EWR-SFO-PPT Check in Time
Jun 27, 2023, 11:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 501
EWR-SFO-PPT Check in Time
Flying business on Saturday July 8. Departure is at 6:30 am. We are staying at an airport hotel which has a shuttle every 30 minutes. Is taking a 4:30 shuttle to the airport (probably a 5 minute drive) OK?
Jun 27, 2023, 11:35 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,767
Are you checking luggage?
Are you a MP elite?
Does your party have any mobility or security issues?
Does everyone in your party have their travel documents in order?
How important is it to you that you make this flight/trip as scheduled?
Are you a MP elite?
Does your party have any mobility or security issues?
Does everyone in your party have their travel documents in order?
How important is it to you that you make this flight/trip as scheduled?
Jun 27, 2023, 11:40 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,227
With PreCheck and no bags to check, 4:30 shuttle definitely adequate. If you have bag(s) to check, I might opt for 4am shuttle, knowing I have lie-flat seats lined up for trip and squeeze a bit more time in PL for breakfast if I'm at door 5am.
Jun 27, 2023, 1:38 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G
Posts: 884
Take the 4am. While the TravelReady Center may claim that all of your documents are in order, it just takes one check-in clerk to misinterpret rules or have some other problem with your documents, and you miss your flight. Further, hotel shuttles aren't run by perfectionists, and the 4:30am driver may not show up on time or find that the van has a flat tire. What's the cost of a half hour of sleep relative to a stressful ride to the airport, or even worse, a ruined vacation to Tahiti?
Jun 27, 2023, 2:00 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Under the Cone of Silence
Programs: UA Gold; AA Dirt; HH Diamond; National Emerald; CONTROL SecretAgent Platinum; KAOS EvilFlyer Gold
Posts: 1,513
One should not plan per the expectation that things will go correctly.
One should plan per the expectation that some things will not go correctly, the probability of those things not going correctly, and the severity of the consequences if those things don't go correctly.
If it were me I'd be on the 4:00 shuttle.
One should plan per the expectation that some things will not go correctly, the probability of those things not going correctly, and the severity of the consequences if those things don't go correctly.
If it were me I'd be on the 4:00 shuttle.
Jun 27, 2023, 2:49 pm
#10
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
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Posts: 19,727
i would rather be post-security and in the lounge with 60 minutes before boarding, wondering what to drink first, than in a long security line pre-security 60 minutes before boarding, wondering whether I'll make the flight.
Jun 27, 2023, 2:54 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,255
Just in case that's important to you.
Jun 27, 2023, 5:10 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Posts: 10,926
Take the 4am. While the TravelReady Center may claim that all of your documents are in order, it just takes one check-in clerk to misinterpret rules or have some other problem with your documents, and you miss your flight. Further, hotel shuttles aren't run by perfectionists, and the 4:30am driver may not show up on time or find that the van has a flat tire. What's the cost of a half hour of sleep relative to a stressful ride to the airport, or even worse, a ruined vacation to Tahiti?
If the 430am driver isn't showing up, but no problem with the 4am driver. There is usually only one driver for the specific time period.