Flying United? This new rule can leave you stranded at the airport
Just in time for the summer travel season United Airlines is making a major change to its check-in rules you best be aware of or risk missing your flight.
United Airlines is changing its check-in rules come 3 June and you best be aware of the new rule or you could risk missing your flight. In addition to making sure you have your bags packed and that they meet the measurement limits you will have to plan on giving yourself some extra time to arrive at the airport.
Starting Tuesday next week, United Airlines will require passengers on domestic flights with bags to check to check in at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled flight departure time. That’s a 15-minute increase from the previous cutoff for check-in.
Domestic flights check-in can be completed online for those traveling without luggage or at the ticket counter but that must be done no later than 30 minutes before the flight. To avoid confusion, United’s website has already been updated with the new times.
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Why would United Airlines make this change?
The airline may be looking to reduce pressure at ticket counters by giving United workers a bit more time to check passengers in. With more time, the airline could choose to staff fewer team members at the ticket counter, as passengers will need to arrive earlier to ensure they can obtain their boarding passes and check any bags.
Additionally, as airlines continue to overbook flights, knowing a bit further in advance who will make it onto the flight, and who won’t, means that they can bump those on standby to a ticketed seat.
When does check-in begin?
Check-in will still be available 24 hours before your flight. In most cases, if you are flying domestically and aren’t planning to check a bag, then you can download your boarding pass and head straight to the security line. But again, this must be done at least 30 minutes before the flight.
For travelers with an international destination, check-in must be completed one hour before departure.
However, there are a few specific destinations where the airline requires passengers to show up even earlier to ensure they have enough time to have their documents verified and any bags that need to be checked, turned over in time for them to be loaded onto the plane.
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