What time should I arrive at the airport?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frequent traveler here. For 4-6pm flights, I arrive 2.5-3 hours early. For 8pm+ flights, I arrive 2 hours early.

I could shorten these by 30-45 minutes, but that accounts for the unexpected and I just sit in the lounge and do work if I have extra time anyway.

Thank you! I think what we’ll do is eat dinner early (5ish) at home and then plan to arrive at 6:30 to allow for any contingencies. Anyone flying out before 7 should be through security by then, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frequent traveler here. For 4-6pm flights, I arrive 2.5-3 hours early. For 8pm+ flights, I arrive 2 hours early.

I could shorten these by 30-45 minutes, but that accounts for the unexpected and I just sit in the lounge and do work if I have extra time anyway.

Thank you! I think what we’ll do is eat dinner early (5ish) at home and then plan to arrive at 6:30 to allow for any contingencies. Anyone flying out before 7 should be through security by then, right?

PP who listed out the flights per hour earlier. I think that's a solid approach and what I would do. Security line definitely starts to empty out from 6 PM onward.

[Anonymous]

I am in the better safe than sorry camp.
This is a holiday weekend and with Dulles, you just never know.

I flew out on a Tuesday evening once (never occurred to me there would be a long line) the line was so long that there was a line at the top of the stairs just to get to main queue. It was a nightmare. I was there 3.5 hours early (b/c my colleague called me and told me to get to the airport ASAP). B/c of the line I ended up checking my luggage (I had planned to carry on) in case I had to run. I did have to run and the door to the plane closed 5 min after I sat down.

You really just never know. I would say arrive at 6pm. Worst case for an earlier arrival is you wait at airport longer. Worse case for a later arrival is you miss your flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the better safe than sorry camp.
This is a holiday weekend and with Dulles, you just never know.

I flew out on a Tuesday evening once (never occurred to me there would be a long line) the line was so long that there was a line at the top of the stairs just to get to main queue. It was a nightmare. I was there 3.5 hours early (b/c my colleague called me and told me to get to the airport ASAP). B/c of the line I ended up checking my luggage (I had planned to carry on) in case I had to run. I did have to run and the door to the plane closed 5 min after I sat down.

You really just never know. I would say arrive at 6pm. Worst case for an earlier arrival is you wait at airport longer. Worse case for a later arrival is you miss your flight.

Sorry I just realized you said in July, not this weekend. Still stand by my advice.
You really just never know. You could splurge and get business class lounge passes. Then if all goes smoothly you have a nice place to relax and grab a snack before your flight.