bigdaddy2003;834246 wrote:Ok since I have never flown before I have a question. What could possibly happen that you would need to be there 2 hours before flight?

Security lines and checking baggage. I've been in a security line at O'Hare that took me 45 minutes before, and if you're checking a bag you want to have it checked ~1 hour prior so it has time to get downstairs and on the flight in time (I used to work as a baggage handler ... trust me). Then consider they board flights ~30 minutes prior to departure, plus walking time through the airport (if it's a big one) and boom, 1.5-2 hours.

Orlando = 2hrs, maybe 90 minutes. Funny thing last week was we breezed right through security in 5 minutes, I'd never seen Orlando so empty.
We took a 4 hour bump in exchange for 2 free round trip tickets each anywhere on Airtran. Still got a nonstop and were upgraded to first class. Now my girlfriend wants to go to Aruba.
Flying back out of Akron/Canton tomorrow = 1 hour before takeoff.
Its hot and humid in Ohio.

University Park Airport in State College? Half an hour before the flight...and yes there are indeed TSA agents at the State College airport! lol

Airports of any significant size? Always arrive 2 hours before the flight. If I breeze through security, I grab a bite to eat and people watch. Airports are great places to see strange shit.

gorocks99;834255 wrote:Security lines and checking baggage. I've been in a security line at O'Hare that took me 45 minutes before, and if you're checking a bag you want to have it checked ~1 hour prior so it has time to get downstairs and on the flight in time (I used to work as a baggage handler ... trust me). Then consider they board flights ~30 minutes prior to departure, plus walking time through the airport (if it's a big one) and boom, 1.5-2 hours.

Ditto. I think the TSA uses a Ouija board to schedule their agents - if you get there when they're short staffed, it can take over an hour just to get through security.

Saturday mornings seem to be the worst, as many families and vacationers (with lots of luggage) leave on trips. They're not as familiar with the process as are business travelers, and the lines move much more slowly and are unpredictable.

On a trip with my wife last fall out of Columbus, our flight to Detroit was delayed 90 minutes due to crew rest issues (missed the connection, but we got a first-class upgrade on the flight to Seattle out of it ). We went through the "C" concourse checkpoint at 6:45 - two lines open, and we were through in ten minutes. They let us know about the delay at the gate, and we wandered back down to the coffee shop at the head of the concourse to get breakfast about a half hour later. The security checkpoint was down to one station, and the line to pass through it stretched all the way back to where the three concourses intersect. That had to be at least a couple of hundred people.

Personal best is 20 minutes at Detroit Metro

Curly J;833937 wrote:I like to get their at least 2 hours early. I don't mind sitting down and having some food with The Wife...and maybe a couple Bloody Marys.

Agreed.

As others have noted it depends on date, time and location. I have shown up for flight in Dayton and Port Columbus in an hour. I flew out of Milwaukee (small airport) earlier this year and showed up 15 minutes before my flight took off.

On the other hand, you can never be at O'Hare early enough (and your flight will still not take off on time)..

O'Hare is a lot better than it used to be. The big airports really depends on where you're gate is relative to security...you could easily have a 20 minute brisk walk just to get to the gate.

And the old rule used to be doors closed 10 minutes before. That may still be the "unofficial" rule, but tickets now say doors close 15-20 minutes before take-off.

Like others, depends on size of airport. 45 minutes for the small ones (in my case Greensboro and Charleston). For most others, about an hour and 30 minutes. I like to not have to be stressed waiting in line, or if I have to check a bag (which I hate to do, but when traveling for business I need 5 days of dress clothes which won't go in a carry on). Last weekend I left out of Cleveland and they only had one lane open and the line took FOREVER. I also have flown to ATL twice in the past 2 weeks and have had to go through the body scanner each time. WTF!

About 45 minutes before departure. It doesnt take more than 15 minutes to go through security.

"I have shown up for flight in Dayton and Port Columbus in an hour. I flew out of Milwaukee (small airport) earlier this year and showed up 15 minutes before my flight took off."

Port Columbus is great, in my admittedly biased opinion it is one of the best, if not the best, domestic regional airports. Security lines are quick, workers are friendly, the airport is clean, there are food/drink options in and out of security. Other American airports, yeeesh, Denver and Phoenix you can be stuck in the security line for an hour.

gut;834983 wrote:O'Hare is a lot better than it used to be. The big airports really depends on where you're gate is relative to security...you could easily have a 20 minute brisk walk just to get to the gate.

And the old rule used to be doors closed 10 minutes before. That may still be the "unofficial" rule, but tickets now say doors close 15-20 minutes before take-off.

What you really have to worry about in this day of routinely full overbooked flights is getting bumped. You can be checked in, but if you're not at the gate 15-20 minutes before take-off time, you could well lose your seat.

You're right about O'Hare's terminal facilities - but I will do everything I can to avoid changing planes there. The place is scheduled right at capacity - if anything gets screwed up for a few minutes, the whole flight flow spirals out of control for several hours. . Also. I'm NOT a major fan of United, which has their primary hub there.

Roughly 45 minutes.

60 minutes if I'm pulling a "Larry Craig" in the bathroom.