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Airport arrival time - LAX-YYC at 7am

Hey all

Taking a Westjet flight from Terminal 2 at LAX to YYC. What time should we aim to arrive? Australian citizens with bags to check. WestJet says 2.5hrs prior to departure so that’s what I’m working on unless you all tell me otherwise.

We’re staying at the Renaissance near the airport so hopefully can at least arrive at the airport relatively quickly. Google Maps says it’s a 3min drive from the Renaissance to Terminal 2, but I’d add a bit more to that to allow for other pick ups/drop offs.

For an international flight from LAX to YYC (Calgary) on WestJet, with checked baggage, arriving early is always wise. WestJet’s recommendation of 2.5 hours prior is reasonable, especially for a 7:00 AM departure.

Since you’re staying at the Renaissance near LAX, your drive time is very short (3–5 minutes under normal traffic), but it’s a good idea to account for possible delays such as hotel shuttle coordination, traffic at the airport entrance, or security line fluctuations, even early in the morning.

Here’s a suggested plan:

  • Arrival Time: Aim to be at Terminal 2 around 4:15–4:20 AM. This gives you 2.5–2.75 hours before your 7:00 AM departure.
  • Check-in & Baggage: WestJet counters typically open 3 hours prior for international flights, so you should have no issue checking bags and getting boarding passes.
  • Security Screening: Early morning security can be busy due to multiple early international flights. Arriving a little earlier than 2.5 hours ensures you won’t feel rushed.

Additional tips:

  • Have your passports and travel documents ready to avoid delays at check-in.
  • Consider using TSA PreCheck or CLEAR if you have it, which can significantly speed up security.
  • Factor in 5–10 minutes extra for walking from the check-in counter to the security checkpoint and your departure gate.

Overall, with your hotel so close, leaving the hotel by 4:00 AM should be more than sufficient to arrive on time, check your bags, pass through security, and have a little time to relax before boarding.

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