how soon to check in if you have a boarding pass?

In theory, if you are able to print out your boarding pass at home and don't have any checked luggage, you simply need to be at the gate by time the flight boards-30 minutes before departure. But you have to allow for long lines at the security check point(if there is some sort of unexpected security alert this line could be a couple hours long). You also need to factor in any kind road traffic delays that could slow your trip to the airport. Also consider how long would it take you to change your tire if you get a flat? I always plan to be at the airport three hours prior to departure as a kind of insurance policy against the above things happening.

I always print my boarding pass for my Virgin flights to England. This enables me to bypass the very long check-in lines. Since I do check a bag, they have what is called the "Bag Dropoff" point which has never required any waiting. However, that said, I ALWAYS get to the airport (here or at Heathrow) at least 3 hrs. in advance. You still have to do security and you never know how long that is going to take. In my experience, the security line at Newark Airport is never bad but at Heathrow, it ia another story!!!! I flew last year on July 1 which happened to be the day after the bombing at Glasgow Airport. Even though I was able to go through the Fast Track line for security, it took ages as obviously they were being extra careful.

I am always amazed at people on this board who schedule their return flight with extremely tight connections. Don't do it it really isn't worth the risk of missing your flight, not to mention your peace of mind!!!

Security checkpoints and where you leave the country are the big variables. Be safe and get there plenty early.
We flew Nashville-Detroit-Amsterdam-Berlin. Nashville security check was about 10 minutes, Detroit was 20 minutes, but Amsterdam about 40 minutes.

Return was Munich-Amsterdam-Detroit-Nashville. Munich security was 20 minutes, but this time Amsterdam (security back to US) line was nearly 2 hours.
Don't gamble on the time, it can be expensive.

Bob

FYI Just back from Italy. Flew in & out of Rome. On our flight back home I was unable to print out our boarding pass therefore had no option but to check in. The ticket agent said it did not matter if you were able to print out your boarding pass you still have to check in at the ticket counter. Said it was a new rule. By the way we flew Delta so I'm not sure if it was their rule or applied to all international carriers.

Mike, I have left many times internationlly from LAX. Even though the web says we can print from home, I've been denied and asked to check in. Once I was still rerouted to the check in... even with my preprinted boarding pass.

Give yourself 3 hours. LAX has plenty of things to go at Tom Bradley now. And with the TSA being soooo slow, it wouldn't hurt to be there early... than spriting thru the terminal to catch a plane.

Thanks all! I sure don't want to miss my flight, so 3 hours it is.