Airlines are required by law to assist passengers with disabilities, whether that’s guided assistance for someone who is blind or wheelchair assistance for people who suffer from impaired mobility. However, the Department of Transportation suggests arriving at the airport at least an hour before normal check-in times if you require this kind of assistance. That translates to three hours prior to domestic flights and four hours prior to international flights. 

Traveling during peak travel times (Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year’s, spring break, etc.) can easily add an additional hour at security. During holidays, it’s best to be extra cautious and arrive up to three hours before domestic flights and up to four hours before international flights.  

You’ll especially want to save additional time during the holidays if you: 

1. Don’t travel frequently 

2. Feel stressed about travel, and want extra time to help ease your worries 

3. Are traveling with kids, require a wheelchair or need help getting to the gate and extra time boarding 

If you don’t have to check bags, you may be able to skip the check-in counter and arrive at the airport later. To do this, you’ll need to check in online and download or print your boarding pass before arriving at security. 

By packing light and printing your boarding pass at home—or using a mobile boarding pass, if available—you can arrive at the airport a little later than the recommended times. You can also review carry-on baggage size limitations and pay fees online before you get to the airport. In that case, you may be able to print your luggage tag at an airport kiosk and drop your bag off at a designated spot—all without waiting in a long line. 

When skipping check in, try to use the following timelines. 

• For a domestic flight: arrive 90 minutes before your flight. 

• For an international flight: arrive two hours before your flight  

• Budget an additional 30 minutes for passport control. If all you have is carry-on luggage and your boarding pass, you should be okay. 

Trusted Traveler programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry help travelers get through security lines (or U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the case of Global Entry) more efficiently. But they’re no guarantee that you won’t still encounter lines when you get to the airport. No matter what program you’re part of, it’s a good idea to review your airport’s website ahead of time to make sure they have lines dedicated to your program. While you’re there, check the number of security lines available and see if they offer real-time updates on wait status. Even with these programs, you should still plan to arrive at least 60 to 90 minutes before departure for domestic flights, and 90 minutes to two hours early for international flights. Add extra time for peak travel periods. 

Parents know all too well that it takes much longer to do most things with children in tow. That’s why it’s a good idea to add as much as an additional hour so you have plenty of time to manage extra luggage and make sure your family is traveling safely. Plus, you’ll want to get to the gate early to take advantage of priority boarding with small children. This means families with young kids should plan to arrive at the airport even earlier than usual. 

• For domestic flights: up to three hours before the flight  

• For international flights: up to four hours before the flight 

If you’re sending your child on a flight alone, there are additional steps to go through when you arrive at the airport. Aside from the usual check-in process, you’ll need to fill out additional paperwork, pay any service charges to the airline, and obtain an “escort pass” to accompany your child to the gate. It’s probably a good idea to plan for at least an extra half hour to an hour, depending on the time of day and the season, to make time for these steps. 

The time of day you travel can affect how crowded the airport is. Aiming for flights that leave between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. will put you between heavier travel times in the early and mid-morning. Likewise, you’ll typically find fewer crowds in the late evening, around 9:30 p.m. and later. 

If you have the luxury of flexibility, it’s always a good idea to travel during off-peak times throughout the year. This usually means targeting the shoulder seasons of fall and spring and the slower periods in the weeks before or after major holidays. That allows you to not only get the best off-season deals but also avoid the crowds.  

It may not get you extra sleep, but traveling during these times can save you a half hour or more once you arrive at the airport. Check out the top destinations of the year. 

Getting to the airport by rideshare or public transportation can be relatively stress-free because it saves time that would otherwise be spent finding parking and taking shuttles from a parking lot. However, rideshares and some public transportation (like buses) still make you vulnerable to rush hour traffic jams. 

If you know you’ll be traveling during a peak time, it’s probably still a good idea to plan on the standard two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. If you’re heading to the airport at a slower time of day, then you can consider arriving a little later. Plan ahead and book your rideshare in advance or check public transportation schedules to make sure you don’t get stranded on the way. 

No matter how early you get to the airport, a delayed or canceled flight can ruin even the best of plans. Don’t forget to check your flight status frequently before you leave and when you’re en route (that is, if you aren’t behind the wheel). Airlines have apps to keep you in the know about potential delays, your boarding time and your flight’s gate number. 

Chances are, by following the two-hour domestic, three-hour international rule, you will have plenty of time before boarding, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry! 

Savvy travelers rely on many tools to help stay on track and on time. One of the most essential tools for any traveler is a good map app. Not only can map apps help you find the best route and public transportation options (or even link to ride share options), but they can also help you get to the airport on time. For example, if you use the “Arrive by” or similar filter to plan your route and method of getting to the airport, your app should update the time you need to leave based on current traffic conditions. You can even set an alarm to alert you when it’s time to head out.