Starting next month, United Airlines will standardize its domestic check-in cutoff for passengers traveling with or without bags in a move aimed at increasing operational efficiency.

Domestic Check-In Cutoff Reduced From 45 Minutes To 30 Minutes On United Airlines

Currently, the check-in cutoffs for domestic flights on United are 45 minutes with a bag and 30 minutes without a bag (there are some airports that require an earlier check-in). A memo to gate agents shared with Live And Let’s Fly explains:

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.

The 45-minute cutoff also means the system will clear standbys at the 45-minute mark (before boarding begins) rather than the 30-minute mark. Both revenue passengers and employees (who board in group three) should appreciate being cleared onto a flight with sufficient time to store their carry-on bag and avoid the need to have to check it in due to insufficient overhead bin space.

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 (heck, Amazon’s Alexa can even do it for you), there will be very few situtions in whcih someone must chekc-in so close to departures, even at small stations.

Clearing standbys before boarding makes a lot of sense. I’ve been on standby many times as a Premier 1K and had to wait until midway thorough boarding to recieve my seat assignment…this will make standby easier for everyone except those who may try to add themselves onto the list at the very last minute (and that isn’t generally permitted anyway these days).

CONCLUSION

United Airlines is reducing its domestic check-in cutoff from 45 minutes to 30 minutes for passengers traveling without bags. By standardizing the domestic check-in cutoff at 45 minutes, United hopes to achieve better operational performance and board flights more efficiently. The change makes sense to me, considering how easy it is to check in before you reach the airport.

image: United Airlines