Jerusalem Travel Forum

I have heard for years that the security at Ben Gurion is very tight. How long ahead of flight is it recommended to arrive at airport? I have tried to find answers on all sites and not really seeing anything. We arrive 3 hours ahead in most countries for intnt'l travel. Is this enough for a 6pm flight?
Thanks for any help.

Yes, 3 hours ahead of flight time is the usual at Ben Gurion, although you may want to leave yourselves a bit of leeway on that.

I agree. Three hours ahead of the scheduled flight time is the recommended norm. Unless you anticipate "trouble", that should be enough.

If you have purchased items at approved stores and need to stand and get back VAT then I would leave a little early--maybe an extra half hour.

and few years ago since they open the new terminal the queues moving very fast and you will have lots of time to do more shopping / drinking at the airport :)

I was there in May and I arrived the obigatory three hours before hand. Much to my surprise -- as in the past I was interrogated for 40 or 50 minutes -- it took me about 30 seconds -- I kid you not. I had a mucher tougher time leaving istanbul. Go figure.

Although it is frequently much less than the required 3 hours--I wouldn't come later. Last December they didn't have enough screening lines open. ( after initial security--the line where you put your carry on through the x-ray machine) It took me over 1 hour to go through that line. They finally DID open more lines--but by then I was too far foward to take advantage of them and people who came much later than I, got out much earlier.