Check In

[fruitsalad]

I have already checked in online how many hours before my flight, should I be at the airport

[JimF]

If it's due to depart in the next few minutes, then you definitely should.

[roslyn251254]

long haul 3
short haul 2

[Redhelen72]

Depends on where you’re flying to.
Domestic 2 hours is advised
International 3 hours is advised

[fruitsalad]

Off to Spain in a few days

[Buenchico]

Which airline? Which airport?

[ichkeria]

I one arrived at Heathrow 5 mins before takeoff to Belfast.
And got on

I don't advise that though ...

[piggynose]

Is this your 1st flight ever?

[Prudie]

You do know your airline will have told you this? I hope you have a good time, you seemed to have fretted about every aspect of this upcoming holiday. Just relax and go.

[Redhelen72]

Depending on your airport I would say 2 hours but if I was flying from Heathrow I would 3 hours if from belfast city I would do 90 minutes

[fruitsalad]

No not my first flight, but a long long time since my last one, going from Stansted with Jet2 Buen Yes Prudie, first time on my own think that is why so much fretting

[Buenchico]

Jet2's check-in desk at Stansted opens 3 hours before your flight's departure time and closes 40 minutes before it:
https://www.jet2.com/FAQs/airport-information/london-stansted

You only need to go to the check-in desk though if you've got hold baggage and/or you've not checked in online. If you've only got hand luggage, and you've checked in online, you can go straight to the security gate queues.

Stansted's advices is that "as a general guide, you will need to have checked in and be ready to go through security at least 2 hours before your flight departure time"
https://www.stanstedairport.com/help/passenger-guides/checking-in/

Stansted offers fast track lanes for security/passport clearance, both inbound and outbound. However, whenever I've been at Stansted, the regular security queues haven't been any longer than the fast track ones anyway:
https://www.stanstedairport.com/at-the-airport/security-fasttrack/

[Paul22118]

As a rule of thumb I would say if you have plenty of available time that day - use it.