How early do people get to the airport?

Statistics from 937 accepted quiz answers*. Updated September 2026. How these statistics work

Asked "Think about the last flight you took. How long before departure did you arrive at the airport?" on the Sarahah quiz, the most common answer was "Two to three hours", chosen by 32.2% of 937 people.

Where everyone lands

Low11%
Medium41.7%
High47.3%

47.3% of 937 people worldwide scored high on the Sarahah Airport habits quiz.

Results by gender

Women
12.1%
40.5%
47.4%
Men
10.3%
42.5%
47.2%
LowMediumHigh

In Sarahah quiz answers, 47.2% of men scored high, against 47.4% of women.

Results by age group

Under 18
33.9%
57.1%
18-24
42.3%
48.4%
25-34
10.9%
44.2%
44.9%
35-44
14.7%
43.4%
41.9%
LowMediumHigh

In Sarahah quiz answers, 57.1% of the Under 18 group scored high, the highest of any age group, against 41.9% of 35-44.

Question by question

Think about the last flight you took. How long before departure did you arrive at the airport?

More than three hours31.8%
Two to three hours32.2%
Ninety minutes to two hours18.8%
Under ninety minutes17.2%

32.2% answered "Two to three hours".

When do you check in online?

The moment it opens41%
Later, but before leaving for the airport18.2%
On the way to the airport18.9%
I check in at the desk21.9%

41% answered "The moment it opens".

Have you ever missed a flight?

No, never65.3%
Nearly, but I made it13.6%
Yes21.1%

65.3% answered "No, never".

Once you are through security, what happens?

Straight to the gate and I sit there41.7%
Food first, then the gate, still early31.2%
Shops for a while, then the gate on time17.7%
I turn up when they call the flight9.4%

41.7% answered "Straight to the gate and I sit there".

How many times do you check your passport and boarding pass?

Five times or more31.7%
Two to four44.1%
Once, or not at all24.2%

44.1% answered "Two to four".

Window or aisle?

Window59%
Aisle18.9%
Whatever is free22.1%

59% answered "Window".

Where do you wait?

Right by the boarding door21.2%
In the gate seating area41.5%
A cafe or restaurant21.5%
The lounge15.8%

41.5% answered "In the gate seating area".

Do you stand up as soon as the plane lands?

Immediately19.1%
Once people start moving27.1%
I wait for my row34.8%
I wait until almost everyone is off19%

34.8% answered "I wait for my row".

* Everyone here chose to take the quiz, and no answers are weighted to match a real population. Each question counts only the people who answered it, so a question some people skipped rests on a smaller group than the total above.

Statistics by country

Entire world Egypt India Saudi Arabia USA

Only countries with at least 50 eligible answers of their own appear here.

More statistics