We need to check in early just because we have to queue up?

Last week I had this debate with my girlfriend regarding whether we should arrive at the airport early for check in.

Almost everyone in this page would be a business traveller. For a traveller who travels infrequently, arriving 2-3hrs earlier would help them navigate the "airport" setup with adequate time near the boarding gate. I do not think many people go to airport to spend money on food.

An airport will tell you to arrive early in case there are long queues at both check in and security. For those who don’t have lounge access, they are hoping you will spend and browse the airport retailers, helping to promote the retail experience.

Airlines request passengers check-in 3 hours before their flight because it is more convenient for them to have everyone checked in earlier for the flight, rather than later. If check-in closed 45 minutes before departure and everyone arrived 60 minutes before they would not have everyone checked in in time.

The benefit of arriving early is peace of mind. Cutting it too close and you run the risk of missing your flight because of unforeseen circumstances. The consequence of missing a flight is far greater for most people than the inconvenience of being too early and waiting around.

I agree with arriving early, and that if you have a lounge pass then sitting and relaxing after dealing with the various bureaucratic steps is a good thing before a long flight. The other advantage is that it provides a buffer if something goes wrong e.g you forgot something or in my case last month the flight was cancelled and so they squeezed me onto an earlier flight rather than a later flight that may have missed the international connection.

It also leaves a buffer if you realise at checkin at Heathrow that you left your passport in the hotel safe...

In these days of self service, the only reason to get there early is to make use of the lounges. Online check and multiple bag drop stations means less queuing. Personally it's a case of minimal time sat around in Sydney at the QF lounge the better. Now when in the UK or the US I do leave plenty of time or enjoy the lounges but also a precaution. London, LAX or JFK traffic and commute to the airports can be long.

not necessarily it helps to be early to get formalities out of the way before the flights.

A few weeks ago my booked taxi did a no show and that late run for the airport and all the stress involved was awful! It confirmed that my usual approach of arriving nice and early and settling in to the lounge for a coffee/drink then strolling onto the flight is the way to go.

arrive early, have a shower and jump onto a long flight is my pick.