How Early Should I Get to the Airport?

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Are you usually that person at the airport sprinting to the departure gate, or are you the anxious flyer lurking around the boarding area for hours before takeoff? If you’ve ever done either, you’ve probably asked yourself: How early should I get to the airport?

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) advises, “You are encouraged to contact your airline as times may vary depending on the airport and date of travel. In general, please allow time for parking/shuttle transportation, airline check-in, obtaining a boarding pass, and going through the security screening process, which includes screening of your carry-on bag.

The time you need to get to your gate will depend on the airport, the time of day, whether you have TSA PreCheck, and whether you’re flying domestically or internationally. Here’s how early you should get to the airport.

Boarding Time vs Departure Time

When calculating how early you should get to the airport, make sure to take into consideration two important numbers: your flight’s boarding time and the time the gate closes. 

Your boarding time will be printed on your boarding pass. This is the time your flight will begin boarding. You should always plan to be at the gate well before boarding starts. For long-haul international flights, the boarding time can be up to an hour before departure.

Your ticket will also have a “door closes” time printed on it. This is the time that the door to the jetbridge will close, and it will not reopen. It’s generally 15-20 minutes before the departure time. If you are not boarded before the “door closes” time, you will miss your flight, even if you’re at the gate before the departure time.

Domestic Flights: How Early Should I Get to the Airport?

Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport two hours before your domestic flight departs. This leaves time for parking, shuttle transportation, check-in, and getting through security. If you’re skipping any of those steps (for example, if you already checked in online) and are traveling through a quiet airport, consider shaving off a half hour. You can check the average security wait time for your departure airport by downloading the MyTSA app.

Two hours might seem like plenty of time to leave for a domestic flight, but you may want to add 30 minutes depending on the airport and the time of year. Massive air hubs like Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson (the busiest in the country) can take 45 minutes to navigate across, even on off-peak days. And during busy holiday travel days like those leading up to Thanksgiving, it’s wise to add an hour for airports in major cities.

If you’re flying early in the morning, check when security opens at your airport. Not all airports are open 24 hours a day, and there’s no reason to arrive earlier than security or check-in opens. 

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If you have TSA PreCheck or CLEAR, you may be able to arrive at the airport as little as one hour before your domestic flight—just make sure you’re traveling through an airport that participates in the program. We recommend arriving at the airport one hour before boarding if you’re a member of an expedited screening program. This gives you some extra breathing room in case the TSA PreCheck lane isn’t open, the line is longer than anticipated, or you have to take a shuttle or walk far to your gate. 

International Flights: How Early Should I Get to the Airport?

Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport three hours before international flights. This is especially true for return trips to the U.S. since customs pre-screening and agriculture checks abroad can mean double the security checkpoints, adding lots of time to your journey to the gate, even in off-peak hours. Security and customs agents can’t be rushed, and there’s no guarantee that any agent will push you to the front of the line if you’re cutting it close to departure time. You’re also less likely to be able to check in online or get a mobile boarding pass in other countries than you are in the States.

However, it’s always worth consulting your airline and the website of the airport you’re departing from to get a better idea of what time to arrive. Some small airports may only require you to arrive two hours ahead of time and may not have adequate facilities for a longer wait. 

Airport Arrival Calculator

To calculate how early you should arrive at the airport, follow this formula:

• Start with a base of 120 minutes before a domestic flight and 180 minutes before an international flight
• If you’ve checked in online, subtract 30 minutes
• If you don’t have luggage to check, subtract 15 minutes
• If you have TSA PreCheck or Clear, subtract 15 minutes
• Traveling through a busy airport or at a peak time? Add 30 minutes
• Want time to eat before your flight? Add 30 minutes
• Need extra time to get through security because you’re traveling with kids or special equipment? Add 30 minutes.

Peak Hours and Busy Airports

If you’re flying during peak hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), on a weekend, or through a busy airport, err on the side of leaving too much time. Being early is always better than being late when it comes to air travel.

Budget extra time at the following airports. They’re all either among the world’s busiest or have U.S. Customs pre-screening abroad—which adds extra lines at your departure airport (but saves you time once you’ve landed).

• New York (JFK)
• Atlanta (ATL)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Dallas (DFW)
• Paris (CDG)
• Aruba (AUA)
• St. George, Bermuda (BDA)
• Bahamas (NAS and FPO)
• London Heathrow (LHR)
• Abu Dhabi (AUH)
• Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
• Shannon, Ireland (SNN)
• Canada (YYC, YEG, YHZ, YUL, YOW, YYZ, YVR, YWG)
• Tokyo Haneda (HND)
• Dubai (DXB)
• Athens, Greece (ATH)

When to Leave for the Airport

When deciding when to leave your house or hotel for the airport, you should add a safety buffer to your travel time. Build in an extra 15-30 minutes to ensure a stress-free journey, even if unexpected delays occur. Consider these tips:

1. If using a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, schedule your ride in advance to guarantee driver availability.
2. Use Google Maps’ time and date feature to check typical traffic patterns for your travel day and time.
3. For public transit, check the system’s website or app before departure to confirm everything is running on schedule.

By following these suggestions, you’ll reduce the risk of last-minute rushing and arrive at the airport with time to spare.

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