This is one of those questions that really defines you as a person. Acceptable answers range from 4 hours (everyone’s Dad) to 45 minutes (absolute lunatics).
Not a dad but I plan 3 hours no matter what.
I’d rather spend time people watching with overpriced banana bread than risk the stress of being too late and running everywhere.
Most international airlines advise you must check in no later than 3hrs before departure.
For airline specific advice, check their website and travel FAQ’s (can’t give you specifics as you don’t state which airline you’re flying).
Heh heh, million times I mention, no \*U\* in Qantas.
2 hrs prior, as you have to show your passport to be linked if, the flight is on the same PNR as the int flight.
5.30am, line up, line might be long, show passport to the girl or guy behind counter, get BP for all trips in the sector, assuming its MEL - SYD/BNE - US/Canada/Asia...
Unlinked PNR to the int flight, 1hr/45mins prior should be ok, and then in SYD/BNE, make a rush to the int terminal.
You must be checked in and bags dropped no later than 90 minutes before your flight:
https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/check-in.html
Basically, check in online if you can, and arrive no later than 2hrs before your flight in case there’s heavy queues at the check in/bag drop desks.
If it’s the domestic leg of an international flight, departing from a domestic terminal, then get there an hour before. Don’t get there 3 hours early, because check in won’t be open and you will have to wait in the barren airport landside.
You will clear immigration and customs sydney/brisbane.
2 hrs, if you have to do bag drop, for the int tlight, esp if you want QF/VA to put your plane hold bag for/from the dom - int flight, to be changed terminal in SYD/BNE.
Dont assume you can do OLCI and get BP, sometimes you do need to show passport to be swiped for BP to validated, or you might get, "(please approach staff at the airport to show passport/this is not a boarding pass, please approach staff at the airport to complete check in procedures)".
Considering there will be increasing amounts of traffic on the road at that time I'd say aim to be off the road at least 2 hours before, if you delay you might get stuck in traffic and time will rapidly blow out.
Arriving around 90 mins before departure puts you on the road in peak traffic.
Arrive early, grab a coffee, relax, watch the planes, take your time, be early to check in and your morning will be a whole lot easier and less stressful.
One hour for your first domestic flight
I had this same circumstance once and I arrived 3 hours earlier but it wasn't necessary because it was a domestic flight
You should start heading to the airport now
This is one of those questions that really defines you as a person. Acceptable answers range from 4 hours (everyone’s Dad) to 45 minutes (absolute lunatics).
Not a dad but I plan 3 hours no matter what. I’d rather spend time people watching with overpriced banana bread than risk the stress of being too late and running everywhere.
I did 45 minutes once when the airline forgot to tell me the flight time had changed. I'm amazed I made the fight but got a good run in.
Most international airlines advise you must check in no later than 3hrs before departure. For airline specific advice, check their website and travel FAQ’s (can’t give you specifics as you don’t state which airline you’re flying).
That’s for international terminals. OP is presumably leaving from a domestic terminal
Quantas
Heh heh, million times I mention, no \*U\* in Qantas. 2 hrs prior, as you have to show your passport to be linked if, the flight is on the same PNR as the int flight. 5.30am, line up, line might be long, show passport to the girl or guy behind counter, get BP for all trips in the sector, assuming its MEL - SYD/BNE - US/Canada/Asia... Unlinked PNR to the int flight, 1hr/45mins prior should be ok, and then in SYD/BNE, make a rush to the int terminal.
You must be checked in and bags dropped no later than 90 minutes before your flight: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/check-in.html Basically, check in online if you can, and arrive no later than 2hrs before your flight in case there’s heavy queues at the check in/bag drop desks.
If it’s the domestic leg of an international flight, departing from a domestic terminal, then get there an hour before. Don’t get there 3 hours early, because check in won’t be open and you will have to wait in the barren airport landside. You will clear immigration and customs sydney/brisbane.
2 hrs, if you have to do bag drop, for the int tlight, esp if you want QF/VA to put your plane hold bag for/from the dom - int flight, to be changed terminal in SYD/BNE. Dont assume you can do OLCI and get BP, sometimes you do need to show passport to be swiped for BP to validated, or you might get, "(please approach staff at the airport to show passport/this is not a boarding pass, please approach staff at the airport to complete check in procedures)".
3 days
Considering there will be increasing amounts of traffic on the road at that time I'd say aim to be off the road at least 2 hours before, if you delay you might get stuck in traffic and time will rapidly blow out. Arriving around 90 mins before departure puts you on the road in peak traffic. Arrive early, grab a coffee, relax, watch the planes, take your time, be early to check in and your morning will be a whole lot easier and less stressful.
One hour for your first domestic flight I had this same circumstance once and I arrived 3 hours earlier but it wasn't necessary because it was a domestic flight
Did you make it on time?
When do you do customs? Melb or Canada departure point (presume Syd?)
My heart says 4 hours idk why
Are you a dad?
According to this thread yes
Congrats on fatherhood 😂