How early should I arrive for a flight?

Airlines generally recommend arriving at the airport at least three hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic flight. There are a few considerations, though, and I usually treat each trip to the airport on a case-by-case basis.



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Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight. That said, there are many factors to consider that will help you decide how much time you should budget for at the airport.

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When you're traveling within the United States, we make the suggestion to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure. For most airports, you must be checked in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time (airports requiring additional time are listed below, Go to footer note).

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We recommend the two hours so that travelers have enough time to get dropped off or park their cars, check their bags and get through security to their gates.

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The TSA advises arriving at the airport two hours before your flight for domestic travel and three hours before for international travel.

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According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), there are tarmac delay rules that US airlines must follow: Carriers are not allowed to hold a domestic flight on the tarmac for more than three hours and an international flight for more than four hours, barring a couple of exceptions (like if the pilot deems it's ...

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In most cases, you will only need to go to check-in when you have checked-in online if you need to drop off an item of hold baggage. Please ensure that you are aware of the hand baggage requirements for your specific airline before you travel.

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Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight. That said, there are many factors to consider that will help you decide how much time you should budget for at the airport.

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To check-in and check bags at the airport, you must be there a certain amount of time before scheduled departure: Within the U.S. – 45 minutes. To or from destinations outside the U.S. – 60 minutes.

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Depending on the airline, travelers may be charged a rebooking fee to get on another flight. Some airlines may also charge the difference in airfare — meaning a missed flight can be a costly inconvenience.

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Arrive at the airport at least two hours ahead of your flight to make sure your PreCheck status is confirmed (if you aren't able to do so online or by phone). Be sure you are traveling through an airport with TSA PreCheck services.

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You shouldn't need to but it is wise to do so in case you have a problem with your phone at the airport. When you do save your boarding card to your phone, always ensure you have offline access to it on your home screen. Not only will you have immediate access but it may save you incurring data roaming charges.

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Yes, simply show your mobile boarding pass on a mobile phone, iPad, or Apple Watch and a valid form of identification to the TSA Agent at security to proceed.

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Yes, simply show your mobile boarding pass on a mobile phone, iPad, or Apple Watch and a valid form of identification to the TSA Agent at security to proceed. To board your flight, scan your mobile boarding pass by holding one of the devices listed above with your pass facing the scanner.

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Years ago, piston engines were undependable. Because of this, twin-engine aircraft were required to fly in range of a suitable airport for landing. In 1953, the FAA imposed what is known as the “60-minute rule” on two- and three-engine airplanes, disallowing them to fly more than 60 minutes outside the closest airport.

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As a result, Congress acted to strengthen training requirements for all passenger airline pilots, including, crucially, instituting what's known as the 1,500 hour rule: a regulation mandating that pilots earn a minimum of 1,500 real world flight hours before being allowed to work for an airline, with an adequate ...

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Beyond ensuring you can get on the plane, Keyes also notes there are other goodies to be had by checking in as early as you can on an airline's website or app. Sometimes airlines allow seat selection after check-in or at least have first pick compared to folks who check-in later, he says.

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As all the previous answers have printed out, 20 minutes prior to departure is about the closing time of the gate in most cases. You usually need to be at the airport at least an hour before departure, and in some cases even 3 hours is advisable.

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In-person at a staffed check-in counter at airport
  1. Passport (when traveling internationally)
  2. Flight information. Paper ticket (less and less common), OR. E-ticket with a confirmation number—usually sent via email if ticket is purchased online or through a travel agency, OR. Printed itinerary with a confirmation number.


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