What Time Should You Arrive at the Airport?

One thing is clear: Travel is making a strong comeback. This resurgence has led to significant crowds and stressful congestion at airports across the country. The number of passengers screened daily at TSA security checks has matched or surpassed pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2023, and these figures are expected to keep climbing as travel demand remains high.

“At almost every airport, there are times when the number of travelers needing TSA screening will outnumber the security checkpoint capacity,” says Lorie Dankers, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to Dinogo. “Due to these peak times, TSA recommends that all travelers plan ahead and arrive with enough time to navigate every stage of the airport process. The ideal arrival time varies by airport.”

For many years, TSA advised arriving at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours for international flights—guidelines that airlines like United and American still promote on their sites. This advice remains the most frequently cited in the industry.

However, “That might suffice at some airports, but not all. Some require more [time], while others need less [time],” Dankers explains why the agency has stopped offering a specific timeline for airport arrival.

Dankers advises, "Make sure to arrive with ample time to account for any delays you might face during your journey. What if you hit unexpected traffic on the way to the airport? What if finding a parking spot takes you 20 extra minutes? The baggage check line is longer than anticipated and takes 25 minutes? The TSA PreCheck or standard screening line is busier than expected, doubling your anticipated wait? Or maybe the coffee shop line is longer than you thought, or the restroom wait is unusually long?"

She points out that all these possible delays can accumulate. Dankers says, "Consider how comfortable you are with rushing through each step of your travel or whether you'd prefer to plan ahead and allow yourself plenty of time."

Do you prefer to arrive early or late at the airport?

In the travel landscape—even in a post-pandemic era filled with long lines and cautionary tales about allowing extra time to navigate airports—one thing remains unchanged. There are still two basic types of travelers: those who enjoy arriving (ridiculously) early and those who tend to show up (way too) close to their flight departure, regardless of the official or unofficial advice.

Sam Sferrazza, a stand-up comedian and film producer from Toronto, clearly belongs to the early arrival camp, or as he puts it, team "early at the airport girlies."

“I’m at the airport once more representing my favorite crew, the early at the airport girlies. We're at our favorite spot, right after security,” Sferrazza shared in a recent TikTok video that has racked up over a million views. “We've got two hours to mess around, grab coffee, indulge in snacks, and enjoy ourselves. . . . This is when the early at the airport girlies really shine. We get to relish in our punctuality,” he added.

Sferrazza isn't the only one who enjoys arriving extra early at the airport.

“I don’t volunteer for the thrill of cutting it close at the airport,” says Harriet Baskas, founder of StuckatTheAirport.com, a blog focused on airports and their offerings. “Flying can be stressful for countless reasons, many of which are beyond your control. Arriving early to avoid the anxiety of long lines or rushing to the gate is one thing you can manage, so do it.”

Baskas points out that it's not just about personal preferences but also the consequences of missing your flight. “Airlines are heavily booked these days, and especially this summer, if you miss a flight, your chances of being accommodated on the next one as a courtesy standby might be low,” Baskas explains. “Even if you hold a status with an airline, and despite a few empty seats, you’re likely to be offered a middle seat instead of the preferred aisle or window seat you carefully chose.”

Baskas advises travelers to arrive at the airport with ample time to spare. She mentions that many airports are filled with various distractions, from art and historical exhibits to unique shops, restaurants, and bars. Baskas typically arrives two to three hours before departure, bringing along work, a book, a list of calls to make, and her walking shoes—“those long concourses are perfect for making sure I hit my daily step goal.”

In a poll conducted among the Dinogo staff, a group of passionate and frequent travelers, two-thirds identified as early airport types, while one-third admitted to being late airport people.

“I’d prefer to walk directly to my gate and board right away than spend time meandering around. I’ve yet to find an airport worth the time I could be enjoying at home or at my destination,” remarked Dinogo’s marketing activations manager, Maggie Smith, in a Slack discussion about the topic.

Ami Kealoha, the branded and sponsored content director at Dinogo, is also on the late side—well, kind of. “When I travel alone, I usually push it to the last possible moment. I like arriving just as it’s time to board,” Kealoha noted. However, she admitted, “I’ve missed more flights than I’d like to count and learned that the stress isn’t worth it, so I’ve somewhat reformed my ways.”

Lyndsey Matthews, Dinogo’s senior commerce editor and a firm believer in early arrivals, added, “I often have nightmares about missing flights before I travel, and to prevent that nightmarish scenario from becoming reality, I aim to reach the airport at least two hours, ideally three, before take-off.”

Matthews mentioned that to “truly savor my timeliness—and kick off my vacations as soon as possible,” she has invested in the Amex Platinum Card to gain access to airport lounges in most terminals.

While travelers may be firm in their preferences, there is actual guidance available on this topic along with an increasing number of resources and tools that can help travelers better time their journey from home to the airplane.

