At the airport
What to expect at the airport
Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, it is always sensible to arrive at the airport in good time.
Knowing what to expect and allowing yourself enough time can help to make your journey stress-free.
Before you arrive at the airport
Pack only valuables and things you will need during the journey in your hand baggage.
Keep in mind the following:
- if you carry any liquids in your hand baggage they must be in small containers of 100ml or less and fit comfortably in a single resealable bag
- if you are carrying gifts in your hand baggage do not wrap them
- do not put lighters in your hand baggage - if you carry a lighter you must keep it on your person during the flight
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Make sure you have your tickets, passport and other important documents, plus medication, car keys, valuable items and money in your hand baggage
Contact your airport or airline if you have any questions about your flight or the baggage rules that apply.
Getting to the airport
You should leave plenty of time to get to the airport. Your time will vary on the time of day you are travelling and the size of the airport. As a general rule you should aim to arrive:
- three hours before long-haul flights
- two hours before European flights
- 90 minutes before flights within the UK and Ireland
To save time and make your journey less stressful you should:
- know which terminal you are flying from
- keep tickets and passports handy
- make sure hand baggage and liquids meet the airline’s requirements
Airline security
There are very high security measures at all airports in Britain. Make sure you allow adequate time for check-in and boarding, and that you don't carry any of the following in your hand luggage:
- Scissors
- Razor blades
- Knives with blades of any length
- Household cutlery
- Tweezers
- Hypodermic needles (unless required for medical reasons)
- Tools or toy/replica guns (metal or plastic)
- Catapults
- Knitting needles
- Sporting bats
- Billiard, snooker or pool cues
- Darts