Don’t arrive at the airport three hours before your summer holiday flight – you need to get there even EARLIER
KNOWING when you need to arrive at the airport can be difficult, with different airlines and airports offering different advice.
Usually, passengers are told to check in two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before international – but that might not be enough anymore.
During the summer holidays and school breaks, busier airports mean longer lines, which in turn means it takes longer to reach your departure gate.
That’s why travel expert Stefanie Waldek recommends an even earlier arrival than normal.
She believes that it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to summer travel and said that she is always more prepared than she needs to be.
She wrote in Travel + Leisure: “Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport three hours before departure for international flights.
“Whether you’re traveling on a domestic or an international flight, it’s always best to err on the side of caution to avoid missing your flight.
“If you’re traveling over the holidays, over a school break, or in the summer, get to the airport even earlier than you normally would, as there will likely be long lines everywhere.”
For those who like to cut it fine, there are those who believe there are ways to reduce the amount of time you spend waiting at the airport.
Nicky Kelvin, head of The Points Guy, revealed his top tips for a stress-free airport experience.
First, the travel expert suggested: “It’s important to regularly check the airport arrival and departure boards online, as well as the airline’s website, as that is where you’ll find all of the most up-to-date information.”
Nicky also advised paying for priority boarding wherever possible to reduce waiting times.
He explained: “We recommend seeking out options for priority security lanes at airports which can be accessed for as little as £5 per person in some airports.
“Airline status and flying in premium cabins may also give you access to these lanes and help passengers avoid queues and use lounges as a place to relax in the midst of delays.”
Elsewhere, some people believe that choosing the security lane to the left could get you through quicker than if you turn right at security gates.
According to a user on online forum Quora, we subconsciously pick which side to line up on depending on our dominant hand.
The person wrote: “Because they are mostly right-handed, people choose the right line while the left one is often less busy.”
Meanwhile this simple airport mistake could result in you missing your flight.
And an easy plane ticket mistake could end up costing you money.