How early should you arrive at the airport to not miss your flight?

Many people miss their flights because they fail to reach the airport on time. It may be because they left their home at the last minute or got stuck in traffic. This is why practising caution and leaving for the airport a little early is recommended. However, this doesn’t mean that you reach the airport hours before and waste your time. Waiting for your flight for long hours may leave you exhausted and increase the possibility of jet lagging. This is why one needs to find that sweet spot in time when you are neither late nor too early. Here is what the airport and airlines recommend passengers reach on time.

What airports recommend?

Each airport has different policies and procedures. This is why it is difficult to predict the exact time it will take to get through the security check, baggage counter, and check-in desk. Some international airports suggest passengers arrive at the premises at least three hours before the departure time of the flight. On the other hand, some other airports allow passengers to track the current waiting time on their websites. By doing so, they enable flyers to plan the best time to reach the airport.

What is recommended by the airlines?

Similar to airports, airlines also have their own policies and rules regarding check-in time and procedure. They allow passengers only up to a certain time before the take-off. Most airlines recommend flyers check in and get through the baggage counter at least an hour before the boarding time for international flights. They advise passengers to reach the boarding gate two to three hours prior to the scheduled departure time. You can check the take-off time of the flight in real-time to reach on time.

What about the peak periods?

Passengers travelling during peak hours must arrive at the airport earlier than the recommended time. This will help ensure they get enough time to check in and get through the baggage counter without hassle. For most airlines, the peak period is on Friday and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. On these days, it will do you good to reach the airport an hour before the recommended time. Besides, on weekdays, air travellers should make it to the premises a little early if their slight is scheduled to take off between 6:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. 

How to make it on time to the airport?

To reach the airport on time, you should consider factors like travel time and traffic time. If you are a first-time flyer, take that into account and leave your home a little early. To make it on time, you can pre-book your cab or use the DTC buses that run every 30 minutes. These buses can drop you at the T2 bus stop or T3 bus stop.

So, these are a few recommendations flyers should follow in order to reach the airport on time.