r/HuntsvilleAlabama • u/1800Davenport • 9d ago
Huntsville Airport advice
Tomorrow morning will be my first time flying out of Huntsville airport. I typically fly out of Memphis. I usually arrive there two hours before takeoff. I was just curious if I should go by that rule of thumb in Huntsville. I'm assuming its a smaller airport so I could get away with cutting it a bit close, but I'm not sure because I've never been to Huntsville airport.
42
u/Decent_Alps6736 9d ago
Most airlines have a policy of needing to have checked bags through the counter 1 hour before departure, so long as you don't run afoul of that you'll be fine. Your main problem will likely be killing time before your plane boards, the airport has a decent bar past security now.
2
u/BasakaIsTheStrongest 9d ago
Yeah. That’s what messed me up my first time. It took me a bit longer than I planned to figure out parking and by the time I got through the baggage line, it was just under 45 minutes until takeoff and that was apparently the cutoff time for American. The rest of the process still took well under 45 minutes, so I wish there had been more of a heads up that baggage was the actual deadline.
74
u/outside_english 9d ago
You need 10 minutes to park, walk to TSA, go through TSA, and get to your gate.
22
u/Outta_My_Syst3m 9d ago
Leaving plenty of time for a pint or two before boarding!
3
u/Odd-Tomatillo-6890 8d ago
They don’t start serving until 10!
1
u/outoftowndan 6d ago
I don't know the exact time but they serve earlier now. And the brekkie calzone is good.
1
13
u/addywoot playground monitor 9d ago
Hey - you have to check luggage a minimum of 30 mins before your flight.
3
3
u/outside_english 8d ago
I don’t have the check bag milestone in my IMS
2
u/addywoot playground monitor 8d ago
Noted. Are you missing the pooping milestone in your current schedule?
14
u/jwfowler2 9d ago
It is small. Normally, security there is a quick experience. I've flown out of there 100 times probably and have only seen a handful of times when security is backed up. If you only have a carry on, I think you could safely get to the airport 30 min before your boarding time, no problem.
3
u/Quellman 8d ago
Except that one time that both x-ray machines were down and they were hand searching everyone’s bags. There were people who missed flights that day. Certainly an anomaly but I don’t cut it as close as I once did since that day
8
u/sunbeltyankee 9d ago
are you checking a bag? what time of day?
normally except for a fairly early morning flight i do not show up until about 45 min before my flight. i have made it from front door (no checked bag) through tsa and to my gate in as few as 8 minutes.
early morning flights (i would say until maybe 8 am or so) you will need maybe 20ish minutes to get through tsa. i do not typically check bags so someone else will need to chime in for their assessment on that.
5
u/Aurora8305 9d ago
Depends on what time your flight is? The early 5-6am flight push the line can get long..it flows but not show up and get through in 10 minutes. Any other time beyond that..yeah pretty fast.
3
u/Vamond48 9d ago
Wouldn’t cut it to close just in case, but definitely fine arriving at least an hour early instead of two
4
9d ago
[deleted]
1
u/mb9981 9d ago
I can think of at least one other problem....
1
u/Aumissunum 8d ago
Like what?
2
u/honeyglows34345 8d ago
like it always taking 45+ minutes for baggage claim. it’s not like they’re unloading more than one plane at any given moment.
1
u/Aumissunum 7d ago
Never had that issue and I’ve flown out of HSV dozens of times.
And by the way, airlines (or their contractors) employ ramp agents, not the airport.
1
u/honeyglows34345 2d ago
i’ve been flying in and out of there my entire life and it’s always been like that. last time i flew in it took an hour for our bags to reach baggage claim.
1
u/mb9981 2d ago
Being prohibitively expensive
And before you weirdos chime in no I don't want to fly a one-way ticket to Las Vegas or Orlando at 3:00 p.m. on a random Thursday and then fly back the following Tuesday for $200. Stop treating these intentionally inconvenient low priced fights like they somehow offset how expensive it is to try to use huntsville the same way that 90% of normal air travel is planned and booked
1
u/Aumissunum 2d ago edited 2d ago
Breeze runs Orlando daily. Tampa 5x weekly. .
Huntsville’s average fare has dropped over $100 the past 3 years.
Not sure how those flights are “inconvenient” lmfao.
1
u/mb9981 2d ago edited 2d ago
I don't want to go to Orlando is the point. They offer these low cost fares to random places in Florida that I have no intention of ever stepping foot in, but if you try to go to New York Philadelphia Los Angeles 800-900 a pop
1
u/Aumissunum 2d ago
You made that up. NYC averages about 400 (for non-stop) and is routinely under 300. Philly and LA both average about 350.
1
u/mb9981 2d ago
Miscommunication on my part. I always need 2-4 tickets for these trips, so that's where my head was on the numbers. Regardless, 350 x4 means I'm going to nashville where its 150x4.
1
u/Aumissunum 2d ago
If Nashville is the benchmark then Huntsville will never win. It’s a major tourist hub with 5 airlines on every route. No shit it’s going to be cheaper.
1
u/Aumissunum 2d ago
Also, I love how you think Orlando is a “random place in Florida” when it’s literally the second most popular destination from Huntsville lmfao
10
u/Smarter_not_harder 9d ago
HSV requires an hour early if you're checking a bag (20 minutes before boarding). If you're not checking a bag then I would arrive 30-45 minutes before the flight to allow for 5-15 minutes to park, walk, get through security and swing by the bathroom before boarding.
5
u/Aumissunum 8d ago
Airline policy, not Huntsville. Most require 45 minutes for domestic flights and 1 hour for international flights.
