When to arrive at the airport (MEL) for SQ flight?

[bernardblack]

Departing MEL on SQ0228 next Tuesday afternoon. (So it's midweek, afternoon, and no longer within the school holidays.)

We are a family of four flying J, and will have checked bags. I have a TRS claim to make, but have it already entered in the app on my phone.

We will have access to multiple lounges and don't want to cut it too fine, but my family also won't want to spend unnecessarily long at the airport.

So: Arrive two hours before scheduled departure? Or is three or more necessary?

 

[ChrisMars]

I think two hours should be plenty fine. International is still very quiet. There was absolutly no queue last Friday at int MEL security and border, airport and lounge very quiet too.

 

[Scr77]

Your destination doesn’t require a Covid test Or proof of vaccination? These can slow down checkin. (SQ will be much better than what we had with QFi Melbourne)

 

[bernardblack]

We're headed to Italy and Spain initially. We won't need tests, and I think printed vax certs on arrival will suffice, but we'll have them for inspection at check-in if needed.

 

[clifford]

Why would you not give yourself the best chance of not missing your flight or being very rushed for the sake of an extra hour or so, especially as you will have access to lounges?

I know what I would do.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

3 hrs prior to dep with printed laminated vacc certs for all - just a no brainer until total certainty returns.

 

[dajop]

Two hours is enough. But with lounge access, I'd probably suggest 2.5 hrs. Everyone seems to want 3 hrs which means more people wanting to check in then, more people in security etc

 

[Cruiser Elite]

On Mar 31 I was headed to SIN on 228 dep 16:40 - arrived MEL ~13:30 - checkin already open - cursory view of printed laminated vac cert and I am checked in in 2 mins - YES I was in F and nobody in F line - nobody in J line either and they were pulling from Y line - security was just a total walk through even though the only 2 channels operating were both malfunctioning - I was in lounge within 20mins of arriving airport - from there on it’s total relaxation - why would you ever risk anything short of that - scoot the billy lids off and enjoy a couple hours where you totally have no pressure on yourself - so therapeutic

Now of course we are all different - but with that time just think of the head start you can get with your TR Seriously I am a perennial early arriver at airports - weeks if not months of planning and preparation my domestic or international flying experiences encompass the entirety of journey - no way I am ever going to risk lateness or time stress in any shape or form - life is just too short not to enjoy our unique opportunities to travel in a manner most of the masses totally envy and never get to experience - but as I said YMMV

 

[featheast]

This is a question not really related, but why laminated vaccine cert? Won't a plain printed A4 paper work (with a few spare photocopies in the bag)?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Absolutely it would but you are travelling and accidentsccould and do happen - laminated just adds another layer of protection to your cert - and no folding just slide it into your carry on - just a plan I follow

 

[DC3]

It would be prudent to arrive early. Please let us know how it all works out.

 

[bernardblack]

Absolutely it would but you are travelling and accidentsccould and do happen - laminated just adds another layer of protection to your cert - and no folding just slide it into your carry on - just a plan I follow

BTW Cruiser Elite, I hadn't thought of laminating but when you suggested it it seemed like a good idea so I uploaded all our certificates to Officeworks for click-and-collect lamination and we'll pick them up on the way to the airport.

 

[lovestotravel]

BTW Cruiser Elite, I hadn't thought of laminating but when you suggested it it seemed like a good idea so I uploaded all our certificates to Officeworks for click-and-collect lamination and we'll pick them up on the way to the airport.

I'd be picking them up a day or three beforehand

Never leave anything to the last minute if you can avoid it

 

[dajop]

I'd be picking them up a day or three beforehand

Never leave anything to the last minute if you can avoid it

But if they already have non-laminated print-outs, it's not the end of the world if there's a problem with it ....

My advice around "last minute" and "when to arrive at the airport" is always "you do you ..." (and just be prepared for the consequences of your decision, whether it's a mad frantic rush because you just got the airport in time because there were delays on the freeway, or kids chucking a tantrum because you arrived 5 hrs before the flight and are bored out of their minds...)

 

[lovestotravel]

But if they already have non-laminated print-outs, it's not the end of the world if there's a problem with it ....

My advice around "last minute" and "when to arrive at the airport" is always "you do you ..." (and just be prepared for the consequences of your decision, whether it's a mad frantic rush because you just got the airport in time because there were delays on the freeway, or kids chucking a tantrum because you arrived 5 hrs before the flight and are bored out of their minds...)

I couldn't imagine anything worse than stopping off at Officeworks on the way to the airport and hoping the kids behind the counter have actually printed off and laminated the documents, and adding 15-60 minutes to your trip.

My kids have more much fun at the airport watching planes/in the lounge or on iPads than sitting around at home waiting for the car to pick us all up.

 

[BCons]

Depends exactly when you are leaving and whether the airport is open. Yes, I mean the go thru to airside for security immig type of open.

a month ago we came up from HBA late arvo for a 10pm EK flight. Fair enough we couldn’t check in until 3 hrs prior to departure time, but when we did, we then found there wud be a further 40 min delay before ‘airside’ was open.

lack of staff due covid, and a gap in departure timing was given as the explanation..