A question many families with children have asked themselves is how much time they need at the airport. There is a lot to organise and take into consideration, and on the day of departure it pays to be well prepared.
Whether you are the type who gets stressed easily, or the type who does not get stressed at all, you are guaranteed to feel your pulse quicken if you suddenly find yourself running late for a flight. We have looked at some of the key points you should take into consideration when deciding how early you need to be at the airport before departure.
International or domestic travel?
Whether you are travelling abroad or domestically makes quite a difference to when you need to show up at Gardermoen. There are minimum requirements for both domestic, international, charter and direct flights to the USA. At Gardermoen, check-in for domestic travel opens a minimum of 1 hour before departure, and 1.5 hours before departure for international travel. For those travelling on a charter flight, check-in desks open 2 hours before departure and close 1 hour before departure.
Direct flights to the USA have their own rules, but it is common for check-in to open as early as 3 hours before departure and close 1 hour before departure. On Avinor’s website, all travellers can find a general overview of the rules — however, it is important to note that exceptions may occur. A good rule of thumb is to always check your ticket and the airline’s own website, as different airlines sometimes operate with different policies.
Want to start the holiday on a good note with the kids? Read the article “How to keep the kids entertained on the way to the airport.”
Check-in and luggage
Make the most of the electronic tools available to us. Check in via computer or mobile up to 24 hours before departure — you can save a lot of time right there!
As a family travelling together, you can easily end up with more suitcases than there are travellers in the group. Luggage can often present a few extra challenges before check-in. For example, it is not uncommon for one family member to have slightly too heavy a bag, requiring reorganisation between suitcases. You have probably seen it before — a stressed family of five having to step out of the queue at the check-in desk and frantically repack their bags to avoid costly excess baggage fees. Make sure everything is packed correctly and within the restrictions set by the relevant airline. A useful tip is to invest in a small luggage scale so you can weigh the suitcase at home before you leave.
As at most major airports around the world, a large proportion of all baggage check-in at Gardermoen is handled at self-service machines. There are many check-in machines at Gardermoen, and they can be used for almost all departures — though this varies by airline and destination. Either way, there is time to be saved here.
Arrival at the gate
When you need to be at the gate depends on the rules of the airline you are flying with. Both Norwegian and SAS operate with a fixed policy where the gate closes 20 minutes before departure on all flights. Once you have safely made it through security, it is important to keep your eyes and ears open. Take regular glances at the departure boards and listen for announcements, as they may concern your flight. Gates and times are often changed, requiring you as a traveller to adapt. When “boarding” appears for your flight, there is only one thing to do: make your way to the gate. If “last call” appears and you are still not at the gate — there is only one thing to do: run as fast as you can.
Unexpected events
Unexpected events are every traveller’s worst nightmare. A lot can happen on the way to the airport that causes delays. Whether you have a short or long journey to the airport, you should always factor in the possibility that something may come up that leaves you with less time than planned. Build in an extra half hour on top of the stated arrival time. It is far better to be able to relax at the airport and wait an extra half hour than to suddenly find yourself running thirty minutes behind schedule.
It is difficult to give a specific answer as to how much time you should actually allow. As mentioned, there are fixed deadlines set by the respective airlines that must be observed. As long as you are well within these, everything should go smoothly and you will make your flight.
Read how you can easily get to Gardermoen by car and choose a parking option at Gardermoen that is simple and efficient.
Should you wish to have one less thing to spend unnecessary time on, we at Dalen Parkering can help. Take the car to the airport, park with us and be transported safely to the airport in no time. Contact us for more information about parking at Dalen Parkering.
