CPH Realistic Check in Time
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2010
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CPH Realistic Check in Time
Flying CPH-EWR at 8 AM in business with a connection in ARN. Star Gold status. Suggested arrival time is 4 hours in advance. What is a realistic arrival time?
#2




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So the flight out of CPH is to ARN, not EWR, right? - in that case no need to budget time for immigration, etc.
I would say check-in time depends on a few factors: Do you have checked luggage? What day of the week are you travelling? - the latter, as e.g. a Monday morning would be much busier than a Saturday.
In any case I would not arrive more than ~2hrs prior to departure.
I would say check-in time depends on a few factors: Do you have checked luggage? What day of the week are you travelling? - the latter, as e.g. a Monday morning would be much busier than a Saturday.
In any case I would not arrive more than ~2hrs prior to departure.
#3
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US passport user flying SAS business class on CPH-ARN for a ticketed itinerary that goes CPH-ARN-EWR while having only standard luggage to check-in within the included baggage allowance for the ticketed itinerary? Then 90-100 minutes before check-in is the earliest I would get to CPH when having an 8am departure in SK premium cabin on the CPH-ARN flight.
3 hours before for such a trip as above? Way too early every day of a normal week out of CPH for capable, fully mobile adults. 3.25-4 hours before the CPH-ARN flight would be mad (unless there are serious flight disruptions and for some reason needing to deal with the ticketing service line at the airport on arrival).
3 hours before for such a trip as above? Way too early every day of a normal week out of CPH for capable, fully mobile adults. 3.25-4 hours before the CPH-ARN flight would be mad (unless there are serious flight disruptions and for some reason needing to deal with the ticketing service line at the airport on arrival).
Last edited by GUWonder; Apr 16, 2023 at 1:12 am
#4
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1 hour before. More if you want to use the lounge.
45min before is cutting it close, although you will probably be at the gate 10-15min after you entered Terminal 3 (there is a dedicated SAS fast track/security check)
45min before is cutting it close, although you will probably be at the gate 10-15min after you entered Terminal 3 (there is a dedicated SAS fast track/security check)
#5
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One hour before does work often. But with checked luggage and the possibility of the US Government kicking back in ways to the airline for check-ins on the way back to the US even before boarding on a CPH-ARN-EWR routing, 60 minutes can be cutting it too close if there is a hiccup at check-in.
If online check-in works the night before to produce a boarding pass with seat assignments, then 60 minutes is plenty for this itinerary when either having no luggage to check-in or having standard checked-in luggage within the included free checked-in luggage allowance.
If online check-in works the night before to produce a boarding pass with seat assignments, then 60 minutes is plenty for this itinerary when either having no luggage to check-in or having standard checked-in luggage within the included free checked-in luggage allowance.
#6
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You need to do online check in if you want to be at the airport 1h before departure. If SK doesn't think you are going to show up, they might sell your seat to someone else.
It depends on whether you are US passport holder, if you are not, they might suddenly ask you to show your ESTA. There are a handful of incompetence ground staff at CPH, I flew last month and I was asked to produce ESTA approval and my Coronapas.
It depends on whether you are US passport holder, if you are not, they might suddenly ask you to show your ESTA. There are a handful of incompetence ground staff at CPH, I flew last month and I was asked to produce ESTA approval and my Coronapas.
#8
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But you are clearly not obsessive about going to the airport early 
When you have no checked luggage and your BP in the SK app, you will be fine if you arrive at at the airport 45-60min before depart. The passport scrutiny, security questions etc for a US departure will be done at ARN, not CPH.

When you have no checked luggage and your BP in the SK app, you will be fine if you arrive at at the airport 45-60min before depart. The passport scrutiny, security questions etc for a US departure will be done at ARN, not CPH.
#9
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But you are clearly not obsessive about going to the airport early 
When you have no checked luggage and your BP in the SK app, you will be fine if you arrive at at the airport 45-60min before depart. The passport scrutiny, security questions etc for a US departure will be done at ARN, not CPH.

When you have no checked luggage and your BP in the SK app, you will be fine if you arrive at at the airport 45-60min before depart. The passport scrutiny, security questions etc for a US departure will be done at ARN, not CPH.
#10
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Thanks. US passports already loaded into the SAS app.
#11
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If you’re checking in baggage, pay attention to the baggage drop cut-off time so that’s not missed. Getting a checked baggage tag out of the machines on time is useful or even critical when traveling with checked luggage. Not sure if they are still willing to do check in luggage on the night before departures from CPH, but that is a consideration too if you can access the CPH check-in area while it’s open the night before your trip.
#12


Join Date: Oct 2018
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If youre checking in baggage, pay attention to the baggage drop cut-off time so thats not missed. Getting a checked baggage tag out of the machines on time is useful or even critical when traveling with checked luggage. Not sure if they are still willing to do check in luggage on the night before departures from CPH, but that is a consideration too if you can access the CPH check-in area while its open the night before your trip.
#13

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I’m returning on SK 925 CPH to IAD next Thur 18 May with 1245 departure. Star Alliance Gold, US passport/ Global Entry with no checked baggage.Am staying in Lund, Sweden. Intend on checking in online if SAS app ever gets fixed. What would be the latest I should expect to depart Lund by train to arrive CPH for orderly, unhurried check i ?
#14
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I’m returning on SK 925 CPH to IAD next Thur 18 May with 1245 departure. Star Alliance Gold, US passport/ Global Entry with no checked baggage.Am staying in Lund, Sweden. Intend on checking in online if SAS app ever gets fixed. What would be the latest I should expect to depart Lund by train to arrive CPH for orderly, unhurried check i ?
Don’t plan based on latest train departures from Lund. Plan based on what happens if there is a train schedule disruption and needing to hit the road by car/bus to at least Malm-Hyllie and then take a train and/or bus to CPH from Malm-Hyllie.
9:39 train departure form Lund C by train would be what I would do nowadays were Lund to CPH be relevant to me like it used to be. 9:19am train departure is even safer. I would definitely not leave Lund C before 8:59 for a May 18th flight to IAD. You can buy and activate the train ticket on the Skanetrafiken app on the phone on the day of travel from Lund to CPH — once it’s activated on the day of travel, the ticket remains active for the whole day on the phone even if without internet connectivity. That way you don’t need to worry about buying the train tickets at the station and losing time there.
Last edited by GUWonder; May 10, 2023 at 2:55 am
#15

Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 439
Similar situation, flying CPH ARN as the SJ high speed train isn't running the weekend of June 17th (track repair I believe) That said flying SAS smart plus with lounge access, prioity... with bags to check. Is 90 minutes enough arrival time? Also What is the configuration on the plus seating is it 3-3 or do they block out the middle seat ?

