Africa - How early should I get to the airport?

I'm mainly asking about the return trip, when I have to go through customs in Kenya to return to the U.S. Is two hours before your trip sufficient?

Every airport is different, and in developing countries, there are some airports that can take 3 hours to navigate and some that take 30 minutes. Which airport are you talking about? Are you traveling business class or coach? Will you have checked bags?

This question belongs in the Africa forum where people with direct experience can answer it.

Every airport is different, and in developing countries, there are some airports that can take 3 hours to navigate and some that take 30 minutes. Which airport are you talking about? Are you traveling business class or coach? Will you have checked bags?

This question belongs in the Africa forum where people with direct experience can answer it.

I'm going from Birmingham, Alabama to Detroit, Michigan. Then Detroit to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Nairobi, and Nairobi to Mombasa. The return flight will be the same in reverse.

Yes, I'll have checked baggage.

I'm flying coach/cheapo/budget/barebones. :D

I'm a great believer in getting to airports as soon as possible. Much better to be relaxing in the airport bar than leaving it late and getting stressed while stuck in traffic.

Some people pride themselves at their ability of getting to to check-in just as it is closing. Not me.

I also believe in arriving as early as possible. Better to be early and bored in the terminal than late and possibly missing the flight.

I spent 90 minutes in line at Nairobi last week just trying to get through outbound passport control. You could potentially spend another 60 minutes at the security check just to get into the terminal.

I would budget AT LEAST 3 hours to go through formalities at Nairobi for an evening departure.

Please continue to follow this thread in the FT Africa Forum.
Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

I spent 90 minutes in line at Nairobi last week just trying to get through outbound passport control. You could potentially spend another 60 minutes at the security check just to get into the terminal.

I would budget AT LEAST 3 hours to go through formalities at Nairobi for an evening departure.

Thanks for the heads up. ^

Phone up the airline and get the times. Better careful, than questioning.

Mombasa airport is not too busy. If you are flying Kenya Airways / KLM you can actually check your bags from Mombasa through Nairobi onto you connecting flight. Just make sure you let the check in people know in Mombasa. They will also issue your boarding cards for all your flights.

On arrival in Nairobi, you have to exit the terminal building at domestic arrival and walk across to departures in terminal 2. About 3-4 minutes. Go through security again, and then passport control. All this should not take more then one hour.

Hope that helps.

RWA

Mombasa airport is not too busy. If you are flying Kenya Airways / KLM you can actually check your bags from Mombasa through Nairobi onto you connecting flight. Just make sure you let the check in people know in Mombasa. They will also issue your boarding cards for all your flights.

On arrival in Nairobi, you have to exit the terminal building at domestic arrival and walk across to departures in terminal 2. About 3-4 minutes. Go through security again, and then passport control. All this should not take more then one hour.

Hope that helps.

RWA

Thanks.

I hate the long lines at NBO which is why I arrive at the LAST MINUTE. This is one airport that you don't want to arrive early at as they don't have much in the way of decent lounges. Plus the passport check lines are huge if you arrive early. Assuming we are talking about the night flights to Europe, I prefer to stay in town and have a good time, then head to the airport an hour before the flight (I never check bags), or a bit earlier if you have to check bags.

I take many, many flights out of NBO and have never missed one.

I hate the long lines at NBO which is why I arrive at the LAST MINUTE...
I take many, many flights out of NBO and have never missed one.

+1. I do check bags and still arrive an hour before. I have never had a problem, but I have been sent to the head of the interminable lines a couple fo times.

Lounges? stimpy is being generous.

On arrival in Nairobi, you have to exit the terminal building at domestic arrival and walk across to departures in terminal 2. About 3-4 minutes. Go through security again, and then passport control. All this should not take more then one hour.A

Actually you first go through passport control, then they do security at the gate. Unless you are talking about the simpler security check at the outer door of the airport.

And BA does double security at the gate. You do the same x-ray, metal detector thing twice in a row. Only on BA. :)

+1. I do check bags and still arrive an hour before. I have never had a problem, but I have been sent to the head of the interminable lines a couple fo times.

Lounges? stimpy is being generous.

I said I leave town an hour before the flight. ;) No traffic at that hour and no lines at all at the airport.

As for lounges, there are the two First class lounges which are by the gates. Usually one is busy and the other is empty. They accept Priority Pass. This is a much better option than the KQ or BA lounges which are nowhere near the gates.