- On a domestic flight, it is advisable to be between 60 and 90 minutes before, depending on the luggage, but this is not the only factor to take into account.
- If you are going to take a long flight, it is better that you go 2 or 3 hours in advance since check-in and the boarding gate usually close earlier than on shorter flights.
Flying is one of the best experiences, but going through an airport can sometimes become torture. It is just as inconvenient not to arrive on time and having to rush, as it is to go too many hours before and spend unnecessary waiting time.
Therefore, here are the keys to know How Early to Arrive at Airport. Although there is no exact calculation, these are the factors that you have to take into account for your trip.
Domestic flights
It is popularly thought that you have to be at the airport two hours before, but this is outdated today, and this rule is only complied with in certain cases. For domestic flights in which you only carry hand luggage (medium size bag or backpack and small suitcase) being there an hour before is enough.
If you have to check in, it is advisable to arrive 90 minutes in advance. In addition, it is recommended that you review the baggage policy of the companies to make sure you do not overpay for your bags.
International flight
Taking Domestic flight is not the same as traveling to another country. If the destination country is within the European Union, there will hardly be any changes in this regard. But if you are traveling outside the EU or it is a long-term flight, things get a bit complicated.
If it is a long or international flight, it is recommended that you arrive two hours before. And it is that in these cases, billing usually opens 2 hours before and closes around 60 minutes before the scheduled departure, just as the boarding gate also closes before. It is likely that on a long flight you will spend a long time sitting on the plane with the doors closed. So it’s better to go early, because once the doors close they won’t let you through even if the plane is still on the ground. Going between 2 and 3 hours before will be enough.
Traveling with children
Nor is it the same to go alone, or accompanied by children, the elderly or dependents or even a large group. All this changes the times, so if this is your case, it is better that you add another half hour in advance to be able to go calm.
In High season
If you are going to travel in the middle of August, the most normal thing is that the queues and waiting times intensify, both for the counters and at the security control. Even on arrival at the airport itself, with traffic jams or delays in public transport. In high season it is better to also go half an hour earlier than normal.
What airport are you flying from?
You must take into account which airport you are leaving from, because the situation changes a lot in a large airport, such as Madrid or Barcelona. In these cases you have to take a transport to go from one terminal to another, so the times are longer. Before leaving home, check from which terminal your plane leaves so you can better control the times.
Low cost, furthest slopes
Low cost flights They are increasingly common and it must be considered that their price is lower because they pay less for the runways and boarding gates. For this reason, they are usually the furthest away and it is something to assume.