# You have an appointment at 2 PM; what time do you arrive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404 "2009-12-15T21:31:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/1 "2009-12-15T21:31:50Z")
Half an hour early? Fifteen minutes? Rush in right at 2 like Kramer? ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/2 "2009-12-15T21:34:44Z")
I arrive at the building at 1:45 PM and head to the restroom. After freshening up, I arrive at the office at 1:50 PM. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/3 "2009-12-15T21:34:53Z")
Usually 10-15 minutes early. I despise being late. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/4 "2009-12-15T21:35:54Z")
Business appointment: no later than 1:45 or 1:50, if I can at all help it. I always build in extra time in case of traffic or other unforeseen delays. Personal appointment (like a doctor’s appointment): probably no later than 1:55. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/5 "2009-12-15T21:36:50Z")
At least fifteen minutes early. The GF gets there after Kramer arrives. Just imagine how well this works between us. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/6 "2009-12-15T21:37:35Z")
If I can manage it, 1:59. I usually can. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/7 "2009-12-15T21:37:36Z")
I usually try to be about 10-15 min early, more if I have have a long way to drive and traffic might be a factor. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/8 "2009-12-15T21:39:31Z")
Doctor’s appointment, I try to arrive 15 minutes early in case I have paperwork to fill out. (Today, traffic sucked - the doctor’s office is also located on the big shopping street in Chicago, Michigan Avenue, and everyone was out - so I only made it 5 minutes early.) Business appointment, 5-10 minutes early. On the longer side if I know there’s a waiting room, closer to 5 minutes or less if there isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![pan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@pan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pan1)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/9 "2009-12-15T21:43:24Z")
For a doctors appt, 10-15 min early. For a professional appt, arrive early, but walk inside 5 mins before meeting time. For a social appointment, etiquete states to arrive 1-10 minutes after the appointed time. ---
**Author:** ![bettyporkta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@bettyporkta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bettyporkta)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/10 "2009-12-15T21:44:26Z")
about 15 minutes early, as a matter of fact, only last week i had a doctors appointment, turns out someone else had cancelled theirs, so by being early i was in and out before my appointed time had arrived…! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/11 "2009-12-15T21:44:36Z")
Ten minutes early. Always. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/12 "2009-12-15T21:45:45Z")
Depends a bit: When I had a 9:00 appointment for an interview, I happily showed up 10 minutes early. When they scheduled me for an 8:30 appointment the following week, I came exactly on time (because they started their day at 8:30 officially, and I didn’t want to come any before that). ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/13 "2009-12-15T21:48:39Z")
Doctor - 5 minutes early if I can schedule it. My dentist is 2 blocks away, so not much traffic on the sidewalk. No reason to be earlier in most cases, since you won’t get in earlier. One exception - we go early to my wife’s retina specialist, since they schedule lots of people at the same time and being the first of the bunch can get you out much earlier. Business - 15 minutes early in most cases, unless it is a meeting at a place I know well, in which case 10. Appointment to get on a plane - an hour and a half often, just in case. I’ve never missed a flight, and I’ve come close only once or twice, but I hated it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/14 "2009-12-15T21:48:58Z")
I used to be a stickler for being way early, but after thousands of times waiting for people who are late, I’ve changed. Depends on the appointment, but I usually figure 5 minutes early is plenty. And for certain things, a minute early is plenty. Like the doctor. I have NEVER seen a doctor early, and have been seen late countless times. So showing up on the dot is fine (unless it is a new doctor and I anticipate paperwork.) I might be 10 minutes early for a job interview or a court call, but just about any other work appointment, prompt is plenty - no need to be early. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/15 "2009-12-15T22:05:34Z")
It varies wildly - if I _care_ about being late, then I’m usually there very close to on time. But I have to actually care. Otherwise I’m often five to ten minutes late. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/16 "2009-12-15T22:06:35Z")
about 10-15 minutes early in the parking lot, and I hang out in my car about 5-10 more minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/17 "2009-12-15T22:08:08Z")
Generally 10-15 minutes early. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/18 "2009-12-15T22:22:52Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I arrive at the building at 1:45 PM and head to the restroom. After freshening up, I arrive at the office at 1:50 PM. Yeah, that’s about what I do. 15 minutes gives me a chance to tinkle and then get a feel for the environment I’m going into, so I can chill for the final 5. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/19 "2009-12-15T22:25:33Z")
Job interview: I will try to be early. Dentist’s appointment: 2 pm Doctor’s appointment: I’ll probably cancel it. I hate doctors. (Only professionally. I have some good friends who are doctors.) Lunch with friend: Depending on the friend, anywhere from 2 to 2:30. (One of my friends is a known latenik. To be there early would be just a waste of my time. Being there late might waste a bit of her time, but she deserves it for having wasted so much of mine in the past.) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404/20 "2009-12-15T22:42:54Z")
I always try to arrive exactly ten minutes early. Anything less is pushing your luck, and anything more is ostentatious. A few weeks ago I had to interview some mook who came in for his job interview something like 35 minutes early. He was a _horrible_ candidate, too. Couldn’t even implement FizzBuzz. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-an-appointment-at-2-pm-what-time-do-you-arrive/521404.md?page=2)