Can you ever be too early for a flight?

When I’m flying, I like to get to the airport early. Apparently, according to online reports sparked by a tweet, this is a “dad” thing.

And that’s supposedly not good. But I beg to differ.

It all began when Twitter user posted a picture of his parents, all packed and ready for the airport almost five hours before their plane’s departure time.

This create something of a Twitter storm, even thought their actions seem quite reasonable to me. And that’s not just because I live in Thailand, at least a two-hour drive from the airport (and perhaps much more … because Thailand traffic is unpredictable, like that in Indian cities.)

I’d be ready to go five hours early no matter where I lived. Maybe even if it was across the road from the airport.

My parents at 10:33 a.m. for a flight at 3:10 p.m. pic.twitter.com/SW3Q6gMNjC

— *Vishnu* (@vishnu_somebody) September 2, 2018

Being packed and prepared isn’t a matter for ridicule, it’s common sense.

I’d rather be waiting in the terminal (or, better still, the airline lounge) that desperately looking at my watch while stuck in traffic.

Even if it’s not a pleasure flight, there’s no point in getting stressed before you fly.

And it’s not just the traffic getting to the airport. All sorts of things can go wrong once you’re there. Queues at check in can take ages to negotiate; ditto at the security and immigration checkpoints. Then, at bigger airports, it can be a 20- or 30-minute walk to the departure gate.

Don’t mock those who like to be on the safe side.  An extra hour, or two or three at the airport is better than waving your own flight goodbye.

P.S. Bear in mind that some airlines won’t let you check in until three hours before the flight.