[MiscIdeaMaker99]

That would be me!

I remember the times before September 11, 2001, when I could show up at the airport about 30 minutes before my flight, get through security (which was locally operated -- no TSA), get my boarding pass at the gate, and board. It was great!

People could also meet you at the gate when you arrived, instead of outside the security area. There would always be peoples' families and loved ones there waiting for them.

[dguest]

Geneva, CH, recommends that you arrive less than 2 hours before your flight departs.

If you are flying within Europe, without checking a bag, and have the QR code from your boarding pass, it always takes less than 30 minutes to get to the gate. Allowing an hour is more than safe.

[ruszki]

It’s good to assume that it heavily depends on airport, and time. I’ve been many times in the past years when just security took me more than 30 minutes. There are airports where it’s always less than 10 minutes (especially if you know some tricks), and there are airports where it depends on time. One hour is a good rule of thumb in Europe nowadays if you don’t have checked baggage. It would have been a stretch a few times, but I would have never missed a flight if I had been there only 1 hour before departure.

[simon1573]

Last summer was crazy for popular airports in Europe, with queues lasting for multiple hours just to get _to_ security. It was said that it was due to staff shortages due to layoffs during the pandemic though.

[secfirstmd]

I have flown out of there recently and this would have been terrible advice. Really bad queues for bag drop and security.

[glenngillen]

Come to Australia. These times still exist.

[euroderf]

At the right time on a good day, you can hop off the bus at Helsinki airport and be thru self-checkin AND security in about seven minutes flat.