Domestic Flights within the US - when to get to the airport?
Discussion
Google says 2 hours before - is this realistic, or is it a case of "it depends"?
We've got 3 different US internal flights coming up.
Vegas -> New Orleans - departs 8:55am with Southwestern
New Orleans -> Ft, Lauderdale - departs 2:05pm with Southwestern
Miami -> Eleuthera - departs 12:05pm with American
The Vegas to New Orleans flight is the one I'd like to push the timings on, sod's law it's the first flight, so no chance to learn from experience. We will have checked baggage.
We've got 3 different US internal flights coming up.
Vegas -> New Orleans - departs 8:55am with Southwestern
New Orleans -> Ft, Lauderdale - departs 2:05pm with Southwestern
Miami -> Eleuthera - departs 12:05pm with American
The Vegas to New Orleans flight is the one I'd like to push the timings on, sod's law it's the first flight, so no chance to learn from experience. We will have checked baggage.
Surely Eleuthera is in the Bahamas, so not internal?
My experience of US airports is they can either be really quiet, or utter carnage. 1 hour does not allow for carnage and presumably you won't have any of the fast track security clearance and will need to quque up. Miami is an airport that is often utter carnage. My least favourite airport in the world.
My experience of US airports is they can either be really quiet, or utter carnage. 1 hour does not allow for carnage and presumably you won't have any of the fast track security clearance and will need to quque up. Miami is an airport that is often utter carnage. My least favourite airport in the world.
I would probably look at around 90 mins. Vegas airport is very busy so probably not worth pushing your luck too much although it’s Sod’s Law you’ll be through in seconds. New Orleans new airport is very smooth, I might chance my arm with that one.
Checked baggage doesn’t matter too much with Southwest, I’ve never queued to hand over my bag with them. They run a very slick operation.
Checked baggage doesn’t matter too much with Southwest, I’ve never queued to hand over my bag with them. They run a very slick operation.
Vegas will depend on what gate you are flying from too as the internal transport can be a ball ache - for internal US I always try to allow 90-120mins minimum.
Ive done several internal flights from major hubs (ATL / JFK / LAX / MCO / MIA) and have often needed more than 2hrs as its been so hectic and backed up.
Ive done several internal flights from major hubs (ATL / JFK / LAX / MCO / MIA) and have often needed more than 2hrs as its been so hectic and backed up.
Puggit said:
Surely Eleuthera is in the Bahamas, so not internal?
My experience of US airports is they can either be really quiet, or utter carnage. 1 hour does not allow for carnage and presumably you won't have any of the fast track security clearance and will need to quque up. Miami is an airport that is often utter carnage. My least favourite airport in the world.
My understanding is that the Bahamas are treated as a domestic flight from the US, but I could be wrong.My experience of US airports is they can either be really quiet, or utter carnage. 1 hour does not allow for carnage and presumably you won't have any of the fast track security clearance and will need to quque up. Miami is an airport that is often utter carnage. My least favourite airport in the world.
Point taken about Miami though.
My own personal record (not my fault) was 22 minutes before the supposed take off time.
I was with a US sales guy that cut things very fine. Despite my protestations, he'd rebooked our flights so that we could squeeze in an extra customer meeting before heading North.
It was San Jose Airport and he managed to convince them to open a new security line, get two very angry Brits through it, and get us to the gate just as they were closing it.
That was about the most stressful airport experience ever as we couldn't miss the next meeting in Seattle.
I was with a US sales guy that cut things very fine. Despite my protestations, he'd rebooked our flights so that we could squeeze in an extra customer meeting before heading North.
It was San Jose Airport and he managed to convince them to open a new security line, get two very angry Brits through it, and get us to the gate just as they were closing it.
That was about the most stressful airport experience ever as we couldn't miss the next meeting in Seattle.
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