EWR security lines for international travel?

International travel experts:  If you had a 5:30pm international flight out of Newark, what time would you get there?

3:00-3:30 if I'm checking luggage and don't have TSA Precheck.

Newark airport website recommends checking-in at least three hours before flight time (two hours for domestic).

erins said:

3:00-3:30 if I'm checking luggage and don't have TSA Precheck.

This.

Agree with 3-3:30 for Terminal B. Terminal C can be cut a little tighter.

I'm just curious ... why do they recommend a longer time for international?  It's the same security line and then you go to the (generally) same gates.  And it doesn't seem like they board much earlier, even though they do have to check passports.

I arrived at 10 pm for an 11:55 flight on Thursday and sped through. There were numerous calls for security checks right at the gates in Terminal B, so the line to board moved slowly.  

sac said:

I'm just curious ... why do they recommend a longer time for international?  It's the same security line and then you go to the (generally) same gates.  And it doesn't seem like they board much earlier, even though they do have to check passports.

I think it is also because a higher percentage of passengers are checking luggage.  This adds time to the process beyond just the uncertainty of the security lines. 

There also seems to be additional time consumed during peak vacation times when families are traveling together, checking baggage (including stuff like golf clubs, bikes, various child carriers), and clogging up security lines by carrying liquids (yeah, this still happens) or not following the rules about jackets, watches, coins,  etc., etc.  Hence,  the need to create a rule of thumb.  If you're a frequent traveler not checking luggage and have TSA pre-check you generally don't need 3 hours. 

Multiple variables - did you check-in online 48 hours before - are you checking luggage - are you carrying on luggage - what airline are you flying.   The bottleneck seems to be whether you have to stop at the ticket counter or if you can bypass the ticket counter and head straight to security.  Some budget international airlines (Wow and Norwegian) make everyone with luggage go to the ticket counter (they have weight and size limits for carry-on luggage).

sac said:

I'm just curious ... why do they recommend a longer time for international?  It's the same security line and then you go to the (generally) same gates.  And it doesn't seem like they board much earlier, even though they do have to check passports.

We flew to Europe this summer and getting to the airport 2 hrs ahead of flight time is PLENTY.

How much faster is it with TSA Precheck?

LOST said:

How much faster is it with TSA Precheck?

The answer, as for many things, is "it depends".  Lately, the lines have moved pretty fast on both sides.  But, with TSA-pre, you don't have to take out your laptop and toiletries ziplock, take off shoes, etc. which really makes it much nicer (and probably a bit faster.)  I can say all that, though, because my precheck enrollment was free, back when United did it for their Frequent Flyer members at no cost.  Despite warnings to the contrary, I'm still getting it almost every time.

Carry on.  Traveling with nonTSA pre-checkers. 

jeffl said:

Carry on.  Traveling with nonTSA pre-checkers. 

When (on a couple of occasions) my spouse and I were traveling together and one of us had TSA-pre and one didn't, we had the TSA-pre passenger take both of the laptops and toiletry bags through. (Separated into two bags ... i.e. carryon bag and personal item.)