Flight time out of FLL

[mloca]

We are cruising on the Allure this summer out of Ft. Lauderdale and really need the earliest possible flight out on Sunday August 18th. We are avid cruises but have never tested the early morning flight. We are hoping to make an 8:40 am. The Allure docks at 6:15 am. Walk bags off, grab a taxi and we all have TSA pre flight. Has anyone ever taken a flight this early? Thoughts? Thank you!

 

[CruiserBruce]

If you look over on the Florida Departures board, you will see this discussed daily.

 

I wouldn't try it, but there are always daredevils that will.

[marco]

I wouldn't........ but it is doable if there are no snafus with the ship's arrival and/or customs/immigration.  We've sailed with friends who have done the walk off/cab to the airport and texted us saying they were sitting at their gate at 7:30.  On the other hand, we've been on a cruise when disembarkation that was supposed to begin "first thing" began around 10AM.

[wheezedr]

We have made a 10:00AM flight with plenty of time to spare, but everything was perfect and we were in the second walk off group.  While I believe 9:30 to 10:00 is reasonable, 8:40 is really pushing it if anything goes wrong.  If you go for it, have a Plan B.

[davekathy]

1 hour ago, mloca said:

We are cruising on the Allure this summer out of Ft. Lauderdale and really need the earliest possible flight out on Sunday August 18th. We are avid cruises but have never tested the early morning flight. We are hoping to make an 8:40 am. The Allure docks at 6:15 am. Walk bags off, grab a taxi and we all have TSA pre flight. Has anyone ever taken a flight this early? Thoughts? Thank you!

 

We wouldn't. Too early. No way to end a cruise. You say you need the earliest possible flight. What if you book the 8:40 AM and miss it? Not worth the stress worrying about making an early flight when enjoying a cruise. 

[leaveitallbehind]

Can you? maybe - if all goes well and there are no delays.  But as experienced cruisers with a lot of them from Port Everglades and FLL, I would not try that.  The earliest we have ever made was 9:50 AM, which we did off Allure with normal luggage handling with no problem.  But we typically book 10:30 - 11:00 as the target early flights.

Edited April 16, 2019 by leaveitallbehind

[mloca]

Thank you for your responses. I think it is possible if all the stars align but yes if we miss it then there is no plan b. Back to the drawing board. 

[brillohead]

One caveat -- if you can purchase The Key for everyone in your party, you can be among the very first people off the ship.  

[mloca]

we thought about doing this anyway. 

[trish1c]

No.  The ship is supposed to dock at 6:15.  If she's late you are screwed.  If the customs agents are late for work & delay checking the ship in you are screwed.  Plus they don't have to let you off 1st.   You are also cruising in hurricane season. Anything could happen.  

 

Never look at what time your flight takes off.  Look at what time you have to be at the airport. Even cutting your AP arrival to 1.5 hours before, you need to be at the AP by 7:10.  If you don't even get off the ship until 7, you will probably miss your flight. 

 

There are very valid reasons the cruise line recommends you make a flight no earlier then 5 hours after you are scheduled to dock, usually 1 pm for an 8:00 a.m. scheduled arrival.  Ignore that directive at your own peril.  

 

Remember if you miss your flight, you don't get to board the next flight.  You get to board the next flight that has seats.  On a Sunday out of Florida that could be Monday.  

 

Glad you headed back to the drawing board.  

Edited April 24, 2019 by trish1c