United Airlines is changing the check-in cutoff time for its domestic flights ahead of the busy summer travel season. Starting on June 3, all passengers flying to a domestic destination must check in at least 45 minutes prior to departure, up from the airline’s previous check-in cutoff time of 30 minutes. The check-in cutoff time for international flights remains at 60 minutes prior to departure. The new domestic flight policy applies to customers both with and without checked luggage.
In emails to news outlets, United said the change is to bring greater consistency for travelers by aligning United check-in policies with that of “most other airlines.”
United does offer online check-in options prior to arriving at the gate. You can still check in at the gate, but you can also check in on United’s website or on the United app within 24 hours of your flight.
If you’re flying internationally, the check-in time requirements do vary depending on which airport or destination you’re flying to. United has a full list of all special time limits for check-ins, as well as more information on the check-in process, on their website.
Other Airline Check-In Timeframes
With United saying this change is being made to reflect the policies of other airlines, here is a quick overview of the other major airlines’ check-in policies.
Delta Air Lines: Delta passengers without checked bags will still have a minimum of a half-hour before a domestic flight to check in, but those with checked bags will need to arrive at the airline ticket counter at least 45 minutes prior to their flight. For international flights, Delta passengers must be checked in at least 60 minutes before takeoff. Delta changed its check-in policy last month.
American Airlines: American Airlines customers have a deadline of at least 45-minutes prior to a flight’s departure to check in and check their bag. The cutoff time to both check in and check a bag for international flights is 60 minutes before takeoff, with times varying depending on the airport.
Southwest Airlines: For passengers who need to check a bag for Southwest flights, the carrier has a strict 45-minute cutoff window before a bag is considered a “late check” and is not guaranteed to be on your flight to your destination. For those without a checked bag, Southwest warns that those who are not checked in and in the boarding area at least 10 minutes prior to departure could have their reservation canceled. For international flights, all Southwest passengers and luggage must be checked in at least 60 minutes prior to departure, with times varying by airport.
Alaska Airlines: Passengers on Alaska Airlines are required to check in 50 minutes before departure, regardless of whether they have a checked bag. The check-in cutoff is also 60 minutes for international flights, again with notable exceptions for airports outside of the United States.
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