As airports prepare for heavy traffic during school holidays and summer months, travellers may need to know when to arrive. Airlines have different expectations for bag drop-off times and gate closures.
TUI
TUI advises passengers to arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure for short and mid-haul flights. For long-haul flights, they recommend arriving 3.5 hours before. Passengers can check their specific itinerary via 'Manage My Booking' on the TUI website.
easyJet
easyJet suggests arriving at least two hours before departure. Bag drop-off desks typically open two hours before and close 40 minutes to an hour before the flight. Boarding starts 40 minutes before departure and closes strictly 30 minutes before.
Ryanair
Ryanair recommends a strict two-hour arrival time, matching when bag drop-off and check-in desks open. The boarding gate must be reached at least 30 minutes before departure, as gates close 20 minutes beforehand. Some Reddit notes advise allowing longer at busy airports like London Stansted or during peak months.
Jet2
Jet2 recommends arriving at least two hours before departure. Check-in desks close 40 minutes before. For hand luggage only passengers who already have a boarding pass, they can arrive as late as 90 to 120 minutes before departure.
