Most charter airlines of 'bucket & spade' type flights rent their desks from 3 hours prior to STD. Whilst you don't want to spend all day hanging around the terminals it is good advice to turn up as early as you can. This extra hanging around is a much better inconvinence than your baggage ot getting loaded due to baggage system failures, or not having time to do the 'duty free' as you've spent so long queuing at security.

We are flying to Fuerteventura in may, have rung up Newcastle airport and they are still suggesting to be there 3 hours beofre check-in. Has this still been the case in other airports or is it upto the individual airports?

Hi, I am going tomorrow from Gatwick and we have been told to check in 3 hours before but went to mainland spain last October and only had to check in 2 hours before. Maybe its a flight time thing.

Sorry couldnt be more help

Sally

most if not all british airports recomend 3 hrs especialy at buisy times

wizard

Back in November, Ryan Air opened check in 2 hrs 20 mins ish before flight was due to leave. It wasn't a problem as I was there early so had time to ask very helpful staff at entrance to queing area for security if what I had in hand luggage was ok. I got through security in 5 minutes from joing queue to walking into departure lounge. It was a Tuesday morning. I think it was about 9.30-10am.

On both Heathrow and Gatwick Airport Sites they list check in times as 3hrs for Long Haul and 2hrs for Short Haul. It may depend who you are travelling with. If you are travelling with a Tour Operator's flights as opposed to a scheduled airline then they may have set their own times which are usually earlier than the major airlines.
There has been some complaints recently by airport personnel about people arriving too early, making it difficult for others to check in. But Gatwick can at times be a bit of a nightmare to get through to departure depending on the time of day you are travelling. So I would advise to err on the side of caution.

Another thing worth mentioning is that a lot of airlines now seem to check all their flights which are departing over a period of time, maybe all flights departing within 3 hours of each other. There will be maybe 6 check in desks open and everyone has to join one queue regardless of where you are going and check in on whatever desk becomes free.

If you have left it a little late to get there you may have to try and squeeze in to the front of the queue as there may be 100 people in front of you whose flight leaves in 2 hours time whereas yours departs much earlier than theirs.

You never really know if this is going to be the case until you get there.

Many business travellers do tend to turn up later for flights as they don't like hanging around in airports. This is a risk you take with regard to any delays getting there. Also bear in mind that check in desks will close generally half an hour before the flight departure time, 20 minutes at the very latest. You often board the flight more than half an hour before departure.