Getting to airport 1.5 hr early for intl flight?

[PK12]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Big deal? Funeral? Connecting flight somewhere else? Many different reasons. This being the DC area it's not unusual for a traffic issue to really screw things up on your commute to anywhere. Maybe this person screwed up and didn't give themselves enough time or maybe they hit a traffic backup with long delays. Regardless, don't be such a clown about it when someone is already likely facing a stressful situation and imagine if it were you in their shoes.

Exactly!! I highly doubt one would do such things on purpose just for the heck of it. Empathy can go a long way , because one never knows that they may be faced with the exact same situation due to unforeseen reasons, and will be bitching and whining about wanting to get ahead in the line themselves.

[Bigfoot424]

I have been flying, often, for work since 2010, both CONUS and OCONUS and have never once observed anyone attempting to cut into a line.

[Ffxdata]

One time I showed up to the wrong airport (IAD) st 5:45pm on a weekday for a 7:20 domestic flight at DCA. We had to battle through traffic and barely made it in time to check our bags. I still sat in the security line like a decent person and didn't cut over my own bad timing and mistakes.

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Big deal? Funeral? Connecting flight somewhere else? Many different reasons. This being the DC area it's not unusual for a traffic issue to really screw things up on your commute to anywhere. Maybe this person screwed up and didn't give themselves enough time or maybe they hit a traffic backup with long delays. Regardless, don't be such a clown about it when someone is already likely facing a stressful situation and imagine if it were you in their shoes.

Why is their time more important than mine again?

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by PK12

How convenient it is to jump to adhominem responses. No I havent. My carry on luggage fits perfectly fine and on domestic flights, I always tend to arrive 2 hours prior to departure, usually 3 hours for int'l flights. I just dont consider it as big a deal that I would crap my pants over it.

I would not crap my pants over it but tell me why their time is more important than my time. You seemed to think it was no big deal for me to wait for them, so inversely it would be no big deal for them to wait either?

[Old Guard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU_NXqGcNGo

[spencgr]

I missed a flight once by, literally, 2 minutes of them closing the door. I certainly would have made it if I "cut" the Security line......but the thought never crossed my mind. Nor would it in the future.

[ACWhite]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

I have been flying, often, for work since 2010, both CONUS and OCONUS and have never once observed anyone attempting to cut into a line.

Not to deny your reality, but I witnessed exactly this, in a customs line, on Sunday. The woman was politely (though with stress) asking people here and there if she could go ahead, all of whom agreed, but she obviously didn't ask every single one of the 50 or so people ahead of her.

[farplaner]

I always plan to arrive at the airport 2 hours prior for local flights. 1.5 hours for international seems it would be way too close for comfort imo.

[Deeman804]

I have traveled quite a bit in my day both national and international and I think you should consider getting there 2 hours ahead. Here are some thoughts

1) something always goes wrong when you cut it close, things go smoothly when you allot extra time

2) if your flight is through an international carrier they may not have you pre-check on file (make sure they add that on if they have that option)

3) Most international flights have an earlier cutoff for checked bags (like an hour before the flight)

4) traffic sucks before the Dulles access road no matter where you are coming from

5) add 30 minutes to get from Security to the gate. Some international gates are actually a commute from within the airport.

6) all being said, I've made it 90 minutes before an international flight with no issues, but I understood that there was a solid chance that I wouldn't make my flight. At least ensure that there is another flight leaving the same day/next morning in a worst case scenario