The airport fills up again (Image: SWNS)

The start of summer vacation is always the time for people to head to sunnier weather, but unfortunately this year some have proven challenging.

The Manchester airport scene this morning showed a horrific procession still packed after weeks of turmoil at the start of the season. There are reports that the procession has returned to the parking lot.

In recent days, there have been similar scenes at Heathrow Airport in London and Stanstead Airport in Essex.

If you’re planning to fly somewhere in the next few days or weeks, naturally you’ll want to avoid confusion, but in case you need to queue for check-in, how soon should you get to the plane?

This is what you need to know…

What time should I arrive at the airport to take my flight?

The general advice is to arrive about 2-3 hours before the flight takes off. However, this varies from airport to airport depending on the destination.

Heathrow’s current advice is to arrive 3 hours early on both European and long-haul flights, while Gatwick offers 3 hours on European and international flights, but 2 hours if flying to the UK or Ireland only.

Stansted recommends arriving at least two hours before departure, but adds that you should follow the airline’s instructions. Manchester Airport offers the same advice for at least two hours.

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Luton Airport, on the other hand, offers check-in time 2-3 hours before the flight.

It is also recommended that Bristol Airport be there at least 2 hours before your flight.

If the airport you plan to fly to is not listed, you will need to visit their website for advice.

It’s also worth checking with the airline you’re flying with, as they may have their own rules regarding check-in times.

What happens if my flight is cancelled?

Aerial view of the airport. The aircraft will take a taxi to the runway before takeoff.

If the plane doesn’t take off, you need to know your rights (Image: Getty Images)

If your flight is cancelled, you will need to contact the airline directly to confirm.

This can be done through the email provided when booking the flight or it can be contacted by phone.

When they contact you, they should let you know what options are available to you, for example rebooking on another flight or requesting a refund.

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