Prepare for Travel
Are you flying from Dublin Airport soon? We want to ensure you have a smooth journey through our terminals, so we've put together some handy travel tips below, to help you prepare.
Or if you'd like to view more details and print our handy guide, click here.
Handy tips
- You don’t need to come too early - if you’re flying within Europe, please arrive at your terminal 2 hours before the scheduled departure time and 3 hours if you’re flying outside Europe. If you're checking in bags, please allow more time.
- You can view check-in desk or bag drop opening hours below:
VIEW T1 CHECK-IN TIMES VIEW T2 CHECK-IN TIMES
- Security in T1 is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Security in T2 opens at 04:00, so people flying from T2 should factor this in.
- With over 20 fresh drinking water stations, make sure to bring an empty water bottle to refill after security.
- For tips on how to prepare for Dublin Airport Security click here or watch our video below.
Real-time flight updates
You can receive flight status updates direct to your phone, by downloading the Dublin Airport app or on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, by subscribing to your flight from the departures flight section of dublinairport.com.
Departing passengers will receive updates on their gate number, final call, boarding, gate closure, departure and flight delays.
Those tracking an arriving flight will receive updates on the departure time, flight delays, expected landing time, when the flight is on approach, landing time and the baggage belt number.
Frequently asked questions
- Check which terminal you're departing from.
- We advise passengers to arrive at their terminal 2 hours before their scheduled departure time for short-haul flights, and 3 hours before long-haul flights.
- If you are checking bags or travelling in a group you should allow more time. Always consult your airline for check-in in desk and bag drop opening hours.
- Security in T1 is now open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Security in T2 opens at 04.00, so people flying from T2 should factor this in.
- Ideally only 1 piece of hand baggage per person. Check with your airline for their cabin hand baggage allowance.
- Separate out liquids, gels, and pastes from your hand baggage into one single, clear re-sealable one-litre plastic bag, with each container no bigger than 100ml.
- No sharp objects and have all electronic devices out and in the tray, along with coins and jewellery. If you need to remove jewellery, please put it in your bag.
- Place laptops and electronics in a separate tray.
- Any oversized garments, which may conceal additional items or the outline of your person, will have to be removed for Security screening. Please remove the top, be it an over-sized hoodie, jumper, jacket or sweater and place in the tray for screening.
- Any shoes, runners or boots that are at ankle height or higher, such as runner boots or sock boots, will have to be removed, to place in the tray for Security screening.
- More information including a video on how to prepare for security is available here.
- Security in T1 opens at 03:00hrs and remains open until the last departing flight.
- Security in T2 opens at 03.30hrs and remains open until the last departing flight.
- We advise passengers to arrive at their terminal 2 hours before departure time for short-haul flights, and 3 hours before long-haul flights.
- If you are checking bags or travelling in a group you should allow more time. Always consult your airline for check-in in desk and bag drop opening hours.
- Security Queue Times can be viewed by clicking here.
- You can also view check-in times by airline and by terminal below.
VIEW CHECK-IN TIMES T1
- Airline check-in desk and bag drop opening times vary, so please contact your airline to confirm and plan your journey accordingly.
- You can also view check-in times by airline and by Terminal below.
VIEW CHECK-IN TIMES T1
There are several transport options available. You can travel directly to Dublin Airport by bus, by taxi, cycling and walking, or by car rental.
Click here for more information on alternative modes of transport to & from Dublin Airport.
Each car park has a quota of pre-book spaces available and a limited number of drive-up car parks spaces available. However, these drive-up car parks spaces may not be available during busy travel periods, so please consider alternative modes of transport to get to the airport clicking here.
If you are person of reduced mobility, please click here for more advice.
At the moment, peak times at Security can occur in Terminal 1 05.00 to 08.00 for morning flights, and in Terminal 2 at 05.00 to 12.00 for morning and early afternoon flights. Terminal 1 has a second peak time at Security between 15:00 to 19:00 for evening flights. Weekends (especially bank holiday weekends) can be busy all day (weekends include Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday).
The security queue times displayed are not fully real-time, they represent the median queue time that it took passengers to complete the Security screening process in the previous 15 minutes. This means individual passengers can experience queue times that can be either longer or shorter than the time displayed. However, showing this median time can give an indication of the queue time that passengers can expect.
In Terminal 1, the queue time shown covers the Security queue within the departures floor. However, if the queue goes outside of the Terminal, this queue time is not captured.
Yes, please approach a member of staff for assistance when you get to Dublin Airport departures level. Look out for our pink-purple vest team and you will be directed to the appropriate channel.
If you are pregnant and concerned about long queues, again please approach a member of staff for assistance and explain your circumstances and you will be directed to the appropriate channel.
- Yes, baby food or food for people on special diets is allowed, as are medicines.
- Passengers are allowed to bring these items through the screening points in the quantities needed during their trip and should ask for the red tray where these items can be placed separately from hand baggage and other liquids, gels or pastes at Security screening.
- Passengers may be required to demonstrate that what they are carrying is for genuine purposes, such as a medical/doctor/physician’s note.
