How Early Should We Arrive at the Airport?

Added - for everyone's benefit, here's the TSA rule for liquids in your carry-on's: It even has illustrations!

http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

Be at check-in by 7:15 - you want to be there 2 hours early for a domestic flight. Will you check any luggage? If you do, tape your name and address inside the suitcases in addition to filling out the little Delta tags that you attach to your suitcase handles. Make sure any little tags from previous flights are removed from these suitcases so that they don't get misrouted.

For your carry-ons, make sure you have liquids (only 3 ounces - even toothpaste, no kidding!) in a plastic bag that you have all together to go through security. I'd take a sweater to wear on the plane - planes get cold. Put your shoes and sweater in one tray, your laptop OUT of the satchel by itself in a tray, and tell your hubby to take off his belt and put his change and your cell phones in a tray. They will let you hold your plane ticket in your hand when you go through the machine.

The more organized you are, the easier the trip. You probably have a small roller to take on the plane - you can hoist up your computer satchel on top of it - and your purse if it has a long strap. And I HIGHLY recommend that you get several yards of a bright colored wide ribbon at the fabric store, and cut off about 18 inches for each one of your pieces of luggage, including carry-ons. Make this ribbon material DIFFERENT enough or bright enough that it stands out from everyone else's and when you are carrying it all, everyone knows that it belongs to you. AND... if anyone else were to grab it on the belt when you get to your destination, you know that they are really trying to steal it, since that ribbon is so distinctive that they couldn't POSSIBLY be mixed up...

Of all of this, that's the single best advice I can give, those distinctive identical ribbons on your luggage. Though my luggage looks just like everyone else's, it stands out on the carousel and I never have a problem.

Congratulations and best wishes on the upcoming nuptials!!! And have a great honeymoon!

Dawn

I would plan to get there about 2 hours prior to the flight.

I always have the airline assign me a seat before a trip. I print my boarding pass from home. (Saves time)

You can always check the flight status before you leave the house in the very early am.

Go through security and then relax and have a cup of coffee, etc...

The plane will begin boarding before 9am.

Before u board... Use the restroom in the airport. The 1 in the plane is so small ! I bring baby wipes to wipe off the food tray and arm rests...It's germy !

Congrats !

If you go to the airlines website, each airline typically says, at what time to arrive at the airport.
Usually, 2 hours ahead. 1 hour at the very least.
Long lines, security checks etc.
Do you have assigned seats or not? That also matters.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Domestic flights you should check in 2 hours before departure. Even if you do not check bags, you need to get through security, get a boarding pass and perhaps even an assigned seat unless you did that online already. Most airlines have self-check-in where you can print your boarding pass at the airport by sliding in a credit card or your passport (for the computer to recognize your reservation). Now there are people who like to leave everything to the last minute and be that person that the plane is being held for while they run down the ramp, but you may miss your flight. For international flights they want you at the airport 3 hours before departure. The flight will start boarding about an hour to 45 minutes before departure. Filling up a large plane will take about an hour with everyone shuffling in and stowing things overhead. I always think that I would rather wait with my boarding pass and assigned seat in hand than wait at home while worrying, so I tend to go early. Congratulations and enjoy!

From MSP 1 1/2 hrs should be more than sufficient. Check to see when you can check-in online, and print your boarding passes at home. That way, when you get there, you can just go straight to the TSA checkpoint, go through, and enjoy the Lindbergh terminal's great restaurants and shops :) LOVE that airport!

2 hours.

I normally allow only 1 hour here at our local airport. But the last 2 times I flew out, they boarded and left early. Almost got left behind once. Big surprise. Even if you are not checking bags and could theoretically get through security quickly, if you randomly get pulled for a thorough screening, you could be delayed. They don't care if your flight is about to leave, if the computer chooses you, you will be there til they are finished.

I usually go with two hours before for domestic flights.

