International Travelers?

[springer02]

We are leaving for Honduras (scuba diving) in a few days and I was wondering if there are any seasoned International Travelers out there.  My BIG question:  do we really need to be at the airport 2.5 - 3 hours before departure?  We leave at 6 am.......  on a Saturday.....how busy can it be?

Thanks in advance,

Tena

[Harhir]

On international flights they recommend to be at the airport 2 to 3 hours before departure. We travel to Europe a lot and this is common now. Especially since 9/11. All the security checks including the lugagge checks take a loooong time.
You also have to wait, wait, wait, .....
I flew out to Germany in May from Dallas and I waited over one hour in the queue in front of the check-in desk. Just to get the tickets. After that they screen all the lugagge before it is been loaded in the plane.

[6Quigs]

I agree with Harhir, you do need up to arrive at the airport up to 3 hours before hand, espacially if you also need to factor in traffic getting to the airport, parking (if in long term parking and you need a shuttle). Then once inside the airport, the queues( or lines) to check in can take up to an hour or more. Then you have to line up again to pass through security to get through to the gate area.
Remember, this is all being done in the interest of your safety, so please plan on arriving early, expect long lines, and if the lines are short, then you get time to browse through the duty free, and can relax, and get started on that holiday book you planned on reading, remember, you are on holiday, so enjoy yourselves.

[brainpause]

In my travels in the past 3 years, I have generally arrived 2-3 hours before hand, and usually sat around for 1.5 -2.5 hours.

On the last trip, I told the DW that I'd rather be towing a fiver than sitting in an airport.  :mad:

Larry

[Diplomat]

I lived and worked overseas for much of the last 24 years so I figure I'm pretty 'seasoned'.  Some of the early arrival is so that there is plenty of time to get all the luggage screened and on board AND still have the flight leave something like on time.  Early check in is particularly important for international flights!  Since you are likely spending a large portion of your hard earned $$$$ for this trip I think that you would rather be inconvenienced by getting to the airport 3 hours before flight time than you would to wait an extra day or so for your luggage to catch up with you in Honduras.  Honduras is a country located in a part of the world that is not noted for it sense of urgency.