major Int'l airports. The time spent at the bar/lounge is better than the time freaking out whether I'll make it through security and to the gate on time.
• Glory Days

  

  30-45 minutes depending on what it says on the ticket. only have really flown out of Akron/canton, pittsburgh, and savannah though.
• Belly35

  

  Depending on the airport... but in general about 1 1/2 -2 hours....
  
  My biggest problem is the late (delayed) landing and transfer from one plane to another .... and the gates are like at different ends of the airport ...
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Depends on if I'm flying international or not. Flying with the the US, I say 45 min before a flight. International I usually get there about an hour early. There really is no reason to get there 2 hours ahead of time. The airports tell you that so you'll be sitting around broed and spending money at their shops/restaurants.
• j_crazy

  

  Depends on the airport. Houston 1.5 hrs for lines. This morning out of lft I gave myself 45 minutes.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  I fly private. Losers.
• FatHobbit

  

  I also say it depends on the airport and destination. Columbus is pretty laid back and usually not very busy. I was running late once for an international flight and had to argue with them to print my boarding pass. It was less than an hour before the flight left and they said it was too late, but once I had the ticket I think I only had to wait five minutes in security and still had plenty of time. Flying back from Orlando (Disney) I was 3 hours early as they suggested, and needed every minute of it.
• gorocks99

  

  Depends on the airport, agreed. When I fly out of O'Hare I give myself 2 hours. Out of Northwest Arkansas, 45 minutes.
• raiderbuck

  45 minutes to an hour depending on the airport. Usually check in online and print boarding pass beforehand (seriously, if you're standing in line to print your boarding pass, then shoot yourself). I try to pack my stuff in a carry-on so I can avoid said check-in lines. The security screening line is bad enough at times. I also try to fly as comfortably as possible. Jeans, shoes I can take off easily, socks, minimal metal accessories, or just toss everything in my carry on bag and put it through the x-ray machine.
  
  Sometimes you can't help but stand in the check-in line (issues with tickets, you gotta check bags, etc.,.)...and when that happens I'll try to arrive 1-2 hours early.
• FatHobbit

  

  ernest_t_bass;834085 wrote:I fly private. Losers.

  
  
• ernest_t_bass

  

  FatHobbit;834103 wrote:

  
  Don't judge me.
• Curly J

  

  sherm03;833982 wrote:It all depends on where I'm flying out of, what time I'm leaving, and what day it is. I've had flights that were at 6:00, and have gotten there before the security gates even opened. And there have also been times where I've parked my car about a half hour before board time, walked right through security, and right to the gate onto the plane. I usually like to leave an hour to an hour and a half when flying out of Cincy. I usually don't fly Delta...so the crowd going to the terminal is pretty sparse.
  
  I've had a few instances where we get out of meetings late in Chicago and I have to run through the airport to make my flight. I hate that feeling. I'd prefer to leave myself enough time so I can grab a beer or something instead of sprinting through the gate and to the terminal.

  I guess I'd have to add it depends on the Airport and terminal. If it's Cincy and Delta I like to get there really early so I can hit Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. If the flight goes out of the other terminal I hate getting there too early. That other terminal is like a ghetto. ONE bagel shop open for early flights ??? WTF !!!
  
  Sherm, I did see where they will be transferring all the flights that are currently in Terminal 2 over to Terminal 3, Concourse A. That used to be a Delta concourse until they cut back service. That should be a lot nicer if they re-open restaurants/bars.
  
  Also. I fly out of a couple of little airports when we go out West to visit family. Some of these placed examine every piece of luggage manually prior to flight. These little airports can take up some time and have nothing to eat there except vending machines...if you are lucky.
• thavoice

  My brother, who flies alot, about 45 min before flight to be at the gate.
  
  Me.....I say 90 min to 2 hours. I dont fly a whole lot so I make sure I am early enough. I dont mind sitting around and waiting, usually some pretty attractive women around to watch.
• bigdaddy2003

  

  Ok since I have never flown before I have a question. What could possibly happen that you would need to be there 2 hours before flight?