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

My observation in SFO on Friday morning has been that it depends largely on the airline.

DL had an average line as always, the line was a little longer at NW, but hey, the America West line stretched throughout the terminal and my guess is that for those customers, 3 hours would have been a good bet.
For sure, the elite check-in helps... so I would plan to arrive 1.0 - 1.5 hours before the flight to make sure.

I called to change a flight I had and when it was all done and over with the rep on the phone told me to arrive 4 1/2 hours ahead of time.

Live update from SEATAC this morning: security checkpoint for C/D/N gates was about 10 people deep and took about 10 minutes. It was chaos at each line. The most disturbing/wacky thing I saw was the people in front of me, the X-ray watcher called out to a friend of hers, who approached the couple and said, "do you have a... ehhh.... wine bottle open.... ehhh... open wine bottle....". Between the two of them, they couldn't come up with the English word for corkscrew. But I guess I should be heartened that they saw it? Although the people denied having one, so maybe it was a mistake.

The big line at SEATAC was the United coach check-in line. It was brutally long, I'd guess 2 hours. As each flight started to be 1.5 hours away, they called people out of line and made a new line at the former position for purchasing tickets. 1K line took us about 5 minutes to clear. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Premier line was average length (as compared to 1 month ago)

I just flew the UA red-eye out of SJC on Thurs. night... connecting through ORD. I left my home around 2 hours to departure. My biggest wait was waiting for the shuttle bus from the parking lot. There were only 5 people in front of me at the ticket/check-in counter and one person in front of me (i.e. NO wait) through security. Plenty of time to sit around and wait before boarding...
However, I should note that my SJC/ORD flight was COMPLETELY SOLD OUT... not an empty seat on the plane!

I noticed VERY long lines to get through security at BWI, though...




[This message has been edited by badgerfan (edited 09-30-2001).]

Over here in Europe, it's basically back to business as usual.

Did a CGN-TXL-CGN daytrip this week, and neither did I need to show my ID card anywhere (used the unstaffed automated check-in kiosk that operated as usual) nor was security any other than ever before.

Ticket-counter did not open before 5am and airside was opened at 5:30, as were the lounges, so with my 6:15 departure, I would have been pretty much pissed off if I had arrived at 4:15 as LH suggested.

At CGN I just went through the metal-detector, and without setting it off, I just picked up my stuff from the X-ray. AT TXL, excactly the same procedure, though I saw people that did set off the metal detector being ward-checked, even at their feet, which was new to me (ward check of your shoes, that's the new one for me). The only extra security in CGN is that all checked luggage is X-rayed before you check it in (formerly this was done only for a few randomly choosen bags) and gets tagged with a band, but no sings of that in TXL.

As to security, I did not notice any increase in police or armed guard which always have been present at airports in Germany.

Greetings - Dirk

Two other things I thought of that might be interesting.
1) They really are making you take your laptop out and x-ray it separately. It did not warm my heart to have this lady take my laptop, set it on top of the cage around the x-ray output, and yell out "COMPUTER!" It lead to a general sense of "what the heck is going on around here?" that everyone going through security had.
2) They have definately turned up the sensitivity on the metal detectors. The metal buckles in my wife's birkenstocks set it off. Answer: "go through more slowly", sure enough, didn't get set off the second time.

I just received an e-mail from Continental which included the following Frequently Asked Question:

Question: Do I have to show up at the airport two hours early?

Answer: Even with all the new enhanced security, arriving one hour early for domestic flights should give you plenty of time. Please continue to arrive 2 hours early for international flights.

For both of the flights I have taken recently, I did wind up having a long wait at the airport after arriving two hours early. Security procedures were more intense, but I never waited more than about ten minutes to get through the line.

I think there's something to be said about loose lips sinking ships, so I don't think it's appropriate to mention specific procedures or specific airports in a public forum. But for what it's worth, my recent travel included on major hub airport, one medium-sized airport served by most airlines (where I encountered the ten-minute wait), and one small airport served only by commuter airlines.

On my next trip, I think I will call the airport (and not the airline) to ask how long the security lines are running.

I flew SJC-ORD at 0625 this morning on UA, and the check in process and security had radically changed from what I encountered on a Friday morning last week.

