Checking in for your flight as early as possible—typically 24 hours in advance—is always a good idea to prevent any potential travel hiccups.
Before the Internet, passengers had to wait to check-in for their flight at the airport. It sounds prehistoric, doesn’t it? Most airlines now allow you to check-in online starting 24 hours prior to your departure. You’ll be reminded by email and text. Many passengers who check in at airports ignore these alerts. Why would you check in so early, when you will have to go to a counter to check your bag anyway? There are many reasons to check in early.
If you are flying coach, it is not always possible to choose your seat at no cost. You will be given a middle seat if you are looking to save some money. The earlier you check-in, the better your chances are of getting a window seat or an aisle seat. Some airlines, especially if you’re flying on an international itinerary with different airlines, don’t allow you to choose a seat—even if you’re willing to pay for it—until check in. The sooner you check-in, the earlier you can choose a seat.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation airlines are allowed to oversell flightsNo-shows can be compensated for, but only within reasonable limits. The airline can bump passengers to another flight if there are no no-shows and the plane has overbooked. The check-in times are sometimes used to determine who is bumped. You may be bumped first if you were the last to check in.
South_agency/Getty Images
A spokesperson from Delta Tells Travel + Leisure It’s also important to check in in person as early as possible if you plan on checking a luggage. For most U.S. Airports, domestic travel requires baggage to be checked in 45 minutes or more before the scheduled departure time. Check-in is only required 30 minutes prior departure for domestic flights without a checked bag. Why do passengers have to wait an extra 15 minutes if they want to check their bag? Your bag must be checked and sorted before it is loaded on the plane TSA screening. You can still fly if you check-in after the 45 minute cutoff, but it’s likely that your bag won’t make the flight and you may have to leave it at the gate. For international flights, you have to check in even earlier—at least 60 minutes before your scheduled departure—if you’re checking a bag.
The cut-off time for check-in varies by airline. It’s therefore important to know your airline’s policies. Check the requirements of the airport from which you will be departing. Delta’s spokesperson said that some airports have passengers check in earlier than airlines. For example, if you’re flying domestically out of JFK and are checking a bag, you must be checked in at least 60 minutes prior to the departure time. Check-in for domestic flights with checked bags at LGA is required to be completed 45 minutes before departure.
Checking in early is a smart idea, even if your seat has already been selected and you are not checking your bag. You can then go directly to security when you arrive at the airport. You may be able to get upgraded if you do this. You can upgrade on some airlines. request upgrades at check inThe date and the time of an upgrade request is often taken into account when deciding which passengers get upgraded. You may get the upgrade if you make your request two hours earlier than another passenger of your status.
You should be aware that if you have checked in online 24 hour prior to your flight that does not mean you can arrive at the airport 30 min before departure. Delta advises passengers to arrive at the airport 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international ones, according to a spokesperson. Fly Delta or the website are preferred by the airline to reduce the number of people waiting at the counter. delta.com. This sentiment is shared by most airlines.
Check if your airline has an automatic check-in feature to make the process easier. Southwest, for example, allows customers to purchase EarlyBird Check-In starting at $15 per way when purchasing their flight. EarlyBird Check-In comes free with Southwest’s ‘Anytime’ class fares. This means that you can check in automatically 36-hours before your flight. Passengers that don’t receive this perk have to wait until 24 hours before departure to check in. Southwest allows you to check in as early as 24 hours before departure. This will allow you more time to choose your seat and board. precious overhead bin space. Singapore Airlines offers an automatic check-in option under the tab “Manage Booking”. You can select this box after purchasing your ticket and up until 48 hours prior to departure. This is a free service that ensures you will be checked in automatically.
Do not worry if you have to check-in at the airport last minute. The lines are usually short. Look for self-service kiosks at airports. Check-in counters are available at the curbside of major airports. You can drop off your bags and check in. These counters have shorter queues. The service can be free, or cost a few dollars. A recommended tip per bag is also included.
