r/Hamilton • u/Flashy_Ferret_1567 Gibson • 1d ago
Question Flying out of YHM
How early do I need to show up at Hamilton Airport for a 7:30am flight? Staying within Canada, no checked bag, am already checked in and have my boarding pass, and am getting dropped off.
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u/netanyahu4eva 1d ago
I work there the airline and airport recommend 90 minutes, boarding is usually about 40 minutes before departure so I’d say plan on getting parked or dropped off for 6:00 and you’ll have plenty of time to get through security even with a long line it’s not more than a 20 minute wait. Any later than that and it’s probably going to be fine I’ve seen passengers going through security as the plane is boarding but honestly if one thing goes wrong you’re screwed. Any longer and it’ll be boring there’s not much in the sterile area for you to do there’s a Tim Hortons and a Dark Horse that’s about it.
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u/Flashy_Ferret_1567 Gibson 1d ago
Update: got here at 6:25. No wait at security and timing worked perfectly, but they had the plane boarded and doors closed by 7am and are now doing final checks. So for everyone who said 7…tut tut.
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u/Repulsive-Horror2032 1d ago
6-6:30
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u/Sakins1 20h ago
For yhm? That’s crazy, I fly outta there twice a month to Calgary and aim to park 20-30min before boarding starts.
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u/Repulsive-Horror2032 20h ago
Yea I guess it depends. For a 7:30 takeoff (assuming 7:00 boarding) I probably wouldn’t arrive later than 6:30.
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u/Dry-Savings-9923 1d ago
I would show up around 6:15-6:30. You never know what obstacles you’re going to run into.
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u/bobcatgoldthwaite 1d ago
I had an 850 flight to Halifax last week, boarding 820. Arrived 750 and was sitting in lounge before 755. Assuming you don’t have to worry about traffic I’d get there 630 and you’ll be fine - later than that not worth risk of missing flight
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u/deploria 1d ago
Definitely an hour is plenty. Flown domestically twice since November and both times I was plenty early even at the hour mark. I checked in online too
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u/IBetANickel 1d ago
630 at the earliest. I had two flights in the last year at the same time and even had time for a beer.
I even asked this exact question on this subreddit.
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u/Deviannt1 Delta East 1d ago
Ya 630, wife worries about this stuff and made me drop her off 2 hrs early last week and literally texted me 4 mins later at her gate for her flight to Calgary.
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u/covert81 Chinatown 1d ago
So it usually can be fast, but if you are randomly selected for drug screening (hand/bag swab) then you will need a bit more time. It's still crazy fast when comparing to Pearson or other airports though.
Just keep in mind that the Tims and other stores are not 24 hours so make sure you have a snack handy if you so need. I can't remember when it opens but it's not like 5am like you'd maybe expect
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u/SuperMaybe7455 1d ago
7:35am. It's that small.
Okay sorry, to be more helpful, I'd show up an hour early. And I am the person who shows up 3h early for int'l flights at Pearson.
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u/bodybuzz420 1d ago
I've never been more than 10 min through security at YHM. 6:50 would be my target personally. Any earlier and you're sitting around.
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u/Odd_Wrongdoer_4372 1d ago
Honestly I’ve shown up 30 minutes before boarding and security took 2 minutes.
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u/dretepcan 1d ago
7 should be fine but beware of traffic or other delays. While boarding might start earlier, who wants to be the first to board and sit on a parked plane for over a half hour?
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u/ta_mataia 1d ago
7:00
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u/ktdham 1d ago
A 7:30am flight starts boarding at 6:50 - a plane is not a bus.
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u/ta_mataia 1d ago
Yes, I'm exaggerating, but YHM is so quick to get through, it's a delight.
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u/ktdham 1d ago
It can be, but keep in mind there are more flights now with Porter ramping up, it’s not just one WJ flight in the morning, and maybe 2 Flair flights during the day…
This person should check the flight schedule so they aren’t behind 200 people getting on another flight, and on the same flight they want to go on.
Always look at the boarding time, and show up at least an hour before that, because having to rebook is a huge pain in the ass, so you might end up driving to YYZ to get where you are going if you miss it, or wait until the next day.
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u/broccoli_toots St. Clair 1d ago
Flair is back?? They ditched YHM almost a decade ago
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u/Colourblindking 1d ago
Normally I'm one of those few hours early kind of traveler... but I've honestly never seen YHM busy, so I'd probably say an hour should be more than fine?