Newark Liberty - how early should I be there?
 

We don't fly that often (haven't in 3 years now), so I'm never quite sure how early to arrive at the airport. We are flying out of Newark Liberty on Continental Air at 5:30AM. I'm assuming that the airport is kind of slow that early. Do I really need to be there 2 hours ahead, or is 1.5 a safe enough margin??

CO actually advises 1.5 hours for EWR at that time, 2 if ti is a Monday morning. You can check in online 24 hours prior to your flight and avoid having to do that at the airport. Even if you have bags to check, it saves time. EWR is a fortress hub and can get quite busy. I would not chance arriving much less than 1.5 hours if checking bags.

Seamus, I'm guessing Fridays are just as bad? We fly out at 11:20am.

Thanks for the info, Seamus! Appreciate it.

Here's what CO says for airport processing time at EWR:
<i>Note: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays require 2 - 2 1/2 hours and all international departures require 2 1/2 3 hours. An additional 1/2 hour is required on Monday mornings.</i>
I suspect the CO time estimates are based on having to check in, check bags and clear security. Online check in (OLCI) is a big help. If you do OLCI there are kiosks where you can drop your bag which move faster than check in lines. If you do OLCI and have no bags to check you have to contend only with security. In Terminal C where most CO gates are located there are 3 security checkpoints. Sometimes when one is clogged another is more fluid. Lines can be substantial but they <i>usually</i> move pretty well. They do have Elite Access lines for security, but there are so many elites at the hub that sometimes the standard line moves faster.

Thanks again. I finally found that info on the CO website, too. We have a 5:30am Wed flight so I'm not too worried. They say 1.5 hrs for peek time (which starts an hour later than our flight). I will be doing OLCI also. So, as long as there are no bad highway backups, we should be in good shape. Even sprung for a limo to take us, so we don't have to drive at 2:00 in the morning.

You've been a great help. Fodorites are the best!

It's June 2016. Does anyone have a more current assessment of time to arrive before 9am flight from Newark to USVI?
Thanks.

Ask your airline . . .

It's busy, and security has been heightened since the Istanbul bombings yesterday; I'd arrive no later than 6:30 if you have to drop off a bag (and I'd still make sure I was fully checked in online before the flight).