Hutch

So even if you get to the airport early, you're actually making things worse!

C&R

Passangers trying to check in 5-6 hours earlier - are they insane?

Amazulu

Great, just as we about to head over there. I won't be checking in 6 hours early though!

Nu-Shooz

How annoying the general public can be. 5-6 hours early is ridiculous

It's like panic buying..the 'petrol' situation afew years back. We the public bleed them dry!!

Olias

Oh I don't know, I like to check in early, then I can get rid of my bags, sit down with a beer and a paper, and chill out knowing that I'm in no rush

seat151

I've often checked in as early as possible...then gone home for something to eat, before making our way back to the airport!

Hutch

Has to be one up-side to living under the flight path, right?

Vash the Stampede

No, they're British.

Oh wait...

BadgeIsBack

See the checked-in luggage as collateral!

They have it, they ain't going anywhere until they're satisfied you're near it (whilst the plane is away from the stand) so relaaax.

I used to enjoy doing the opposite walking across the tarmac from the office and walking on, with only hand luggage and be back at my old man's (under Heathrow's flightpath) in just over an hour.

But I had to be on time. Oh yes!

Pollyana

At least by getting there early you avoid being stuck in traffic etc and getting there late....how many of us have seen Airline with all those people who cut it too fine and miss their flights?

LauraC

And then they start shouting at the staff because they were late!

I had no idea you could check in 5-6 hours before a flight, I thought the earliest was 2-3 hours before, at least it has been on every flight I've been on. 5 hours hanging around an airport? Boring.

I'm all for checking in early but 5 hours is excessive.

chrisandvee

Gordon brown is talking crap. Wouldnt it make the waiting times less if everybody checked in early there wouldnt be a mad rush at security? It only causes a problem surley if everybody turned up late for their flight. Excuses excuses

AndyR1976

Not that long ago I went skiing from Gatwick - due to the availability of transport to the aiport (for 18 people and assocaited ski gear) we arrived about 5 hours before our flight was to depart - I was thinking to myself I was going to go mad sitting around the airport for hours before take off!!

Lucky we got there so early though.

Check in took 2 and a half

took nearly 2 hours to get trhough security, passport control, x-ray machines etc (massive queues).

Only just got to the gate as the flight was boarding!

Security is getting so tight it seems to take ages to get anything done at the airport - we worked out it would have been quicker to get the train to the ski fields - it was more than 12 hours door to door - eurostar would have done it in ten!!

medwaymark

Must admit that we are early birds. The main reason I try and get there early is because it can take anything from 45 minutes to 5 hours to get to Heathrow! I would much rather be there and spend 5 hours wandering around then panicking about missing my flight in a traffic jam.