Check-in time at LGA

I'll fly on 3rd with Spirit from LGA to FLL for a day trip( I'll take only hand luggage with me). In the booking confirmation they note that the minimum check in time for the flight is 3 hours before departure. The planned departure is 6.40am (!!) What do you mean: is it necessary that I have to be at LGA 3.40am???? its a crazy time, ok I can make party and go than to the airport :D Whats your experience?? If its ok I would arrive about 4.30am for example. Here in europe it is ok to arrive aprox 1,5hours before departure, or 1 hour when you have only hand luggage but how is it in states?

may be anybody could advise me.

thanx

Mel and I flew on that very flight, and If you show up at 5am you'll be more than fine I think.

Thanx phil for your quick response!!

640AM flight with only carry-on luggage? 3 hours is insane! I doubt there'd even be anyone working there at 330AM!

Most airlines, when flying domestically, want you checked-in with baggage 45 minutes prior to departure and with only carry-on, 30 minutes prior to departure. That means checked-in though, not at the airport.

Since it's an early flight, and if you have an e-ticket, I'd get there around 545AM just to be safe, since lines can be long in the early morning.

LGA isn't all that bad. l fly in and out of their all the time, an hour 30 is more then enough time.

even 40 minutes if you use the kiosk is okay j

I flew Spirit out of LGA back in August, a few weeks after the announcement of the "liquid explosives" plot, back when everyone was cautioning that you should give at least 2-3 hours ahead of the flight. So, we ended up sitting around Terminal B in LGA for about those two hours; between checking in (using the kiosk) and security it was no more than 15 minutes, and our flight was later than yours.

Follow up question to the OP: So I'm tentatively flying AA from LGA-ORD-STL departing LGA around 6 PM. I can print my boarding pass online from the office and I'm only going with a rollaboard, so no checked luggage. What time should I be at LGA by? I'll also be coming from midtown Manhattan, what's the best way to get to LGA from there? Thanks for any answers!