I was in the F line, which was only 5-6 deep, but it moved very slowly. When it was my turn, the agent left (literally, we saw her walk out the doors of the airport), after telling me to step back into line. I had to wait for the nearest economy check in agent who was dealing with a family with a stroller and child seat. Last week I was through this line in 5 minutes-- this week it took 20-25 minutes.

Security had bigger delays, too. The 30-40 people for the morning flight last week had turned into probably no less than 100 people, snaking back into the airline check in area. Everyone with a laptop had to take them out of the bags and run them through the scanners. It seems like a number of people could not follow the instructions that were very clearly shouted, as they would send their laptops through in bags, just to have them stop the belt, hand them back to the person, and tell them again that they had to be out of the bags. After clearing the scanner, each laptop was carried over to a side counter to be swabbed and tested.

I arrived inside the airport about an hour ahead. I cleared security at the exact time my flight was due for departure (0625). Fortunately, they held it for about 10 minutes, though I suspect a number of people never made it through security.

I guess an hour for SJC, in the morning, using the F line, isn't going to work anymore, at least for UA.

Saturday morning in Sydney--All passengers boarding the United flight to SFO had all carry on luggage hand checked at the boarding gate. This was after passing through other security. This created a long line to enter the gate. It took about 45 min to get through the line. Of course, since the line was at the boarding gate, the flight was not taking off until everyone was checked.

A side effect of this extra inspection was that I was forced to check my suitcase that even though I was in first class.

I flew with AA from LGA-YYZ on 9/29/01 and checked in at the first class counter 70 minutes before departure and was greeted kindly as usual. Noneone said anything to me about the three hours. However, there were about 50-60 people waiting in the regualr line.

early morning Monday I had a trip through BWI on WN. 20 minutes through security.

There were very long lines to check bags, though. They looked like they were 1 hour or more. I saw these lines at ticket counters for CO, UA, WN that I walked by.

The elite lines were short or non-existent.

First/Elite check-in lines have become or more value than ever. With access to them, an hour early should more than suffice.

Anyone know what the security lines have been like at PDX in the early AM?

I just returned from an EWR-SFO-EWR trip. The outbound flight left at 8am, and I was at the airport by 6am. No one was in the 1k line when I arrived, and I had my BP in a couple of minutes. The line to security was about 40 people deep, and the entire process took nearly a half hour. They do insist on x-raying laptops separately, and they also sniffed mine. I killed time in the RCC, and when I left at 7:30am, I glanced over my left shoulder as I turned right towards the gates, and saw that the line to security had nearly vanished. There were only two ID checks: at the check-in counter up front, and then again at security. There were no further ID checks down by the UA gates pre-boarding.

It was interesting to hear the captain trip over the flight number, as he clearly wasn't used to the 8am departure being anything but UA 93 (it is now 73).

On the return leg today, there was no one in the 1k/first line, but I had problems with my e-ticket (long story) and the agent wanted to assess me a $100 change fee. I didn't want to pay it, so I hunted down one of the senior supervisors, and was able to get him to over-rule the agent. That took 30 minutes.

The line for security was not too deep - maybe 10 people, and the whole process was about 4 times faster than at EWR two days prior. Again, I was asked for ID only on initial checkin, and then at security. No ID was requested at the gate.

The lines at SFO for luggage check were horrific. Yesterday, a business associate had someone loan him a golf club, which got him into the oversized baggage line, where there was no wait. He then checked his normal bags there as well. He had come to the airport 2+ hours in advance, and he said that if he had to wait in line, he would have probably missed his flight.

Thanks Richard... just the info I was looking for. I have a 7am flight... so I'm planning to arrive around 5:30am or so... hopefully that's good timing...

I've done two roundtrips since the Attack on America(tm). For both trips I had an E-ticket and did not check bags. Three times out of four, I got there early I was able to go standby on a previous flight (actually, for one segment I got there at 9am when I was scheduled to fly a redeye, but I knew there was plenty of space and I made a 9:55am departure easily). The one time I didn't get on earlier flight was when my flight was the first one of the day -- still had more than an hour to kill.

A few things I've changed about my airport procedure: I bring along my passport instead of my driver's license and I put every possible piece of metal into my carryons before going through security -- this includes watch, coins, keys and belt if possible. I have yet to have my bags searched. Biggest wait at security was about 5 minutes at LGA today.

