How early to arrive at Heraklion Airport
| Your flight | Nov–Apr | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | Jul–Aug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen, cabin bag only, checked in online | 1 h 30 | 2 h | 2 h |
| Schengen with checked bags | 2 h | 2 h | 2 h 30 |
| UK / non-Schengen | 2 h | 2 h 30 | 2 h 30–3 h |
Bag drop, security and, for non-Schengen flights, passport control are three separate queues. On a summer Saturday each can take 20–30 minutes. The full breakdown by day and hour is in how early to arrive at Heraklion Airport. Collecting someone instead? Use the live arrivals board.
Check-in and bag drop at HER
The check-in hall is on the departures level; your counter number appears on the screens about three hours before the flight. Charter and low-cost desks often open 2–3 hours before departure and close 40–60 minutes before, depending on the airline: check your boarding pass. Online check-in saves time only if you travel with cabin baggage; otherwise you still queue at bag drop.
Security: liquids and what to know
Standard EU rules apply: liquids in containers of 100 ml or less, in one clear one-litre bag, taken out at the scanner along with laptops and large electronics unless staff say otherwise. Olive oil, honey and raki bought in town go in checked luggage; bought after security, they are sealed in a bag you can carry on.
Schengen (A) and non-Schengen (B) gates
After security the terminal splits. Flights to Schengen countries use the A gates; flights to the UK and other non-Schengen countries go through passport control (and EES exit checks for non-EU passengers) to the B gates. Each side has cafés, Hellenic Duty Free and a Filoxenia lounge. The B side is smaller and fills up quickly on summer evenings: buy water as soon as you are through and do not count on a seat. See restaurants and shops and the lounges guide.
Busiest departure times
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Summer Sat–Sun, 10:00–19:00 | Charter waves: long bag-drop queues, crowded B gates |
| Summer early mornings (05:00–08:00) | Quicker security, but desks open in a rush |
| Weekdays outside peak hours | Smooth; 25–45 minutes door to gate |
| November–March | Quiet; mostly Athens and Thessaloniki flights |
Getting to Heraklion Airport for your flight
| From | By car / taxi | Leave margin in summer |
|---|---|---|
| Heraklion centre | 10–20 min | +15 min |
| Hersonissos | 25–30 min | +15 min |
| Malia / Stalis | 30–40 min | +20 min |
| Agios Nikolaos / Elounda | 50–75 min | +20 min |
| Rethymno | 70–80 min | +30 min |
| Chania | about 2 h | +30–45 min |
The national road slows near the airport junction on summer afternoons. Book the return trip in advance: in small resorts taxis are scarce before 6 am. Options and fares on Heraklion Airport transfers.
Drop-off, parking and rental car return
Drop-off at the kerb is allowed for a few minutes only and is policed. If you are seeing someone off, use the car park opposite the terminal (rates). Returning a rental car? Follow the signs to the car park opposite the terminal, where company reps check the car, and allow an extra 15 minutes.
Delayed or cancelled flight: your rights
For flights leaving Heraklion (an EU airport), EU Regulation 261/2004 applies whatever the airline. After long delays the airline must offer meals and, overnight, a hotel. If you reach your final destination more than three hours late, or your flight is cancelled at short notice, you may be owed compensation of €250 (up to 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km) or €600 (over 3,500 km), unless the cause was extraordinary, such as weather or air-traffic-control strikes. Keep your boarding pass and receipts.