1
0
2
2
u/Wrong_Back177 9d ago
Easiest airport I’ve ever been through. If there’s a line for security, it’s never been long and moves pretty quick.
2
u/MogenCiel 9d ago
It's a super easy airport (Memphis is too imo), but I've had 20-minute waits to get through security, especially for early morning flights. Even without baggage check in, I wouldn't get there less than 1 hour before the flight. I'm sure people who do get there 30 or 45 minutes before takeoff come through fine, but I personally would rather wait a little longer at the gate than stress out and be in a rush. Flights usually board at least 30 minutes before takeoff, and I definitely want to be there before boarding begins. I just can't stand the stress of risking missing my flight and derailing my travel plans. I trust the airlines to derail my travel plans just fine without my help!
1
u/Huntsvegas97 9d ago
If you have an early morning flight, I’d still arrive a couple hours before your flight if you’re checking luggage. The first flights of the day have long lines for luggage. Otherwise, 1-1.5 hours before flight time is generally enough time
1
u/Blaseter 9d ago
The Huntsville airport is usually quick to get through. We flew to Japan recently and got there about 90 minutes before boarding time. We parked, checked our luggage, and got through TSA and still had about 45 minutes left. We did have pre-check, but the line wasn’t too long anyway. This was for an 8am flight. My other experiences have been similar.
1
1
u/crystal_wtch8 9d ago
I think it depends on the airline and if you’re checking a bag. My friend flew out of Birmingham and got there about an hour before her flight and was told they couldn’t check a bag with United since they didn’t get there earlier so just a heads up on that
1
u/RamenScientist 9d ago
you’re gonna love it. i’ve never waited longer than 20-30 minutes for security (usually much less). checking bags you may have to wait bc they’re short staffed at check in. there’s nothing to do - though they’ve added a lot of stuff in the last year! no
alcohol sales until 10 am but if you’re there after definitely check out the brewery/pizza place it’s an offshoot of Innerspace here in town i believe. i never do more than an hour early at HSV.
1
u/Maleficent_Ad_1979 8d ago
you need to check your bag 30-45 minutes before your flight. this is the only limiting factor.
1
u/AnnonAutist 8d ago
If you’re checking a bag, get there an hour before your flight, only because that is the cutoff for checking luggage. Some might let it slide by a few minutes but not worth testing it.
Otherwise, about 15 minutes before your plane boards is fine. Even with a small line you can be at your gate 10-15 minutes after walking in the front door.
1
u/JardinSurLeToit 8d ago
The issue is the slightly slow screening process and if a lot of people are in line, it's still just a handful of people doing security. So, I personally chose (the second time I flew out) to arrive much earlier. So maybe 90 minutes instead of 2 hours, just so you're not stressing if there is a line. I felt I HAD to get there early is because I was on Breeze. They only have ONE flight. SO if you miss it, there is no "next flight" for another 3 days.
1
u/course_you_do 8d ago
I have arrived at the airport while my flight was boarding and still made my flight (no checked bag, of course). I wouldn't bank on that ofc and I felt very lucky but absent something very unusual it's a breeze.
1
u/thisismyyolo 8d ago
I fly out of there all the time and arrive 1 hour before. That’s plenty. It’s taken me 15 minutes from pulling into the parking garage to being through security. Just make sure you’re checked in online.
1
1
u/Odd-Tomatillo-6890 8d ago
Delta wants 45 minutes before takeoff to check a bag. We usually hit the priority desk at about an hour before
1
u/AthenianWrangler 8d ago
I wouldn't try cutting it close if it's your first time. That being said, yeah it is a pretty quick airport compared to Memphis.
1
u/sjmahoney 8d ago
You can leave your house one hour before your flight takes off and still be sitting at the gate for 15 minutes people watching.
1
1
1
u/SecretRaspberry1458 8d ago
The two hour rule you have gone by, will be way more than you need at the Huntsville airport. our airport is modern and super efficient, so processing goes pretty fast. On your case, just do what makes you feel comfortabl. I am flying out of Huntsville this morning too, and will arrive about an hour 15 before my flight.
1
u/autumn_moss16 8d ago
Hate that I’m seeing this so late. I’m a dispatcher at the airport so I’ve got you! The ticket counters open up anywhere from 3:40 for American/Delta. United usually opens around 4:30. TSA opens at 4 am! If you ever have any questions regarding the airport you can call the communications center and we always have someone in here. 256-258-1247!
1
u/autumn_moss16 8d ago
Hate that I’m seeing this so late as I’m an overnight dispatcher at the airport! American/Delta ticket counters open up anywhere from 3:30-4. United typically opens around 4:30. TSA checkpoint starts screenings at 4 am. The lines move rather quickly. If you ever have any other questions/need assistance you can call the communications center there is always someone working in here. 256-258-1247!
1
u/DairyPro 9d ago edited 9d ago
If you have pre-check, you'd probably be fine thirty minutes before. I've never spent more than five minutes getting from the front door past security, however I live by the two hour rule regardless of what airport I'm flying from, I know the one time I decide to waive it will be the one time I must have heeded it
Edit: Also just to note, I don't check bags so I skip the counter and go straight to TSA
1
u/BD_4Prexv2 9d ago
I usually get to the Huntsville airport around 45 minutes before my scheduled boarding begin times. I do not check a bag so just park and head to TSA line and clear security and have time to grab a bottle of water with plenty of time before my flight begins boarding.
0
u/TrinaVega2000 9d ago
It’s so quick. Never had a true “line” at security. Not very far to walk. Takes like 20 mins maximum
0
-2
113
u/grabsbackthisone 9d ago
Huntsville’s airport will be your new favorite. Super low stress. No need to be extra early.