While most people love to go on vacation, dealing with the airport is a whole other story, and one of the biggest issues facing travelers is how early they should get to the airport before a flight. Airports and the TSA recommended travelers arrive three hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic flight, but is all that time really necessary?
The truth is, it really does depend on a variety of things. Believe it or not, some airlines donât actually think that much time is needed. American Airlines suggests folks arrive two hours before an international flight, and 90 minutes before a domestic one, while United says that if youâre not checking luggage you could probably arrive about 60 minutes prior to your domestic departure and 90 minutes for international.
Of course before making a decision, you need to look at where the recommendations are coming from. For example, airports may want you there early so you can use the extra time to shop in their stores or grab a meal, while TSA wants you there so they donât feel rushed. On the flipside, airlines would rather youâre there later so youâre not hovering at the gate for hours.
At the end of the day, nobody wants to miss a flight, so the decision is yours. If youâre not a seasoned traveler or youâre someone who is a nervous nelly and would rather not risk it, the standard recommendations apply. Seriously, whatâs the worst thing that can happen, youâre stuck in the airport for a few hours? Should you miss your flight youâd be there a lot longer.
Source: USA Today
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