Holiday travels

[DEAGLER]

First time ever traveling for Christmas/big holiday for that matter. Planning to fly out Christmas eve. I normally leave 2 hours prior to take off. How early should I expect to leave?

[Snowman78]

3.5 hours prior

[SouthPaw]

I'd double it. If anything, it leaves more time for bloody mary's.

[wctriumph]

You should plan on being at check in/ ticketing two hours before your flight is leaving, at a minimum. More is better.

It is better to get to your gate early and wait to board than to try and hurry to make it to the gate with minutes to spare, much more relaxing and available in case something changes - like a gate change.

[Eric P]

DIA has been pretty efficient in the past. 90 minutes prior to boarding if skipping check in should be more than enough.

[Great-Kazoo]

First time ever traveling for Christmas/big holiday for that matter. Planning to fly out Christmas eve. I normally leave 2 hours prior to take off. How early should I expect to leave?

[ROFL2] 2 hours, maybe to go through the terminal. Try 3+ minimal to get there, then find (if you're lucky) a parking spot. Then the shuttle to check in. Then who know show long to go through TSA check.

We did a Christmas eve Once........... the lanes to get to DIA were backed up to tower ave, no parking onsite. We were out in the last open lot, waiting for the shuttle was another 30+ min due to. You guessed it, more people than room on the shuttle. Lines at check in were zip since we did carry-on. TSA was no wait, since i'm wheelchair assist.

That's just to get to your terminal. Forget about anytime frame once you land. Rental vehicle, better call before you board to confirm there's a vehicle the size you need still available. They'll do a first come first serve at the rental place. Doesn't matter what you reserved, someone else got there before you.

Everything is contingent upon the weather. Snowing the time you head out add X time. Since it's you're first time travelling that late on Christmas holiday, you may luck out, hopefully. OR. be asked if you'd like to go on the standby list.


Oh yeah the day before you fly back, online check in & boarding pass. You forget doing that and those seats you thought you had. Gone like a republican rep in CO state house. Same for flying out, grab that online verification 24 hrs ahead of time.

I forgot to do that on the return flight, they dicked me around till i asked for a manager. Who for some reason became agitated when i asked her. Would you like to speak with my ADA attorney, or.. should i have her call corporate? 20 min. later they put me in the same seat they bumped me from.

Holidays are ruthless at the airport. best of luck, may your travels be smooth and hassle free.

[ray1970]

My little DIA trick is I always take the walk bridge to the security checkpoint for terminal A no matter which terminal I?m flying out of. Seems the majority of people go through one of the two big security checkpoints in the main part of the terminal. I?ve never been too delayed getting through security at A.

[Zundfolge]

You misspelled travails.

[Snowman78]

My little DIA trick is I always take the walk bridge to the security checkpoint for terminal A no matter which terminal I?m flying out of. Seems the majority of people go through one of the two big security checkpoints in the main part of the terminal. I?ve never been too delayed getting through security at A.

I also do this, however the last time I was there (about a year ago) they closed the A security checkpoints.

[Aloha_Shooter]

2 hours should be sufficient Not a lot of people travel on Christmas Eve (compared to the other days before and after Christmas), as evidenced by the lower cost of tickets for flights on 12/24.

[BladesNBarrels]

Watch the weather!
It may be a moot point when you arrive if all of the flights are cancelled.