What Airlines Require

Ultimately, it’s the airlines that determine how early you can check in and check bags (though some late arrivals might argue there’s some leeway if you appeal to human kindness and negotiate skillfully) and whether you can board at the gate. Most U.S. airlines, including United, American, and Delta, typically close check-in for domestic flights 30 to 45 minutes before departure and for international flights 60 to 75 minutes prior. Naturally, checking in online in advance, usually up to 24 hours before departure, allows those cutting it close to skip this step if they have only carry-on luggage and head straight to security.

As for when passengers need to be at the gate to board, it's generally 15 minutes before departure for domestic flights and 30 to 60 minutes for international ones. However, this can vary by airline and airport, so it's always wise to verify.

Early birds should also be aware that there are often restrictions on how soon you can check in. For example, American Airlines advises its passengers that you cannot check bags more than four hours before departure when flying from certain domestic hubs.

At some international airports, the check-in period is even more limited. Even if you arrive well ahead of time, you might not be able to check in, drop off bags, and get through security until closer to your flight. Therefore, it's important to check the specific policies for the airports and airlines you will be using.

Timing can vary significantly across different airports

As Dankers from the TSA pointed out, the two-hour guideline for domestic flights and the three-hour guideline for international flights may not apply universally to all airports.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, suggests that travelers should arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departure for domestic flights and three hours for international flights, reiterating the most reliable recommendation.

Earlier this year, however, the online loyalty and miles publication Upgraded Points conducted a study ranking 50 major U.S. airports based on the recommended arrival time before flights. It analyzed various factors, including airport size, passenger volume, and average TSA wait times, to determine optimal arrival times. The study found that Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) requires the most advance arrival time, suggesting travelers arrive just over three hours prior to takeoff, regardless of flight type. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) followed with a recommendation of 2 hours and 59 minutes before departure, and John F. Kennedy International Airport suggested an arrival time of 2 hours and 58 minutes. Other airports nearing the three-hour threshold included Houston (IAH), Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA), San Francisco (SFO), Charlotte (CLT), Philadelphia (PHL), and Newark (EWR).

Among other busy airports around the globe, Heathrow advises travelers to arrive two hours early for flights within the UK and Europe, and three hours early for long-haul flights. Meanwhile, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport recommends arriving three hours before long-haul flights and 90 minutes before European flights.

A representative from Los Angeles International Airport echoed similar guidance—suggesting two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one. However, the LAX spokesperson clarified that these times refer to boarding time, not the actual departure time of the plane.

The evolving airport landscape—and its impact on arrival times

Whether you're an early riser or a last-minute arrival, the evolving nature of air travel has required everyone to adjust. Since the pandemic, airport staffing, which saw significant cuts when air traffic dropped in 2020, often remains under pressure, leading to longer wait times for nearly all services—sometimes making it challenging to reach the gate even when arriving as recommended. Additionally, the continually increasing number of travelers means airports are becoming more congested.

Airports themselves are undergoing changes as well. Major renovation projects, some delayed or slowed during the pandemic, are now in full swing at key hubs like LAX and JFK in New York. While the goal is to enhance passenger experience, temporary construction can lead to delays at some of the busiest airports in the country.

Tips for navigating the airport more efficiently

Fortunately, the TSA has been making significant improvements to reduce wait times at security, such as new ID scanning devices that let travelers scan their ID without needing to pull out a boarding pass, and advanced x-ray machines that permit even non–TSA PreCheck passengers to keep their liquids and laptops in their carry-on bags, expediting the security process.

The MyTSA app offers insights into flight delays and helps travelers gauge how busy an airport might be on a given day and time, drawing from historical data. Many airports and airlines now also provide up-to-date information through their websites and mobile apps about flight schedules and any potential delays.

Another option is the trusted traveler program TSA PreCheck, which, for $78 for a five-year membership, enables travelers at numerous U.S. airports to access a typically shorter TSA line, keeping their shoes on and allowing laptops and liquids to stay in their bags. Alternatively, travelers may choose to invest in a Clear membership, a separate service that expedites security for $189 annually.

For many travelers, these services revolutionize their airport experience and change how they approach arrival times.

“I used to get to the airport two to three hours before my flight, but ever since I got TSA PreCheck, arriving just an hour ahead has become totally manageable,” shares Mae Hamilton, Dinogo’s assistant editor. However, she cautions, “I can’t push it too much since LAX is my main airport.”

Travelers without TSA PreCheck or Clear can check if their departure airport is among several U.S. airports that let passengers book a time slot for security screening and skip to the front of the line—at no cost.

“More and more airports are implementing reservation systems for security checks,” Baskas points out. By reserving a spot at the front of the line, “you might just dodge those long security waits that we often see during the summer rush.”

While many travelers are firmly set in their habits, the overwhelming consensus from industry experts is to prioritize caution over the risk of missing a flight, especially given the current unpredictability of airports and air travel. Yet, as a lifelong member of team early, I can’t help but admire the determined spirit of team late—you resilient rebels!

This article first appeared in June 2019 and has been updated with the latest information.