An article in Friday's WSJ echoes the sentiment that "2 hours early" is usually far more than you need.

Actually, I think I'm enjoying airports a bit more now. Fewer people, easier to go standby.

No line for e-service, first class or security for CO at DFW this morning (9:30am). Line for economy didn't look too bad.

Terminal D (CO,UA,HP,AC,Air Tran)secuirty line at PHL around 5:40pm looked to be a good hour today. Terminal E line (TW,DL,AF,NW,ATA,National, Midwest Exp)looked much shorter (maybe 15 minutes). NY Times reported 1/4mile lines at US Airways in PHL.

I've flown out of LGA, EWR, ORD, and MSY since Sept 11, and I agree with the post above that it's probably unwise to comment on specific security procedures in place. As a UA 1K, my ticket counter check-ins have been extremely fast, but I have seen long non-elite check-in lines only at ORD. My experiences through security have been generally relatively fast, but my significant other and his coworkers have been finding DEN to be very, very slow.

You will need at least 2 hours on Monday mornings out of DEN. I've flown out on the 7:45am DEN-MSP for the past two weeks in a row and it has been a mess!

Check-in: 45-60 min. Both weeks so far UA has been allowing anyone into the Premier/FC check-in line. And UA wonders why biz travel is down...

Security: About 30-45 min.

Parking: Waited 30 minutes this morning to get into the east garage parking. A National Guard carrying an M-16 was searching every car.

I really used to enjoy traveling every week on business. I am now trying to do everything I can to get staffed on a local project in Denver.

SAN this morning was a breeze -- however, elite check-in was a definite plus http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

Flew BOS-ATL on Fri. 9/28. First flight out at 6:08a. Arrived at 4:15a, only to find out that Delta personnel start work at 5:00a. Even with e-tix, we couldn't get down concourse as security grate was not raised until 5:00a. Only airport and airline personnel allowed through security door prior to 5:00a. Delta personnel checked e-ticket receipt and ID prior to scanner, I was patted down and my son's bag was searched, while state police and border patrol looked on. The scanners seem so sensitive that you would probably set one off even if you were to pass through naked.

Side note: Interesting to watch a Border Patrol agent walk through x-ray with a backpack on his back...no questions asked. That's one of the reasons why BOS gets poor marks for security, along with the fact that many of the security people are seriously lacking in a variety of skills. I vote to raise their pay but require everyone to pass an aptitude test.

Coming back ATL-BOS on Sunday, 9/30, the kiosks were hardly used and the line at FC/Medallion was about 25 deep. The "steerage" line was at least 100 deep. The lines to the scanners were all snaked back to the baggage carousels but I observed that many people were treating it as a "kiss-ride" dropoff, with spouses, kids, and significant others standing in line until their flying partner made it to the front. All-in-all, about a 30-minute wait.

The concourse was crowded, even though only travelers were allowed on it, but nowhere near the number of people who are usually there on a Sunday afternoon. I would not want to own an airport business right now.

Surely the answer is simple logics:

Arrive 2 hours before dept. : wait in the lounge for 1 hour 58 minutes

Arrive just before dept. : 2 hour wait for security

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Forget getting through security at Pittsburgh in less than an hour. We were there yesterday (Monday) at 6:45 a.m. and waited through a line of at least 200. We almost missed our plane as a result. My suggestion would be three hours there.

I just flew BOS-SLC-BOS and didn't have any trouble in either airport. I ended up with a LOT of time on my hands in the airport.

I flew out of Boston on 9/27 mid-morning. The check-in lines at DL were a little long but not terrible. No problem with security at all.
I flew out of SLC on Monday, mid-afternoon. The coach check-in line was quite long (maybe half hour?) but First Class/Medallion was very quick. Security can be quite a problem at SLC but there was no back-up there at all. I noticed they've added additional machines since I was there last.

Of course your mileage may vary!

this morning at MCO, I was staying in the Hyatt at the airport. Flight at 7:30. Made my way to security at 6 AM. Through security in one minute. At the gate at 6:05.

Same thing on the Sunday AM outbound at O'Hare, pretty quick through the lines. And when I landed at ORD today, also no line at T3 security.