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).

Checking in 2 hours before a flight is generally "OK" for domestic travel, but it is considered high-risk for international journeys in 2026. For domestic flights within the US, UK, or Australia, 2 hours provides a sufficient buffer for bag drop and security, provided you aren't traveling during a major holiday. However, for international flights, almost all major airlines and airports now officially recommend arriving at least 3 to 4 hours before departure. This extra time is necessary to navigate increasingly complex document checks (passports, visas, and digital health declarations), as well as longer lines at international security and customs. Most international check-in counters close strictly 60 to 75 minutes before the flight, and if there is a long queue at the bag drop, arriving only 2 hours early leaves you with zero margin for error. Additionally, many airports in 2026 are larger than ever, requiring significant time to reach gates that may be in a different terminal. For peace of mind and to avoid the stress of potentially being "locked out" of your flight, the 3-hour rule remains the gold standard for modern international travel.