Journeymarvel – Generally, there are 2 types of people at the airport. First, people who are early can ensure that they have plenty of time for smooth check in international flight and security checks. Second, the person who appeared at the last moment while running to the gate before the plane door closed. It is important for you to arrive at the airport with sufficient time before the plane departs.
This is because you have to check in, get a boarding pass, and go through security checks. Often you have to queue when doing these steps so it takes a lot of time. So in this discussion, we will discuss how early arrive at airport, especially international flights and other tips related to flights.
1. How Early to Arrive for International Flight
If you miss your flight, it will be a nightmare. There are several standard rules that international and domestic travelers must comply with when flying. Remember that boarding generally starts at 45 minutes before takeoff and ends 15 minutes earlier. So, make sure that you arrive at the airport on time if you want to have a hassle-free travel experience.
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), everyone is required to reach the airport at least 2 hours before their scheduled departure time. To get to an international flight on your own, it is best to be three hours before takeoff.
As more people start traveling internationally after getting vaccinated, international flights are also starting to see a reasonable number of passengers. The most important thing is that as an international traveler, you will be fine if you arrive at the airport about three hours beforehand.
Departure time and boarding time are different things. Boarding time is when all passengers have boarded the plane. Meanwhile, departure time is when the flight crew is required to complete all initial flight and safety checks, as well as when the plane is scheduled to depart from the airport.
2. Impact of Holidays and Peak Travel Times
Holidays and peak travel times can add even more misery to the airport travel process. Traveling during the holidays can quickly increase the time you spend in security lines. So, make sure to arrive around 3 hours before domestic flights and 4 hours before international flights.
You need to remember that you will most likely miss your flight during the peak holiday season due to being in long security lines. You should always check the TSA app before you start driving to know how long the security lines are.
Then, for example, the distance from home to the international airport usually takes around 1 hour. However, you cannot reach this airport in just 1 hour if it is peak season. So, you must start driving from home early if you do not want to miss your holiday trip.
3. Airplane Check-In
This aircraft check is one of the procedures that need to be carried out when choosing air transportation. In this process, you as a passenger will report to the airline about the flight schedule and checked baggage.
Airplane check-in can be done directly at the airline counter or online via the official website or application. However, passengers still have to pay attention to the airline’s check-in period.
To check in at Pelita Air airline airport, you can do it starting 2 hours before the scheduled departure. Meanwhile, check-in at Garuda Indonesia airport for domestic routes can be done from 120 minutes to 45 minutes before departure. Meanwhile, for international routes, it starts from 180 minutes to 60 minutes before departure.
To check in online, you can do it with almost all airlines. When you do this on your laptop or cell phone, you can also see when you need to arrive at the airport.
If you have bags to check in for an international flight, you are generally required to arrive at the airport at least one and a half hours before your flight’s scheduled departure.
Then, if you do not check in your baggage or fly in the same country, you must be at the airport at least one hour before your flight departs. It is always better to have about 30 minutes to spare in case the airline has additional procedures.
4. Some Tips for You to Follow
There are several tips for you to follow. First, arrive at the airport 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights. Second, you can try to check in online. Third, drive early from home to the airport if you travel during holidays or peak travel seasons.
Fourth, try to always book a parking space in advance. Finding airport parking will be another problem you may experience. Most of the on-site parking lots tend to be filled these days. So, it will always be safe for you to book a place in advance before driving to the airport.
If not, then you have to spend a lot of money and time looking for a parking space at the airport. In the end, it can delay your check-in and security check. Using public transportation or other services will be an option if you do not want to look for a parking space at the location. However, it is not effective if you use it during rush hour because you might arrive late at the airport.
5. Reasons to Arrive as Early as Possible
It is very important to arrive early at the airport because airport crew and airport airlines are required to complete several tasks before departure. For example, baggage planning. Check-in staff and baggage loaders will be tasked with counting passengers, checked baggage, and aircraft cargo. Then, they will calculate the load balance in relation to the aircraft’s center of gravity.
After passengers check in their baggage, staff will verify identification, provide boarding passes, and determine whether passengers are carrying dangerous goods or not.
Another reason you should arrive at the airport as early as possible is so you do not miss your flight. If you are late arriving at the airport and miss the opportunity to check in before the counter closes, your flight may leave without you.
Airlines run their routes on a tight schedule and waiting for late passengers can cause negative reactions. Air traffic, passenger layovers, and flight crew schedules can all be significantly impacted by flight delays.
6. Things to Do at the Airport
There are advantages to arriving at the airport early. This could be a good opportunity for you to relax or pamper yourself. There are several activities you can do at the airport before you fly.
For example, buy accessories, shop for snacks, take photos of a cup of coffee or food to update social media, collect some favorite songs, buy a massage to relax, enjoy a delicious meal, buy earplugs, and take a nap.
Apart from that, you can also learn a few words in the language of your destination and you can contact people to tell them about your news.
That is an explanation of how early get to airport and several other explanations regarding flights. For example, checking in for the plane, reasons for coming to the airport as early as possible, and activities you can do if you arrive early.
