Why is Airport Check-in/out Wait so Long?

If you are travelling within Europe on a scheduled flight from a commercial airport, then you must expect long waiting times before and also after the flight. When flying from a major European airport, we often plan to be several hours ahead of the flight departure. This ensures that you don’t miss your flight due to long queues. Fly Aeolus conducted a survey on the wait between arrival at the airport, check-in, and take-off. We concluded that this journey can take up to twice as long as the time you spend in the air. In this case, isn’t it better to take a private flight?

Check-in, an average of 2 hours waiting time at the airport

Many airports advise their travellers to arrive several hours before their flight. The following table gives an overview of the recommended advance time of these airports for their passengers. The following table shows a selection of recommended times at different airports.

To your question, “How long before departure do I need to be at the airport?”.

Large and even smaller airports often state that you should be there at least 2 hours before you travel. This time is required for check-in, baggage delivery, security screening and the journey to your gate. This is advisable so that in the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as long queues or traffic jams, you have enough time to reach the gate in time.

Unfortunately, these figures are in stark contrast to the average flight time in Europe, where the typical distance is between 250 and 550 km. This corresponds to an average flight time of about 1 hour.

Why not take a private flight?

Using an air taxi and hiring a private jet from a small regional airport is a great advantage. For example, the ability to land at small, regional airports, saving huge amounts of time at check-in and also check out. You only have to be there 15 minutes before your flight, and you are out of the airport just as quickly after landing. Compared to a regular commercial flight, you save 2 hours. Two hours that you can use before or after the flight to your advantage, at home, with your family or at the office.

Fly Aeolus customers consider this a huge advantage and appreciate the value we place on their personal time. Our record check-in time for a private flight is 12 minutes. In that time, the passenger is in the air, on his way to his final destination, with a great view of the surroundings from the co-pilot’s seat.

If you would like more information about booking a Fly Aeolus air taxi, you can consult our list of frequently asked questions (FAQ). In this blog, we will explain other advantages of our services.

On our destination page, you can choose from over 1600 destinations in Europe. Finally, it is possible to calculate the price of your next trip, thanks to our calculator.

You can also contact us by e-mail at info@flyaeolus.com or by phone at +32 (0)4 242 9010.