That way, you won’t ever have to watch your plane take off from the terminal window—while you're still in the security line.

How early should I arrive at the airport?

There are different rules for how early you should arrive for domestic and international flights. Airports and airlines tend to have their own recommended arrival times, so it’s best to consult their official websites directly before you depart. These are the general rules of how early you should arrive at the airport:

• Domestic flights: 1-2 hours before departure

• International flights: 2-3 hours before departure

Boarding gates usually open 20 to 40 minutes before the plane departs. If it is a large aircraft, the boarding gate will open up to one hour in advance.

How early should you arrive at the airport if you’ve checked-in online? Checking in online can save around thirty minutes of total check in time if there’s a bag drop area or if you don’t need to check luggage. Premium, business class, first class passengers and high-tiered loyalty program members often have a dedicated check in area, shortening total check in time.

Some domestic flights depart from an international terminal. If this is the case for your journey, you’ll want to follow international airport arrival recommendations.

If you’re travelling with oversized or excess baggage or with children in tow, you’ll want to err on the more generous side of our airport arrival recommendations.

Why do I need to arrive so early to the airport?

Arriving early at the airport is essential because airport and airline crew must complete multiple tasks before departure:

1. Luggage planning: Check-in staff and the luggage loader tally the passengers, the checked luggage, and the aircraft load. They then calculate the balance of the load in relation to the plane’s center of gravity.

2. Passenger check-in: Once passengers have checked-in luggage, staff at the counter verifies identification, assigns a boarding pass, and determines whether or not the passenger is carrying any dangerous items.

3. Luggage check-in: After baggage is checked in, it is sent through security and then enters the baggage sorting system. The baggage is then taken to the aircraft and loaded.

4. Passengers clear security: After check-in, passengers must go through a security check. This is one of the most time-consuming activities as passengers. Items are scanned through an X-ray machine and people walk through a metal detector or body scanner.

5. Passengers go to the gate: Passengers then go to their designated boarding gate, which is sometimes in another terminal.

6. Passengers board the aircraft: Aircraft crew check boarding passes and may check identification. Crew members tally the number of passengers present and the passengers checked in to see if any passengers are missing.

7. Aircraft crew preliminary checks: Flight attendants give passengers a safety briefing. They also check that carry-on luggage is correctly stowed, seatbelts are on, tray tables are up, and window shades are up.

8. Pilot preliminary checks: Once the pilots complete their checks, aircraft crew closes the aircraft hatch. The pilot then applies for take-off permission. Then, they complete an engine check. The pilot then releases the brakes, contacts ground control, and the plane is moved into a designated position. The pilot turns on the engine, completes a secondary checklist, and gets permission to taxi to the runway for takeoff.

Will a flight leave without me if I arrive late?

If you’re running late to the airport and miss your opportunity to check in before the counter closes, your flight will probably leave without you. Airlines run their routes on tight schedules, and waiting for a late passenger can have a chain reaction. Air traffic, passengers with stopovers, and flight crew schedules can all be massively impacted by a late flight.

What happens if I arrive at the airport too early?

Arriving at the airport earlier than you’d like to can easily happen if your journey has a stopover. If you arrive too early, your check in counter or the airport itself may be closed. Usually, check in counters for international flights open three hours before a flight’s departure. Domestic check in counters usually open two hours before departure.

If the airport is closed, you may have to wait outside until it opens. Many large international airports have a dedicated area for travellers to wait in before check in opens. These often have plenty of seating and a food court or some shops. If you've arrived during the night, it could be checking into a nearby airport hotel just for a bit of rest pre-flight.