I've been told to arrive three hours before my flight; http://www.rdu.com/travelinfo/travtips.htm says two.

Wondering if, since it's christmas day, whether there will be fewer travelers, and whether I can allot less time to clearing security.

Anyone here flown on christmas day recently?

Flying from RDU to ohare

[Edited on September 6, 2006 at 4:57 PM. Reason : not international ]

9/6/2006 4:54:43 PM

where are you going? is your international flight straight out of RDU? or are you going to a bigger int'l airport and then flying?

9/6/2006 4:56:58 PM

Quote :

"http://www.rdu.com/travelinfo/travtips.htm says two."

9/6/2006 4:58:03 PM

^^see edit



[Edited on September 6, 2006 at 4:58 PM. Reason : lkj]

9/6/2006 4:58:04 PM

in case you get stuck somewhere i would advise taking lots of toothpaste and maybe some gatorade

9/6/2006 4:59:14 PM

ah...3 is the standard for int'l flights so that's what i thought you were doing...either way. you'll be fine with 2.
i flew out the day b4 thanksgiving which is THE biggest travelling day of the year. i got there 2 hours ahead of time and was fine.

9/6/2006 5:00:06 PM

Err on the side of caution. I'd rather wait in the terminal for boarding that miss my flight.

9/6/2006 5:00:21 PM

this is entirely dependent on how many other people show up to the airport and at exactly what time they show up - then if they have to check bags or not - did you logically think this through before asking someone to predict the future?

anything over 1hr if you aren't checking bags is excessive for rdu
anything over 1hr 30min. is if you are checking bags
add time if the threat level is temporarily raised at the time

9/6/2006 5:05:14 PM

Three hours, what?

Have you ever been on a plane

I've never flown christmass day personally, but you want to arrive an hour and thirty before your flight takes off, it gives you time to check baggage, nail clippers, lipstick, Call for boarding, park and walk in etc!

The securities always pretty harsh around the holidays, that's what I hear from a cousin who's a traffic controller.

9/6/2006 5:06:35 PM

this is entirely dependent on how many other people show up to the airport and at exactly what time they show up - then if they have to check bags or not - did you logically think this through before asking someone to predict the future?

anything over 1hr if you aren't checking bags is excessive for rdu
anything over 1hr 30min. is if you are checking bags
add time if the threat level is temporarily raised at the time

9/6/2006 5:07:45 PM

Quote :

"this is entirely dependent on how many other people show up to the airport and at exactly what time they show up"

What, you mean people have to wait in line?

Someone should google the answer to this

9/6/2006 5:12:25 PM

I haven't flown since 1998.

Quote :

"this is entirely dependent on how many other people show up to the airport and at exactly what time they show up - then if they have to check bags or not - did you logically think this through before asking someone to predict the future? anything over 1hr if you aren't checking bags is excessive for rdu anything over 1hr 30min. is if you are checking bags add time if the threat level is temporarily raised at the time"

I didn't ask you to "predict the future". I asked for input this from folks who fly frequently (implied, since I knew you and your ilk would chime in, even if I didn't ask), and who have flown on Christmas day recently.

Now, whether you really wanted to help, or wanted only to be a dick, you did, because I was utterly clueless about the three scenarios and timeframes mentioned. Thank you.

LK, three hours is what someone who flies RDU to midway a couple times a year told me, but it seemed WAY excessive, and that's why I asked

Quote :

"The securities always pretty harsh around the holidays, that's what I hear from a cousin who's a traffic controller."

I am banking on that.

9/6/2006 5:14:24 PM

Quote :

"I asked for input this from folks who fly frequently (implied, since I knew you and your ilk would chime in, even if I didn't ask), and who have flown on Christmas day recently."

i fly 40+ weeks out of the year out of rdu

9/6/2006 5:15:44 PM

I flew xmas day last year. Showed up the standard 1 hour ahead of time and arrived at my gate with over 1/2 hour to spare.

9/6/2006 5:16:13 PM

It's funny how someone asks for help...

Omar is saying is common sense, it's like a lunchline. You never know how many people will be waiting in it, you just can predict what will take them and you to get to the goal.

You should give yourself time for all the variables you predict, and if it takes you 8 past your flight maybe you're doing it wrong.

9/6/2006 5:30:31 PM

Quote :

"i fly 40+ weeks out of the year out of rdu"

I recalled you flied a lot, and expected you to chime in. I'm saying you didn't have to add a dose of douchebag to your input.

^^thank you.

9/6/2006 5:40:27 PM

flying last xmas has nothing to do with travelling this xmas - especially since more people can't take carry-ons with them due to toothepaste/deodorant/[insert any other liquids] - you would have better luck relying on information from people flying closer to the 12/25/06 rather than the same day last year

9/6/2006 5:53:29 PM

my little brother flew from san diego to charlotte last Christmas day. i can tell you this, the airport was PACKED at charlotte - i thought it would be empty, but apparently a lot of people were willing to fly since the flights are so much cheaper

but even with the crowd, he had no delays, long check-ins or anything. it was better than average (but he was boarding in SD, so that might not help you at RDU)

9/7/2006 2:48:47 PM

Never had a flight on Christmas day, but I have had flights within a couple of days and each time it took me at least 2 hours to get through everything.

But christmas day could be different, so my post doesn't help at all.

9/7/2006 2:59:38 PM

Christmas day is always busy, but RDU isnt JFK and is managed much better.

9/7/2006 3:57:05 PM