Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport three hours before departure for international flights. It's common for international flights to start boarding earlier than domestic flights (the aircraft are often larger and have higher passenger capacities), which accounts for the earlier recommendation.
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.
The General Guideline for How Early You Should Get to the Airport. 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.
Depending on the requirements of airport authorities, you will need to present a mobile boarding pass, a paper boarding pass printed out by you or a paper boarding pass picked up from the check-in desk.
Avoid eating heavy foods, especially spicy foods and foods that you wouldn't even normally eat. Eating something that could really upset your stomach, or give you something worse like food poisoning, isn't fun. It's best to eat healthy foods even if it's just 24 hours before your trip, this could help a lot!
Water fills you up. It also keeps you better hydrated at high altitudes. Both will leave you feeling better when the plane lands. Avoid caffeine, as it dehydrates and may leave you unable to sleep during the flight.
Adjust Your Circadian Rhythm. Unfortunately, jet lag just comes with the territory when it comes to long flights, especially if you're jumping multiple time zones. ...
Take Advantage of Moving Around While at the Terminals. ...
The earliest you can check your bags vary based on the airline and airport policies. But in general, the earliest time you can check your bags is 2-4 hours before flight time. Some may allow up to 6 hours, but most international flights won't accept check-in earlier than that.
Checking in online is far more convenient than checking in at the airport. However, if you have to check in special luggage such as bulky goods or a pet, you should rather use the classic method.
When you're traveling outside of the United States, we suggest arriving at least 3 hours prior to your departure. You must be checked in at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure. Additionally, we recommend being at the gate and ready to board 45 minutes before your scheduled departure time.