How long international flight

What would it cost if you missed your flight? You may need to read the fare rules associated with your ticket to determine this. Below are some general rules of thumb to ensure you always know how early to arrive at the airport—and that you never need to make a mad dash through the terminal to catch your flight again.

If you have no bags to check, you're enrolled in TSA PreCheck , or you're able to check in online and acquire your boarding pass on your own, however, you can arrive 90 minutes before your flight's departure time.

Check-in time at larger air hubs can take 45 minutes to an hour, according to a Delta analysis of U. For smaller airports, Delta advises leaving 45 minutes for check-in procedures, and notes that you must complete check in by 30 minutes before your flight's departure. For smaller regional airports—something like, say Bozeman, Montana — you can probably safely shave arrival to the airport to 90 minutes ahead to check bags and 60 minutes out for carry-on bags only.

When traveling internationally, certain privileges, like using your TSA PreCheck or checking in online, often don't apply. With that in mind, airlines advise you arrive three hours ahead of departure time, to be safe. And while you might not need a coronavirus test to depart the U. When travel began to bounce back this spring, peak-hour airport processing times doubled, to three hours.

The greatest increases are at check-in and border control emigration and immigration , IATA says. On international flights, the plane is less likely to take off without you if your bag is already on board.

This also holds true for domestic flights, but the timeframe is usually 15 to 30 minutes from departure; check your airline's rules. It'll be noisier, sure, but if everyone else is scrambling for the front, you've got a far better chance of ending up with an empty seat or two beside you.

Before your flight, keep an eye on the seat map to see if there are any empty rows you can claim last minute. If you've got 'em, flaunt 'em. You'll thank yourself when you're reclining in a first-class seat, sipping Champagne and pretending to like caviar.

And if you don't have the miles, this is the time to splurge for a superior first- or business-class seat. Because, sadly, we don't always have the miles. A step up from regular economy class, premium economy might be slightly more expensive, but the benefits — priority check-in, extra legroom, comfortable seats — far outweigh the cost most of the time. Worth a go, isn't it? Arrive early, travel by yourself, dress nicely, and put on your best, most winning smile.

Your odds of scoring a last-minute upgrade are better if you have elite status with the airline. There are several things you can do before your flight to help avoid jet lag , or at least mitigate it. Spend the days before your flight adjusting your sleep patterns a few 4 a.

You can also book your flight so that it arrives during the day, make the most of your stopovers, and, most importantly, be well rested before you fly. Trust us, staying awake for the 24 hours before your trip because you're sure it'll balance out once you arrive just doesn't work.

The last thing you need before your long-haul journey is to panic your way through a busy airport — or to miss your flight. Have a nice breakfast. Go to the gym. Read a book. Go for a walk. It's important to relax before you embark on your journey. You'll need more for a long-haul flight than you would for a short one, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to overpack. Keep the essentials in your personal item so they're always within arm's reach. A small pillow is a staple carry-on item for long-distance travelers.

Almost every airport sells travel pillows, and looking a little ridiculous is a small price to pay for not destroying your neck. Related: 15 Best Neck Pillows. Face coverings are still required on planes, so be sure to stash several in an easy-to-reach spot to switch them out as desired. If you can't afford them, some high-quality earplugs will do just fine to block out the airplane noise or loud passengers.

If you plan to sleep at all during your flight, make sure your buckled seat belt is visible. In case of turbulence, the seat belt light will turn on, and flight attendants may come around the cabin to check that everyone is buckled up. And that really is the object of this whole exercise: to not miss the flight.

So the real question is whether to go with the airport and TSA recommended arrival times which are more generous, or the airline times, which cut it a little closer.

In this case, the airports and the TSA are absolutely correct. Never mind the overpriced airport food and the tacky duty-free shops your local airport want you to frequent, or the pat-down the TSA agents hope you'll endure. And forget the seasonal lull, which will probably be over by the time you're finished with this article. Phoenix Sky Harbor, for example, has an impressive collection of art more information can be found at skyharbor.

Terminal 4 has art dedicated to Arizona's weather on exhibit through March 19, for example. Don't forget to check out the car rental terminal artwork displays. Terminals there are connected by long, open-air walkways, where you can see the aircraft up close, smell the aircraft fuel and hear the deafening roar of aircraft engines revving up. Other observation opportunities can be found on the Spotters Wiki: spotterswiki. Sitting in a pressurized aluminum tube for hours at a time is no one's idea of fun.

But you can stretch your legs before you take off by walking through the airport terminal. The longest walkable concourse?

But you can always hop on the people mover to the next terminal and keep walking. Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate and editor at large for National Geographic Traveler. Contact him at chris elliott. Facebook Twitter Email. How early should you really arrive for your flight?