Travelers on domestic flights will have to check in at least 45 minutes before departure, whether they have checked luggage or not.
A United Boeing 737-800. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)
United is changing its check-in times for domestic flights ahead of the summer travel season.
The airline will now require all passengers to check in at least 45 minutes before their flight departs. That deadline already applied to travelers with checked luggage, while travelers without checked luggage had a 30-minute cutoff. Starting June 3, the 45-minute standard will apply to everyone.
In a statement, United said the change will bring consistency to the way its customers check in for flights and align with time limits used by most other carriers.
There are some exceptions to the 45-minute rule for domestic flights traveling to and from locations outside the continental U.S. Passengers flying to or from Guam, for instance, have to check in one hour before departure, while those bound for or leaving the Marshall Islands, Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, and St. Thomas have to check in 90 minutes before departure. A full list of special time limits for U.S. airports can be found on United’s website.
United’s check-in time for international flights will remain one hour prior to departure. There are exceptions to this rule too, however, with some destinations requiring travelers to check in up to an hour and a half in advance. According to United’s website, cities with a 75-minute check-in deadline include Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, and Rome, while Lagos, Tel Aviv, and Toronto require a 90-minute check-in.
United said it will do what it can to help passengers who miss flight deadlines, but reserves the right to deny service.
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