Have to ask since you say you are carrying on, you did check the TSA regulations? We had to check a bag because we were gone for a week and a half and that is the only way you can bring full sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, ya know cleaning products.

we fly a lot and we always try to be there at least 2 hours ahead. Good luck and have fun!!

I would not bring any liquids through security, not even perfume some airports are picker than others but they can hold you up for a while. You should get there 2 to 3 hours ahead of your scheduled flight and check the flight right before leaving your house to be sure it is on time.

well, V., if you have shampoo, conditioner and body wash in your carry on, you might have to throw it out when you get to the airport or buy some when you get to San Diego.

The rule for liquids in traveling is 3 - 1- 1 (three items at one ounce each) in a ziploc bag. Otherwise the luggage must be checked.

I don't know what airport you are traveling out of. However, Monday's and Sunday's can be heavy travel days for working people. I would allow up to 2 hours prior to your departure to get checked in (even if you have your boarding passes you will still need to check in via the porter at the front of the airport or the desk or the kiosk for self-check in) through security and to your gate.

For the flight back from San Diego - again up to 2 hours for security, check in and time to get to gate.

I just dropped off my inlaws at the airport.. they were at teh airport walking to the check in desk at 1 hour and 40 min before their flight.

2 hours ahead of time at the airport is fine... 1 hour ahead and you might be tight on time.

They start boarding about 30 minutes prior to takeoff .. and if you are not there 15 min prior to take off.. they might leave without you. checking bags does not take time.. but picking them up at baggage claim takes time

We always try to be at an airport at least two hours before departure. Airport employees will be happy to direct you where you need to go. You need to be *at the gate* at least thirty minutes before the flight leaves. If you plan on forty-five, you'll be better off.

You're flying on two very busy days. As far as security is concerned, the time factor depends not quite as much what you're bringing in your suitcase (although you'll definitely be checked and they take the rules seriously) as on how many *other* people going through the line ahead of you - and there could be hundreds. That's the way it is sometimes. Your checking in probably will be faster, since you aren't checking a bag, but still there might be plenty of folks ahead of you. If you can get your boarding pass online, it will help; I don't remember how Delta does it but you can check on their web site. Bottom line: you have to allow a lot of time, no matter what. Take reading material!

Don't second-guess on what you may pack. Google "air travel security" and you'll find a current list of things that will be inspected. Get a one-quart sized ziplock bag and make sure all those things fit inside it. I think you're probably smart to wait to buy some items until you're at your destination. If you have a lot left over, instead of automatically throwing the items away, you might leave them with a note in case anyone in housekeeping at your hotel would like them.

Have fun!

LAX, Ohare, JFK, Atlanta = 3
Almost everywhere else = 2

CHECK the airport website night before, though, occasionally travel advisories happen, and unless you're there x hours ahead, they won't let you even go through security.

Most airports recommend 2 hours. I would make sure you give yourself no less than 1-1/2 hours.

We flew into and out of San Diego in June. If you are renting a car in SD, plan to be at the car rental place early! I think the one we used said an hour before the flight, but that won't be enough time. Returning your car can take a lot time depending on how busy they are and what their drop off procedure is and the shuttle ride back to the airport takes 15-20 minutes. They are doing construction in the area where shuttle busses drop off and it can be pretty chaotic in that area. When we arrived in SD we waited about 30 min for a shuttle. Going to the airport wasn't quite as bad, but it is about a 5 minute walk to the terminal. We always plan on being at their airport at least two hours early and add at least an hour to that for parking/returning our car and taking the shuttle to the airport. With a 12:30 flight you might want to add a little time in their if you want to eat lunch in the airport. That can be expensive, so you may want to plan to eat a late brunch before going to the airport or pick up sandwiches before going to the airport. Wait to buy drinks in the airport because you won't be able to take them through security. I'd rather be in the airport longer than be rushing and worrying about missing the plane. Have a great trip!!

Happy honeymooning! Have a wonderful trip!