When Should I Leave for My Flight?

LeaveBye tells you exactly when to leave for the airport. Stop guessing and stop stressing — get a real-time countdown that combines your flight status, live traffic conditions, TSA security wait times, and the walk time from the curb to your gate.

How It Works

Enter your flight number or select your departure and arrival airports. LeaveBye instantly pulls real-time data and calculates the perfect time to leave your door. We factor in everything:

• Real-time flight status from FlightAware — delays, gate changes, and updated departure times
• Live traffic drive times from Google Maps — not estimates, actual current conditions
• TSA security wait times — know if the line is 10 minutes or 45
• Terminal walk times — how far your specific gate is from security, down to the concourse
• Buffer time for baggage check-in and unexpected delays

Supported Airports

LeaveBye works with any airport worldwide. We have specially curated terminal data, walk times, and restaurant recommendations for:

• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) — Terminals 1, 2, 3 with concourse-level walk times
• Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) — Concourses A, B, C
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — All terminals including Tom Bradley International
• Nashville International Airport (BNA) — Concourses A, B, C, D
• St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) — Terminals 1 and 2
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA) — Terminals A, B, C, D
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) — Concourses T, A, B, C, D, E, F

Features

• One-tap Uber and Lyft ride booking with your terminal pre-filled
• Push notifications when it's time to leave
• Gate change alerts
• Nearby bars, restaurants, and lounges at your gate
• Shareable flight countdown links
• Works on any phone — no app download required

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I leave for my flight?

It depends on your drive time, TSA wait, and how far your gate is. LeaveBye calculates this in real-time using live traffic data, current TSA wait times, and terminal walk distances specific to your gate. As a general rule, leave 2-3 hours before domestic flights and 3-4 hours before international flights, but LeaveBye gives you a precise, personalized time.

How early should I get to the airport?

Most airlines recommend 2 hours for domestic and 3 hours for international flights. But the real answer depends on your specific airport, terminal, TSA PreCheck status, and whether you have bags to check. LeaveBye factors all of this in and tells you exactly when to arrive.

Is LeaveBye free?

Yes. LeaveBye is completely free to use. No account required, no app to download. Just open leavebye.com on your phone and search your flight.

Do I need to download an app?

No. LeaveBye works in your browser. You can add it to your home screen for an app-like experience with push notifications, but no App Store download is needed.