How Early Should You Get to the Airport for an International Flight?
Airport lines can be unpredictable, which is why airlines recommend arriving well before your scheduled departure time.
How Early Should You Arrive at the Airport?
For Domestic Flights: 2 hours
For International Flights: 3 hours
Why Do Airlines Recommend Arriving So Early?
The main reason is to give you time to get through security. Sometimes you can get lucky, and the line moves quickly. Other times, you’re moving at a snail’s pace and obsessively checking your watch to see if you’re going to make it through in time to catch your flight.
When you arrive at the airport, first you have to find the check-in kiosk for your airline. If you haven’t checked in online or are checking bags, you’ll need to check in at a kiosk or speak to a gate agent.
Then you move on to security. This is where you place certain personal items and your carry-ons in bins on a moving belt to be screened. Depending on the particular airport’s security measures, you may be asked to remove your shoes, belt, electronics, or jacket and place those in the bins. Meanwhile, you’ll walk through a scanner yourself.
After that, you still want time to find your terminal, find your gate, and then make bathroom stops, grab a bite to eat if needed, and get settled as you wait for your plane to board.
Keep in mind that if your flight departs at 3:00 p.m., that doesn’t mean you need to get to the gate at 3:00 p.m. Boarding often starts 30+ minutes earlier. That’s the time your plane is supposed to leave, not the time you should be getting on it. If you get there at the departure time, the gate will be closed.
When Should You Arrive Earlier?
If you’re traveling during peak travel times, like holidays or summer vacation, it’s advisable to buffer in some more time to be safe.
What if You’re Late and Miss Your Flight?
If you’ve missed your flight, contact the airline right away.
If you haven’t reached the airport, call them.
If you’re already at the airport, speak to a gate agent or service desk for your airline. They may be able to get you on another flight or help prevent you from appearing as a “no show,” which would affect your connecting and returning flights.
If you have travel insurance, check your policy for any relevant benefits that may apply and, if so, call them.
Airport Arrival Times for Families
The recommendations above still apply: two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
Having said that, we know how stressful getting to places on time can be when you have kids. It never hurts to buffer in a little extra time. Your kids may be nervous about going through security, need multiple bathroom breaks, need snacks, need you to find something that was already packed away, etc.
You know your kids and what it’s like trying to get out of the house with them. If that’s always a long ordeal, give yourself a little extra time. It’s better to get there earlier and have to wait around for a little bit than to be stressed and racing through the airport with your luggage and a screaming kid.
Our Personal Airport Timing Strategy
We always make sure that we are inside the airport two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights. If we’re going through an unusually busy airport like London Heathrow or Atlanta, we may add in a little extra time.
Notice how I specified that we would be inside the airport by then. Finding parking or navigating public transportation can require patience.
We do our best to factor in the time of day, too. If we needed to be at the airport by 5:30 p.m., we’d have to take rush hour into account.
Quick FAQs
Is one hour enough for a domestic flight?
No. Get there two hours early to be safe. Even if you’re heading to a small airport, why risk missing your flight and causing unnecessary stress?
Is two hours enough for an international flight?
No. Absolutely not. You need a minimum of three hours to make sure you can get through security and to your gate.
Airport arrival time with kids:
For domestic flights, you need to be at the airport 2 hours early. For international flights, you need to be there 3 hours early. You know your kids best. If they’re not always cooperative or will want lots of snacks and time to burn off some energy, it never hurts to buffer in more time.
What happens if I’m late to the airport?
Contact the airline immediately. If you haven’t reached the airport yet, call them. If you’re already there, find a gate agent or service desk. Also, if you have travel insurance, check to see if your plan includes coverage for such things. If so, call them.
Do I need three hours before a flight?
If you are flying internationally, yes.
