What time should you leave for the airport?
Almost every missed flight starts with a departure time that was calculated forwards instead of backwards. Work back from the moment you need to be at the airport, and the whole plan becomes obvious.
Work backwards in four steps
- Be at the airport 2 hours before a European flight, 3 hours for long-haul.
- Subtract the driving time from your address, as calculated for your route.
- Add 30 minutes if you travel between 06:00–09:00 or 16:00–19:00.
- Add 15–30 minutes if you travel with children, a group or lots of luggage.
Worked examples
| From | Flight departs | Driving time | Leave at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 08:00 (Europe) | 30 min | 05:15 |
| Utrecht | 08:00 (Europe) | 45 min | 05:00 |
| Rotterdam | 11:00 (long-haul) | 60 min | 07:00 |
| Eindhoven | 07:00 (Europe) | 90 min | 03:15 |
What not to cut
Do not shave the margin because you have hand luggage only; security queues vary far more than check-in does. Do not assume an empty motorway at 05:00 either — the road to Schiphol fills up early, and roadworks are common at night.
When you book with us, tell us the flight time and we will suggest a departure that already includes these margins.