How long should you leave airport?

How long do you have to leave the airport for an international flight?

Airline check-in deadlines… one hour. Feels like a lifetime sometimes. Sitting there, waiting. Especially late. Like tonight.

This trip… It’s for… work. Suppose it has to be done. Wish it wasn’t me though. London, then Tokyo. Long flight. Just want to be home.

Checked in online. Still have to drop a bag. Hate that. Always a line. Atlanta airport. Always busy. Remember that layover last year… missed my connection. Stuck here for hours. Ugh. Don’t want to think about it.

• One hour is the cutoff for baggage.
• Three hours early is recommended for international. Overkill, probably. But, safer.
• Clearing customs… Takes time. Depends on the airport. Narita… that one’s slow.
• Getting out… Finding a taxi. Or the train. Add another hour, at least. Sometimes more. London’s Heathrow… took forever.
• My flight… Leaves at 11:55 pm. Here since 8:30. Too long. Just tired. Want to sleep. On the plane… hopefully.

This coffee… Terrible. Airport coffee always is. Need to walk around. Stretch my legs. Thinking about… her. Shouldn’t. Makes it worse. Maybe… get another coffee. No. Just walk.

How early do you need to be at the airport for an international flight?

Three hours? Pshaw. That’s amateur hour. Like showing up to a party when the host is still in their pajamas. Aim for four. Especially if your airport is a sprawling labyrinth, like O’Hare—where I once spent 20 minutes just trying to find a Cinnabon. (Priorities, people).

• Four hours is your magic number. Think of it as a pre-flight cocktail hour, minus the cocktails (unless you’re very efficient).
• Passport control can be like a DMV line, but with more existential dread. Who knew so many people traveled internationally at the same time as you? Rude.
• Security lines are where your carefully curated airport outfit is judged by strangers. Enjoy. Also, where I last saw my sanity, probably.
• Finding your gate is an Olympic sport. Seriously, my FitBit registers it as a marathon. At JFK, Gate Z47 is apparently located in Narnia.

International travel: glamorous. Airports: significantly less so. Plan ahead. Pack snacks. Wear comfortable shoes (no judgment if they’re Crocs—we all have our secrets). And remember, fellow travelers, the Cinnabon is your reward. You deserve it. You’ve earned it.

What is the 3 hour rule at the airport?

Oh, the infamous 3-hour rule! Sounds like a poorly named sci-fi flick, doesn’t it? But no, it’s about the Department of Transportation (DOT) and their… generosity, I suppose.

• So, the gist is this: you’re flying within the U.S., right? You’re delayed. Like, really delayed, sitting on the tarmac, watching the minutes tick by. Torture.

• Now, if this delay makes you miss a connecting flight and you arrive at your final destination a whole 3+ hours later than planned, then maybe, just maybe, the DOT thinks you deserve a little something.

• Compensation? Well, it depends. Don’t expect a yacht. Maybe a meal voucher. Perhaps enough to buy one of those overpriced airport sandwiches. I dream of airport sandwiches.

It’s more of a guideline than a law, you see. Airlines are not always in the mood to be helpful. But you should complain anyway! You deserve it, frankly. It’s your right! I’d fight them!

Think of it like this: your travel day is a soufflé. Perfection is promised, but a sudden jolt (tarmac delay) can cause it to collapse. And who wants a collapsed soufflé? I saw a collapsed soufflé once. Didn’t end well for anyone.

The fun part? The airline has to have caused the delay. Acts of God, or bad weather, or that time a rogue squirrel commandeered a plane? You’re out of luck! Though I’d pay to see a squirrel fly a plane.

Seriously, though, check the airline’s “Contract of Carriage” for their specific policies. Fine print, baby! It’s like deciphering ancient scrolls. Ugh, contracts.

Why do they tell you to get to the airport so early?

Ugh, airports. Why so early? Well, traffic. Obvi. Remember that time on I-95 in 2023? A nightmare. Security is another beast. Shoes off. Belt off. Laptop out. Liquids in tiny bags…still don’t get that.

And then, the actual boarding process. Airlines begin boarding usually 30-45 mins early. Why even have a schedule if they’re boarding early? Beats me. Maybe I should buy CLEAR. Is it worth it?

• Traffic: Freeways jam up fast. Always.
• Security: Lines can be insane.
• Boarding: Starts way before departure.

So yeah, that’s why. Gotta get there ridiculously early. Even if it means sitting around drinking overpriced coffee. Oh well.

Update 2024: traffic is even worse now.