Starting June 3, you’ll have to check in earlier if you want to fly United Airlines. In an internal memo first shared by Live and Let’s Fly, the airline stays that customers without bags will have to check in at least 45 minutes prior to their flight. The current rule is 30 minutes. If you don’t make it in time, you’ll lose your seat.
Beginning June 3, customers traveling without checked bags must check in at least 45 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights.
- Previously, this cut-off time was 30 minutes.
- There is no change for customers with checked bags; they still need to check in 45 minutes before departure.
Why are we making this change? We are consolidating the four existing domestic cut-off times into a single, consistent time—45 minutes before departure for all domestic passengers. This adjustment also provides our airport Customer Service representatives additional time to assist customers prior to departure.
Last summer United updated its contract of carriage with passengers to allow them to make this change. In fact, they said they could impose a 60 minute check-in time. However they said that they weren’t making any actual changes at the time.
Since customers had already been buying travel nearly a year out, for whom the old rules in the contract of carriage applied, they needed to wait until June 2025 flights to put their desired changes into effect.
Live and Let’s Fly sees this as no big deal. I do not agree.
I’m agnostic about this change and tend to think it will negatively impact very few people…in a world in which it is so easy to check-in online or on the United app
Sometimes online check-in fails for certain itineraries! I’ve been unable to check in, gotten stuck in traffic and had problems at the kiosk. Every minute mattered. United is working to be a premium carrier, and cater to customers with a high opportunity cost of their time – people who show up at the airport later because they’re busy. They’re working.
This is a move that certainly works for the convenience of the airline, but is customer-unfriendly. It lets them see people who aren’t showing up earlier, and clear standby passengers earlier – making it easier to staff gates lightly. But clearing standby earlier also means seats are already gone for top elites running up to the gate to catch an earlier flight. I don’t like this change and don’t see the customer upside.
Gary – I don’t think this is a big deal. You should always check in online ahead of time. If for some reason online check in does not work, then you need to allow extra time at the ticket counter anyway.
It’s part of the ongoing trend that makes air travel slower and less appropriate for shorter trips. Let’s get more frequent rail service in place for shorter trips.
Most shorter business trips are being replaced by teleconferencing. For personal trips, driving is the way to go these days.
I’m with @Carl. This change is NBD. Also, kudos for advocating for high-speed rail. Rock on!
Gary, what decade do you believe this is? I’m officially in Old Fart territory, and I check in close to 24 hours ahead of time. Southwest trained me well.
Having a consistent required check-in time of 45 minutes before flight time is a good thing. That leaves 30 minutes to get through security check and to the gate, assuming that the gate closes 15 minutes before departure. Less of a hassle for the gate agent having to change tickets in airports with slow security checks and long distances to the gates. I doubt that many will have a problem with this.
I used to think this wouldn’t be a big deal. But these days I often travel with one of my kids. I am GS and when I fly J class, whenever possible use my GS PP’s to push through my child’s upgrade ahead of time. Because this requires making two separate bookings, the UA system recognizes my child as an “unaccompanied minor” and thus ineligible for online check-in. This additional requirement will be an inconvenience on every domestic flight I travel with my kids.
Oh it’s hit on UA day, it hadn’t marked it on my calendar!
One day it AA, well most days, when is crap on Delta day, trying to keep up.
@Pilot93434 — You missed the memo. Delta’s the ‘golden child,’ she can do no wrong. American is for-sure the ‘black sheep’ at VFTW, he can do no right. United’s the middle-child. I suppose Southwest is a cousin we used to love, but lately it went off the deep end after its marriage with Elliott.
I view this change as sensible but not customer friendly.
Gary, I’m guessing this is a change that won’t affect you at AUS, as arriving at the airport less than 45 minutes before a flight means you risk being at the gate less than 15 minutes before departure giving TSA lines. It’s a moot point for me, as I always have checked bags and arrange for the Uber pickup to be timed to get me to the airport an hour before departure even if my commute if the slowest it gets. I admit to be overly early, particularly since the longest time from entering the TSA pre-check queue to exiting at my airport has been 5 minutes since pre-check started. Of course, I may just be lucky (that combined with the fact I don’t take morning flights).
I do see one incentive here. Someone arrives >30 and <45 minutes with bags and gets into an argument the UA website (that they glossed over) says 30 minutes. Also, those with larger carryon might plan on checking them (netting $s to UA), but arrive at the 40 minute point, so they can't.
A fixed check-in deadline of 45 minutes before departure makes sense. It gives travelers a solid 30-minute buffer to clear security and reach the gate, assuming gates close 15 minutes prior. It also eases pressure on gate staff, especially at airports with slower security lines or distant gates. Most passengers likely won’t find this unreasonable.
I agree. Bu then again, nothing United has done lately has been positive
Always online check in at T-24. I have no idea why people find this difficult to do in the Lord’s Year 2025. If there’s an issue checking in online get to the airport early. You’re not a child. Plan your life accordingly.
I find standby fairly useless. If you’re in a premium cabin keeping a seat in a premium cabin is usually a huge hassle with standby. Now maybe if your flying something like TPA/ATL, MIA/MCO or CLT/DCA you don’t care because the flight is so short. Even then you will get what’s left over which might be a middle seat.