When should I be at the airport?
General guideline
We recommend that travelers on domestic flights arrive at the airport 1.5 hours before departure. Travelers flying within Europe should arrive 2.5 to 2 hours before departure. For travelers flying outside of Europe, we recommend arriving at the airport 3.5 to 3 hours before departure.
As a traveler, you are always responsible for checking with your airline regarding the requirements for your specific flight and staying informed about any updates.
When you should be at the airport depends on a number of factors:
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- Â whether you are flying with or without checked-in baggage
- whether your airline offers check-in using automatic machines where you can also print your bag tag yourself or whether the airline has manual check-in at a check-in counter
- whether documentation is required that will be checked for your destination
- whether you need to show a passport and go through border control or not. Â
The time of day is also important. In the morning, we generally have more traffic. Longer waiting times can also occur temporarily during other parts of the day.
Tool for recommended time
Our tool gives you a customised recommendation for when to get to the airport based on when your flight departs
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