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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Milo Boyd

How early should I get to the airport? Tips for easyJet, BA, TUI and more flights

Holidaymakers hoping to jet off on holidays are advised to know when to get to the airport ahead of travel chaos and queues continuing.

Off the back of the Easter holidays and half-term, during which massive waits and cancellations plagued airports including Gatwick, Manchester and Heathrow, even the most confident of fliers would be forgiven for being slightly apprehensive this summer.

This morning Gatwick announced that it would reduce its flight schedule over the next few months in a bid to keep things running smoothly.

Along with continued cancellations from BA and easyJet, the decision can be seen as a sign that the airport disruption will continue to be an issue for some months yet.

If you're due to fly, we've got guides on how to check if your flight is cancelled as well as your refund rights if you're affected.

Issues at airport could well continue throughout the summer (Jayesh Patel/MEN Media)

Another theme that continues to occur at the likes of Manchester Airport is concerned customers arriving too early for flights for fear of being caught in queues, only to then cause long lines.

Manchester Airport has subsequently urged passengers to arrive "at the earliest time your airline allows" for flights.

When it comes to the "earliest time" which airlines allow you to arrive at the airport, this can vary depending on whether you're flying a short-haul or long-haul journey.

To give you a helping hand, we've rounded up what the biggest airlines' policies are for arriving at the airport - including the earliest time they suggest you arrive.

Sign up to the Mirror's travel newsletter for more updates and holiday tips.

easyJet

easyJet's online check-in opens 30 days before departure and closes two hours before.

Bag drop opens two hours before departure on all flights, so this is the earliest time to arrive.

It's worth noting that if you're flying to Israel, this is extended to three hours before departure.

EasyJet bag drop opens two hours before departure (Getty Images)

TUI

TUI opens online check-in 14 days before your departure date. The airport Bag Drop desks open three hours before your departure time - so this is the earliest time you can arrive at the airport.

It's worth noting that this applies for TUI Airways - if you've booked a package that includes flights with a different airline, you'll need to check their own rules for bag drop and check-in.

British Airways

BA's online check-in opens 24 hours before your flight.

The airline recommends that you arrive at the airport two hours before short-haul flights and three hours before long-haul flights.

The airport check-in usually closes about 45 minutes to an hour before departure, so if you're planning to check-in at the airport you may want to give yourself some extra leeway.

Jet2

The airline's online check-in opens 28 days before your flight, and closes five hours before your departure.

Meanwhile, airport check-in desks open at least 2 hours 30 minutes before a flight departure time. Although Jet2 doesn't specify a recommended arrival time on its website, it does caveat: "Please arrive at the airport in good time, as our check-in desks will close 40 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

"By this point, you must have completed the check-in process."

Ryanair

Ryanair fines people who don't check in on time (Getty Images)

Advice on the Ryanair website states: "We recommend that you check-in baggage as early as possible, the Bag Drop desks open two hours prior to the scheduled flight departure time."

They warn: "The Bag Drop desks close strictly 40 minutes before the scheduled time of departure.

"If you miss this deadline your booking could be cancelled without refund and you could be prevented from boarding the plane."

Ryanair is very strict with online check-in and regularly fines people who don't do so online two hours before departure.

Wizz Air

Check-in starts two hours and closes 40 minutes before departure. In some cases, the airport check-in desk closes earlier.

Make sure to check the requirements for the specific airport you're flying from.

Have you been affected by the delays? Email us on webtravel@reachplc.com

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