U.K. and Ireland - How much time should I allow at LHR

I have a international flt. out of LHR on a Friday morning around 9:30 AM. How long before flight time should I arrive at the airport for check in and baggage check?

Which airline? Do you have status with the airline's alliance?

Short or long haul?

Checking bags?

Which airline? Class of service?

IME, the different terminals can involve different wait times to get checked in and/or clear security.

I am flying on a United award ticket, no status, flight LH2471, a A-320 plane.

I am flying on a United award ticket, no status, flight LH2471, a A-320 plane.

I would give it at least 2.5-3 hours, as Friday mornings can be busy.

Personally I would say 2 hours is fine if you don't have any big shopping to do. The morning rush will have died down somewhat by then.

Shopping at airports is an alien concept to me, so I'd say 90 minutes. T1 is pretty civilised these days.

Shopping at airports is an alien concept to me, so I'd say 90 minutes. T1 is pretty civilised these days.

I think 90 minutes is cutting it a little bit fine - or perhaps I should phrase this differently and say that planning to arrive at -90 does not give you any leeway.

I normally work on two hours if I am flying long-haul, with checked baggage (and home-printed boarding pass), and no status. I've travelled from LHR on some pretty busy days (like the Saturday of the February half-term holiday). I've always found that two hours was enough.

Two hours is definitely safe for a transatlantic flight. In general I tend to keep that margin for those as well, for intra-European flights I tend to stick to 1 hour with luggage or 45 minutes without - never had issues - then again I like living on the edge :D

Unless I'm reading it incorrectly, isn't the flight in question a Lufthansa flight (i.e. short-haul), paid for with UA miles?

Unless I'm reading it incorrectly, isn't the flight in question a Lufthansa flight (i.e. short-haul), paid for with UA miles?

Yes, you're right. LH to Munich. My apologies!

90 minutes should be about right for that. I probably wouldn't cut it as fine as one hour (as someone else suggested), but that's only because I like a bit of leeway.

Ah if it's LH from T1 beware of check-in zone B when dropping a bag, this may take extra time. There can be excessive queues at peak times ever since they merged the check-in zone K with BMI . 90 minutes is safer in this case, for any other other airline I would still stick my 60 minute scheme. Dump the bag, take the side entry near to zone B, usually brings you forward through security make sure you pick a fast moving queue (one with 2 belts and preferably no kids/elderly people) and you won't have any issues at all. MUC generally departs from the gates 16-21 in the corner of the 2nd big waiting lounge. Get some breakfast at Pret on the way as the LH sandwiches are vile.

-edit- sorry got the zones the wrong way around, fixed now.