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How early should I get to LGA?

LaGuardia Airport, New York, NY · Checked Oct 14, 2026

The short answer

The airport does not publish a set arrival time. Delta and JetBlue (LGA page) both recommend arriving at least 2 hours before domestic departures.

Delta recommends arriving at least 3 hours before international departures.

Those are blanket rules. Your real number depends on your terminal, the time of day, traffic from your door, and whether you have PreCheck or a bag. Leave By works out your exact leave time.

Source: delta.com

Security lines at LGA

Nationally, TSA checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 7 AM local time. See TSA's hourly numbers and the busiest days to fly.

TSA PreCheck: Terminal B has TSA PreCheck and Touchless ID for select airlines. We could not confirm PreCheck lane details for Terminal C on the airport site.

CLEAR: Available at this airport (see terminals below for which checkpoints).

Touchless ID: Delta lists LGA for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, with dedicated Touchless ID bag drop. Southwest also lists LGA. The Terminal B page says Touchless ID is available through select participating airlines.

Terminals and checkpoints

Terminal A (Marine Air Terminal)

  • On the airport's terminal list it appears as the historic Marine Air Terminal, serving Modern Aviation. No commercial airlines are listed there.

Terminal B

American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest, JetBlue, Air Canada, Frontier Airlines, Porter

Terminal B securityPreCheckTSA PreCheck is available, as is TSA PreCheck Touchless ID with participating airlines. B-FAST Express Pass is a paid front-of-line lane. JetBlue lists the checkpoint hours as 3:30am-11:00pm.
  • Gates 11-31 are about 4-6 min from security and gates 40-59 about 6-9 min
  • Curbside check-in is available. American charges $4 per bag on top of bag fees; Southwest charges only standard bag fees.
  • Ride-app pickup is on Level 2 of the Terminal B parking garage

Terminal C

Delta

Terminal C security, Level 3CLEARCLEAR+ lanes are in front of the security checkpoint entrance on Level 3. Hours are Sun-Fri 4:30am-9:00pm and Sat 4:30am-5:30pm.
  • Gates 60-69 are 9-11 min from security, 70-79 are 5-7 min, 80-89B are 3-5 min, and 92-98 are 5-10 min
  • Delta offers free curbside check-in (standard bag fees apply)
  • Ride-app pickup is in the Arrivals inner lane

Between terminals: A free on-airport bus connects all terminals, and a pedestrian path links Terminals B and C. The airport's connections guide does not say whether you must clear security again.

Getting to LGA

Rideshare and taxi: Drop off at the terminal departures curb, which is for active drop-offs only. Ride-app pickup: Terminal B is on Level 2 of the Terminal B parking garage, and Terminal C is in the Arrivals inner lane. Confirm the spot in your app.

Transit: The LaGuardia Link Q70 bus is free year-round and serves Terminals B and C. It connects to the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av and 74 St-Broadway subway hubs and to LIRR at Woodside. Five MTA bus routes stop outside each terminal.

Driving and parking: Curbs are for active drop-off and pickup only, and unattended vehicles are towed. The free Cell Phone Lot is off-airport on 94th Street between 23rd Avenue and Ditmars Blvd (open 7:00am-11:59pm). The Port Authority urges pre-booking parking, because drive-up parkers without a booking pay a peak-period surcharge.

Checking a bag

Delta at LGA: domestic bags and check-in close 45 minutes before departure, international check-in closes 1 hour before, and you must be at the gate 15 minutes before departure. JetBlue at LGA: check-in and bags 45 minutes before domestic departures. JetBlue's LGA counter opens 2 hours before departure and closes 30 minutes before.

LGA tips first-timers miss

  • Terminal C gates 60-69 are listed at 9-11 minutes' walk from security, the longest at LGA
  • The Q70 LaGuardia Link bus is free all year and connects to the subway and LIRR. It is a cheap way to avoid the terminal roads.
  • Whoever picks you up cannot wait at the curb. They should use the Cell Phone Lot on 94th Street until you are outside with your bags.
  • American's curbside check-in at Terminal B costs $4 per bag extra, while Delta's curbside at Terminal C has no extra fee

Leaving for LGA?

Pick your flight and where you're starting. Leave By checks live traffic, security lines and your terminal, and tells you the minute to walk out the door.

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Questions travelers ask

How early should I get to LaGuardia?

The airport does not publish a set time. Delta and JetBlue both recommend arriving at least 2 hours before domestic flights, and Delta recommends 3 hours for international. Delta and JetBlue stop checking bags 45 minutes before domestic departures at LGA.

Which terminal is my airline at LaGuardia?

Delta operates Terminal C. Terminal B serves American, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Air Canada, Frontier and Porter.

Is there free public transit to LaGuardia?

Yes. The LaGuardia Link Q70 bus is fare-free year-round. It runs between Terminals B and C and the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av subway hub, with an LIRR connection at Woodside.

Sources

Airport conditions change. Always follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.

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