Generally, you should consider getting to the airport two to three hours before your flight takes off for international flights. Although the airline recommends three hours, most often two hours is plenty of time. When taking a Denver Airport Shuttle you can call and ask beforehand to find out how busy the airport will be.
Although, if you do not have bags to drop off, nor you are not flying at a peak time, you may even be able to reduce that time. Overall it is not recommended to plan to get there any less than two hours before, and you may even want to add an extra half hour on to that.
Domestic Flights
TSA recommends getting to the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight. This tends to be a bit of overkill but can save you should you fall into some misfortune. In some cases, you may be able to arrive only one hour before, but this is pressing your luck. The only instance you should do this is if you are not checking bags, and you are enrolled in either TSA Precheck or Global Entry. This can allow you to save time, avoid removing your shoes, liquids, belts, or jackets. This can also help you skip the security line completely.
Despite this, most often domestic travel means leaving from a small airport and won’t be as busy, but it also means that checking in might take longer.
When to Check-In
Checking in online is the best thing that you can do because it saves a lot of time. It can also allow you to avoid extra fees, and sometimes even get a free upgrade. If you cannot check in then try to add an extra 30 minutes to your time at the airport. This is essential in case there are delays or a lot of people around.
What is a Peak Time?
Flying during peak time often adds an extra hour to when you should arrive at the airport. Summer is considered a peak time, as well as holidays such as the 4th of July, or Memorial Day weekend. Some airports get busier than others at different times. For example, some have peak days early in the week, while for others it is later.
How to Handle Peak Times
Check the website of the airline to see if they have mentioned peak times are coming. You can also use the MyTSA app to check if the airport is likely to be busy at the time and date of your flight. If you are traveling with a checked bag get there early. The worst thing is to be in a long line with a bag waiting to check it in, only to get into another long line for security. Years ago you could rush to the front of the line asking to get through but this is not how it goes any longer. Get there early
