Start with the non-negotiable: your latest check-in time.
Before thinking about traffic, set the incompressible milestone: the check-in deadline. Add the time needed to drop off a hold bag and pass through security. In short: you need to be physically at the counter well before ETA.
Useful point of reference: in the absence of a time communicated by the carrier, the ETA at EU airports is 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. It's always best to check the ETA for your specific flight, and then build your backlog around this milestone.
👉 To read:
- What time should you arrive for your flight? Anticipation tips by type of flight.
- Check-in at the airport: check-in procedure.
Calculate your "Home → Terminal" time with predictive tools
Navigation applications now include estimates based on history and real-time traffic.
Two useful reflexes:
- Google Maps: set "Leave at... / Arrive by..." to a specific date/time. The app calculates an estimated travel time for this time slot, based on typical traffic conditions and transport schedules (if you combine road + transport). Repeat the test with different departure times to visualize the impact of peak traffic.
- Waze: "Plan a trip": enter your desired arrival time at the terminal and let Waze notify you of the ideal departure time based on actual and predicted conditions. Handy for early-morning or rush-hour flights.
Pro tip: compare two "arrive for" routes 15 minutes apart. If the margin explodes, it's a sign that you need to leave earlier (unstable traffic).
Add a realistic airport margin based on your flight profile
Once you've estimated your door-to-door time, add your airport cushion. The DGCCRF reminds us of the general public benchmarks: ≥ 1 h before a domestic flight, 2-3 h for long-haul (procedures can lengthen the wait).
Use it as a basis, then refine it with the HLE of your flight and your situation (hold baggage? children? documents to check?).
👉 On the preparation side: check the baggage policy (dimensions, weight, oversize) to avoid a surprise at the counter.
How to estimate how long it will take to get to the airport
Objective: estimate the time needed to get to the airport based on traffic and flight times, without guessing.
- Note your ETA (e.g. 30 min for a domestic flight, 40 min for an international flight) and aim for a terminal arrival ≥ 1 hour before the ETA if you have hold baggage or documents to check.
- Plan your arrival at the terminal in Google Maps/Waze ("Arrive for" mode). Adjust your arrival time so that you can pass through security comfortably (e.g. +30 min if you're traveling with your family).
- Compare two departure times (e.g. 06:10 vs 06:25). Choose the more stable one and keep the longer one.
- Add micro-time: parking (shuttle), drop-off, walk to the hall, and random time (10-20 min). Apps warn you when to leave, but keep a margin.
- Re-check the day before: flight schedule unchanged? Check-in counter unchanged?
- Day D: start navigation in real time mode and follow "Start time" notifications (Waze) if you have activated them.
Minute checklist before you leave 🧳
- Documents and appliance: boarding pass, ID, visa, airline appliance, confirmation e-mail.
- Luggage: cabin and hold dimensions and weights conform, labels attached.
- Route: "Arrive for" option enabled, "Departure time" notifications activated.
To correctly estimate the time you'll need to get to the airport based on traffic and your flight schedule, first set your HLE, calculate a realistic driving time with Google Maps/Waze in "Arrive for" mode, then add an airport margin adapted to your situation. Enjoy your flight! 🛫
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