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If it feels like everyone is suddenly arriving at the airport hours before boarding—even for short flights—you’re not imagining it. A new class of anxious travelers has emerged: the gate campers. These are the folks who shuffle through security at dawn for an afternoon flight and then hunker down at the gate like they’re claiming beachfront real estate.

And if you’ve recently found yourself triple-checking your boarding pass and heading to the airport “just in case,” you might be one of them.

The Rise of the Gate Camper

Take Mary Vogel, a librarian from Glenview, Illinois. For her upcoming trip from Chicago to Paris, she’s planning to arrive more than three hours early.

“I’m afraid there will be delays at the screening area,” she admitted. “I don’t want to miss my flight.”

Her concern is far from unusual. Surveys show that up to 95% of early arrivals are driven by fear—fear of long lines, fear of missing flights, fear of not snagging overhead bin space. Airports like Philadelphia, Orlando, and Atlanta have become hotspots for gate-camping behavior.

According to AirHelp’s chief legal officer, Eric Napoli, it makes sense. “Strict and confusing carry-on rules, holiday crowds, and overall anxiety around delays are pushing travelers to show up earlier and earlier,” he said.

Are You a Secret Gate Camper?

You might be a gate camper if:

• You regularly arrive more than two hours early for a domestic flight or over three hours early for an international one.

• You show up to the airport before the airline counter even opens.

• Your family sighs loudly and says, “Do we really need to leave this early?”

If this sounds familiar—welcome to the club.

But being early doesn’t have to mean sitting at the gate for hours. Modern airports are practically mini-cities. Singapore’s Changi Airport has a full mall and even a record-setting indoor waterfall. Many U.S. airports now have art exhibits, gyms, lounges, and even walking trails.

So if you do arrive early, there are far better places to spend your time than Gate C12’s hard-plastic chairs.

The Trouble With Gate Camping

Travel expert Phyllis Stoller says over-eager travelers are unintentionally making airports more stressful for everyone else.

Picture this:

• Every seat near the gate is taken—not by humans, but by backpacks and souvenir bags.

• Power outlets are blocked by charging “stations” that look more like campsite setups.

• Someone has stretched out across three chairs, asleep like they’re auditioning for a mattress commercial.

Stoller calls these travelers “seat kidnappers,” and if you’ve ever tried to quietly squeeze into the one open spot between a pile of neck pillows and someone’s lunch spread, you’ve met one.

How to Avoid Arriving Too Early Without Risking Your Flight

Worried about missing your flight? There are better solutions than setting up camp at the gate.

Travel experts recommend:

1. Use your airline’s app.
Real-time alerts for gate changes or delays keep you informed without needing to hover nervously at the terminal.

2. Check crowd levels before you leave.
Some airports share wait-time information through Customs and Border Protection tools.

3. Fly at quieter times.
Off-peak flights mean shorter lines—and fewer people claiming seats with their roller bags.

4. Skip checked luggage when possible.
Checked bags have earlier deadlines and create extra anxiety. A carry-on means fewer variables.

Should You Arrive Extra Early for Holiday Travel?

The short answer: sort of.

Yes, you should pad your arrival time by about an hour during major holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas. No, you shouldn’t arrive so early that you’re eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the airport.

Etiquette expert Jodi RR Smith suggests using extra time to explore airport amenities instead of spreading your belongings across an entire row of seats. Some airports have great restaurants, yoga rooms, spas, museums—and plenty of space to take a brisk walk.

Smith even once clocked an entire 5K just by strolling through every terminal while waiting for a flight. That’s one way to turn gate anxiety into productivity.

Find the Sweet Spot

Getting to the airport early enough is smart. Getting there too early can turn you into an accidental space hog, aisle blocker, or full-fledged gate camper.

The key is balance: arrive with enough time to navigate lines comfortably—but not so early you feel like you live in the terminal.

Find that sweet spot, and you’ll sail into your vacation confident, calm, and blissfully free of gate-camping tendencies.