Do I REALLY Need to arrive 2 hours early?
 

My first post 9/11 business trip starts next Monday. (BTW: The schedule has changed 3 times due to flight cancellations.)

I'm wondering if I truly need to arrive 2 hours early for a domestic flight. If the planes are as empty as the airlines claim and I can use Elite check-in, do I really have to allow 120 minutes? Even for the segment with 6:30 a.m. departure? I doubt the airline's ticket counter opens before 5:00 a.m.

What have been other people's experiences?

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On the road,
In the air,
I enjoy travel
From here to there.

YYZ-LAX, 9/20, 6:30am departure from Pearson: No difference
LAS-YYZ, 9/23, 7:55am departure from McCarren: No difference

First class check-in outbound and return.

At least for this trip (N=1 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif) Nothing different than usual, other than more ID checks.

Sean


[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 09-28-2001).]

Last weekend roundtrip:

At ORD last Friday for an afternoon flight on UA, Parked at car at Thrifty at 4:04pm, got my Boarding pass at 4:17pm (using the self check in inside the terminal) cleared the metal detector at 4:23pm. I would have been less time if not for the lady in front of me with a backpack, carryon bag, a parse and a waist-pack; I couldn't believe they let her pass (carry on limit, not security).

For the flight back from LAX (Sunday morning) getting to the terminal from Parking lot B was the biggest delay factor, once I was at the terminal the whole process (getting boarding pass and clearing security) took less than 15 min.

In both cases I was able to catch an earlier flight (I only had one small carry on bag).

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Sagy

It seems to vary airport by airport, day by day.

On Saturday at SFO I was through security and ready to check-in at the gate within 10 minutes of arriving.

Others have given reports of needing 3-4 hours at DEN.

Boy does it vary. And probably by time of day. I whisked through DEN last Sunday at 11 am. About 10 people in the screening line.

Here's the potential problems I've seen:

* Flights before 7 a.m.: Since a lot of the ticket counters do not open until 5:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. (or even later), there may be long lines for the first flight of the day. (But since you have elite privileges, you won't be stuck with this wait.)

* Random hand checks of checked luggage: These stations have been understaffed at some airports. Combine this with the rush to check in for the first flight in the morning, and you may have a mess. I waited 40 minutes for a hand-check at SJC before a ticket agent came over and told me to board the plane and that my luggage would follow on a later flight.

PEople without luggage are averaging about seven minutes from check-in to gate in many places due to the lack of other fliers.

Arrived at COS last Saturday morning at 0500 for a 0625 flight. Checked in regular line, as noone was staffing FC counter. Only had my boarding pass checked before going through normal xray security. Changed to an earlier departure to DEN since I had so much time before my scheduled flight.

Arrived at RDU at 1005 Sunday for my initial 1155 return flight. Checked in FC line, and had a picture ID checked in addition to normal xray security. Had LOTS of time to spare prior to departure.

It seemed to me at both airports that it is the folks who are checking baggage that are being subjected to the slow hand searches, especially those items that are large and will not pass through the xray "templates" at selected airports, and even then was told the searches are randomly selected. I had only an over-the-shoulder carry-on, so breezed through.

Things are getting worse at the airports. the problem is not at check-in, but security.
Burocratic stupidity in the name of SECURITY reigns supreme. You are a terrorist until you prove otherwise. Special checks for laptops,and those who set-off the metal detectors, random baggage checks etc. What used to take 20 min even after Sep 11, now takes up to two hrs at SEATAC (Seattle Intl) The President wants us to fly, then the FAA mandates even stricter security checks. Go figure!!!

I just arrived at SEA about two hours ago. Thank goodness I was leaving the airport instead of taking a flight out.

Never in my life have I seen lines for security as long as I did today. Heck, I've seen shorter lines for popular concert tickets.

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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: Mileage Workshop

Exactly correct. At smaller airports, it's a waste of time to arrive two hours ahead. Just went through GRR. With NWA's e-ticket kiosks, it took three minutes to check four family members in with luggage. No delay at security. Ditto at PHL.

And if you're flying smaller airlines like Midwest Express, check-in is equally fast.

My partner flew out of PHL on 455pm flight yesterday on CO. His report:

FC/Elite Check-in: 1 person
Regular Check-in: Long line, reported to be 1.5 hours.
E-service check-in: Line 10 deep
Security: 45 minutes, including a security frisking that was a bit too friendly.

If you are in Philadelphia, be prepared. They have shut down security for terminal C and it caused serious delays through security throughout the airport. Today (Friday at 4:00pm EST)it took me an hour and 45 minutes to get to my gate without even checking a bag. If I would have had to check a bag I would have waited another 90 minutes, minimum. Also, don't think that First Class or Elite Membership will reduce your delay on US Air (in PHL). There are no elite lines.

On the other hand smaller airports, like Kansas City, are a breeze.

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US Silver
Hilton Diamond
Hyatt Platinum
AA Gold

I flew last weekend LAX-EWR-YYZ-EWR-LAX. I parked at the Hilton LAX and took the shuttle bus alone. Once in terminal 6 at CO, no one in line, checked my luggage, went through security with a briefcase that was x-ray'd only, 15 minutes from counter to the Presidents Club. I was asked for ID 4 times within 100 feet of each check, at check in, at the bottom of the stairs, and the top of the stairs, and after the metal detector. I was also asked to show ID at the boarding gate and the FA onboard was checking boarding passes.

At EWR, I was asked for ID upon arrival at the gate. In YYZ at immigration, just asked simple questions. Upon leaving YYZ for EWR, just asked simple questions again and asked for ID upon boarding.

At EWR, asked for ID at boarding. I have noticed that LAX does not have security checking for luggage as you leave the terminal as they always did in the past.

PHX & Vegas have not been a problem, though traffic in Vegas is picking back up. Went through the inspection to use the parking garage at PHX, took maybe a minute.

Security was a little tighter, my daypack got "sniffed" (yet again!), but they moved us on through.

I suspect as travel picks up, we'll see more delays. I see the added security as no problem for the peace of mind and freedom to travel it provides.

I may yet book that trip to Europe for December!

JP