SJC Arrival Time Question for Departure
Dec 21, 2016, 10:24 am
#1
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SJC Arrival Time Question for Departure
If my flight departs at 6:30am on 12/22 out of SJC, what time should I plan to arrive at the airport?
Should I expect it to be busy due to the holidays, even with the extremely early flight?
I have TSA precheck, but the some of my party does not.
Should I expect it to be busy due to the holidays, even with the extremely early flight?
I have TSA precheck, but the some of my party does not.
Dec 21, 2016, 11:43 am
#4
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I've seen some madness in SJC before, especially around the holidays.
We'll move this to another thread for a more regional perspective.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
We'll move this to another thread for a more regional perspective.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
Dec 21, 2016, 12:40 pm
#6
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With the possible exception of TLV, I'd never consider showing up earlier than 90mins before a flight (and that goes for intl from big hubs). Small airports at crack-of-dawn take away 30 mins.
Dec 21, 2016, 3:26 pm
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TWA884
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Dec 21, 2016, 5:05 pm
#9
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I see 12 flights scheduled to depart between 6 and 6:30 am. That's about 1200 passengers. Considering that some airlines often close the doors as much as 10 minutes before scheduled departure, arriving 30 minutes before scheduled departure even with TSA pre-check would be taking a substantial risk. One hour would be my minimum with a family without pre-check. Ask yourself what a few extra minutes of a relaxed departure is worth compared with a frantic dash or even worse, a missed flight, would mean. My slogan - I'd rather be in here wishing I was out there rather than out there wishing I was in here.
Dec 22, 2016, 12:45 am
#10
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I see 12 flights scheduled to depart between 6 and 6:30 am. That's about 1200 passengers. Considering that some airlines often close the doors as much as 10 minutes before scheduled departure, arriving 30 minutes before scheduled departure even with TSA pre-check would be taking a substantial risk. One hour would be my minimum with a family without pre-check. Ask yourself what a few extra minutes of a relaxed departure is worth compared with a frantic dash or even worse, a missed flight, would mean. My slogan - I'd rather be in here wishing I was out there rather than out there wishing I was in here.
I don't know if it's normal for SJC but considering that's a possibility, arriving a bit earlier than usual is probably a good thing to do.
Dec 22, 2016, 2:35 pm
#11
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Today the PreCheck security lane at SJC was the one farthest back looking from the front of the line. This meant that you had to wait with the non-PreCheck people for a little bit after the ID/boarding pass check, which slowed things down a bit.
I don't know if it's normal for SJC but considering that's a possibility, arriving a bit earlier than usual is probably a good thing to do.
I don't know if it's normal for SJC but considering that's a possibility, arriving a bit earlier than usual is probably a good thing to do.
Dec 22, 2016, 4:20 pm
#12
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Yep. Normally you turn left after the ID check station there and don't commingle with the others but apparently not yesterday.
Dec 24, 2016, 8:33 pm
#13
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